How does your media product represent particular social groups?
I compared the model used as my main artist to that of real life, famous celebrity and musician, Cheryl Cole. I have done this to show how I have represented my model as a character in comparison to how main stream media products do so, but also to show and deliver a message for my magazine.
Body language/ performance: In my own personal images, I have tried to evoke positive emotions for my audience and utilised a "super smiler" pose to do this. Firstly, I believe that a smile has the potential to be mirrored by my audience as they read my magazine but also encourage them to evoke positive emotions within themselves. I mimicked Cheryl Cole's (image 2) posture and position in the image for my front cover, developing a postive, confident stance by standing with hands on hips and capturing a direct eyeline match by facing the camera. By doing this, my model connotes a sense of self confidence which some teenagers readers can lack, and I felt that by mirroring this position in my magazine, I was encouraging my audience to develop confidence as one of their personal traits and I feel that teenage girls would strive to have the confidence to do what the two artists in the images do. This is also mirrored in my article where the artist says how confidence and hard work are key.
Similarly, In the image of my model posing for the double page spread, she is connoting a laid back approach, looking directly at the camera in a slightly softer manner by holding her head in a sweet, slightly humble/modest way. The "laid back" look comes from the model sitting down, as does Cheryl Cole in image 4. This contrasts the image used on the front cover but portrays the model as modest, again, a trait that I want to encourage in my impressionable audience. This would appeal to my audience also as the model appears to look like Cheryl Cole in image 4, who juxtaposes herself in image 1. This highlights that although confidence is key in life, to be modest of your achievements is also an appealing quality. I feel the balance of these performances represents pop music as a "friendlier" genre, and as all picture feature the "super smiler" pose, I feel this helps to show that pop was created for "fun" purposes, rather than indie music magazines (such as NME featured above) for example that utilise serious performances from models.
Angle/Shot Type/Lighting: All images are shot front on, from a straight angle to show the models are they would be seen from others. This exposes them at their finest, and with the composition of the other elements mentioned, shows them as pure and confident enough to be shot directly at. This also gives the representation of female artists as powerful in their own right, yet not overpowering as they look appealing and attractive. The image of Cheryl Cole (image 2) is a mid shot, which I also used in the taking of my image for the front cover. Using midshots enables the audience close enough proximity to the model to see all facial expressions as well as their body- which can be an influencial factor of "celebrities" for a teenage audience. I felt that by avoiding provocative bodily exposure, represented my audience's idols as empowering and confident in their own bodies, without feeling the need to flaunt it to appear "beautiful". The wide shot of images 3 & 4 show both artists as laid back and "cute". I felt that by showing their full bodies sitting down, the shot promoted a gentle nature for my audience to pick up, appealing to the younger age of audience I have targetted. In addition to this, I used high key lighting to support the exposure of the models that teenage audience's enjoy to see. High key lighting supports the "bright/fun" themes/beliefs that I want my magazine to promote.
Hair/Costume/Make up: Unlike the images of Cheryl Cole, I have used natural make up on my model to promote a sense of "naturalism" to my young audience. However, in image 4 of Cheryl Cole, she utilises this technique, which I believe is a more acceptable message to deliver to such an impressionable audience rather than encouraging artificiality and aesthetic desires. The natural make up however highlights the model's facial features and encourages the face to be the main focus which helps them become memorable as artists for their fans. Again, I differentiated slightly from the main stream images of Cheryl Cole as I dressed my model in casual clothing. I believe this promotes a laid back approach- something that I feel the age of my audience should be encouraged to have before the stresses of adulthood. I have mirrored the fun element of the pop genre in the colours of the model's clothing, as pop music is traditionally created for easy listening- supporting my "laid back" connotations of image 3, as well as the dance/bop along to element of the genre- I feel shown in my first image. As hair is shown to be natural also, with little composition, I feel that "Stella Mahan" (my made up artist) is representing how teenage girls can look beautiful and attractive without hiding behind the artificiality of hours spent on hair and make-up. Whilst these elements are important aspects of teenage life, I feel that when looking to the media for guidance, my magazine promotes natural beauty, and appreciating yourself for who you are, unlike some other media products.
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