Magazines
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 2.1.1
Magazines
Magazines are a well-established genre that has adapted over time to ensure it still attracts an audience.
Generic conventions
- Magazines have a range of generic conventions which help determine the products as belonging to the magazine genre.
Masthead
- The name of the magazine is normally at the top of the page.
- This is called the masthead.
- The masthead usually summarises what the magazine is about.
- E.g. 'Reveal' is a magazine that focuses on revealing celebrity gossip.
- 'Women’s Health' is about improving women's lifestyles.
Colour scheme
- Magazines usually have a 3 or 4 colour scheme which reflects the target audience or nature of the magazine.
- E.g. Gardening magazines usually have green and yellow as their main colour scheme.
- Whereas female fashion magazines focus on traditional feminine colours such as pink and purple.
Anchorage
- Magazines usually have one main image, which is given meaning through the use of cover lines which explain what is included in the magazine.
- When text gives meaning to an image, this is known as anchorage.
Stereotypical representation
- Magazines often use stereotypical representation to help their audience quickly understand what the magazine is about.
Stereotypical Representation
Magazines often use stereotypical representation to help their audience quickly understand what the magazine is about.
Stereotypical images
- If the magazine is appealing to a mainstream audience the representations are likely to be stereotypical.
- Stereotypical images are easier for the audience to absorb quickly.
Positive representations
- The images used are likely to be aspirational and positive representations if the magazine is offering lifestyle, fashion or health advice as it will normally include adverts for products of this nature inside the magazine.
Target audiences
- As magazines have a defined target audience, the selection of the main image of the magazine will normally reflect the target audience in terms of age, gender or ethnicity.
Dominant ideology
- Mainstream magazines often reinforce dominant ideology such as males needing to be strong and successful and women needing to be beautiful and petite.
Test yourself on Magazines
What type of images are easier for the audience to absorb quickly?