Task 1 - Genre Research

Introduction
In this post I am going to be researching and detailing the genre of the magazine I intend on creating. This magazine's target audience is of a middle/upmarket audience who are socially aware. Because of this, I intend on following codes of other general upmarket audiences while also keeping to the current affairs demands of the brief. Using prior knowledge of how institutions function through synergetic convergence and encoding, I can assimilate such into creating a magazine that appeals to such audiences. In addition to this, through research, I will be able to find what appeals to my target audience and what conventions I should follow.

Research

 In this section I will be looking at pre-existing magazines and examining how they appeal to their audiences.

Magazine 1 - Prospect

June 2019 | Prospect Magazine
- Large masthead clearly displaying the newspaper institution
- Saturated yet bright colours and painted feel – house style – allows for details to be accentuated – may reflect detailed content – suggests quality. Blue is the colour associated with conservatives
- Capitalises clearly on current affairs – uses relevant (topically and socially) figures - mid shot
- Typography house style in the use of same font - serif - sophistication
- Uses comparisons to others to broaden appeal
- Addresses a variety of interests related to the core topic in its sell line
- Direct mode of address through rhetorical question engages reader
- Bar code in sweet spot - implies buying comes first
- Lack of plugs, only advertises itself at the top left

Magazine 2 - Current Affairs

Image result for current affairs magazine

- Abstract cover image that still reflects the core theme of the edition
- Bar code at the bottom left - prioritising selling 
- Large masthead promote newspapers
- Bright colours - once again painting like - implies quality due to details - house style. Red suggests war and violence - civil war given their on the same person's hands.
- Cover lines to promote the content of the article
- Doesn't directly show current affairs but has a almost trivialised take on it - abstract and open to interpretation - audience works for what is being implied
- 'Culture and Politics' - sophisticated way to approach current affairs
- Serif font implies detail and sophistication
- Central theme with one dominating image

Magazine 3 - National Review
Image result for National Review

- Blue border makes the magazine stand out and fits the theme of the blue colour suit - creates continuity in the house style
- Red masthead and tie and subtext exacerbate continuity
- Mid-shot of a important relevant figure immediately established political interest
- Caption used in the sweet spot to draw readers to the content of the newspaper
- Dominating main image to establish core theme of the paper
- Serif yet bold font to emphasis sophistication and importance
- Obvious right wing political affiliation
- Positive affirmation of body language - presents him as likeable 

Conclusion

Overall, it's obvious to see that my magazine should follow the conventions shared by the three above, most obviously being one dominating main image on the front. All magazines also have dominant colours and house styles, leading my initial idea of using greys and blacks to be used more stylistically, like accent colours, more so than I did in using them across the page. In addition, the use of a person or part of a person is highlighted by all 3, so I will continue my plan to use people as models. Serif font is also an obvious choice as it connotes sophistication which would be sought after in a upmarket audiences.

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