Evaluation Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Using these two R&B magazines (Billboard and Vibe), I have managed to create my own R&B magazine (Drive) which can help to reach out to different social groups. For the Billboard magazine, I have referenced to the main image of a strong and independent woman. I have used a very similar dress for my model and also included wrist jewellery, also I have made sure my model has direct eye contact with the camera. The use of a mid shot captures my models view where you can see a strong and happy woman. My message from my model is to bring femininity to the R&B genre and show that it isn't such a 'thug' related genre. Therefore, I have tried to make my model look kinder and more innocent and I think the white glow around her helps to portray that innocency. My model denies the stereotype of R&B being a 'thug' or 'criminal' related genre and this opens up my magazine to more social groups such as young teenage females. My model is using different hand gestures to the model in the Billboard magazine, this is to show a less sexual view to again portray a new view to R&B, however the body language is still similar to show the strength of women in R&B. The hairstyle of my model is curled and has a similar hairstyle to the model in the Billboard magazine which shows relation to R&B, as does the dress. Because of my model representation, it opens my magazine up to a new audience of young teenage females that are in high school or college and are trying to find independence. Young teen boys will also be intrigued by my magazine as they will have an attraction to the innocence of the woman and as young boys they will be attracted to the R&B genre.

To open my audience up to even more target audiences, I have also referred to the Vibe magazine. The use of the black, red, white and grey colours maintains my R&B audience of older teen boys and girls (18-22 years old). Also the title is similar as it includes similar font and a similar gradient. The use of block writing and small writing again refers back to the Vibe magazine. If my model wasn't included then it would follow the fonts and colours of an average R&B magazine, however I have included an organised and sophisticated layout which again portrays femininity stereotypically. Again, this opens my audience up to more social groups. Although my magazine does produce the same colour as the Vibe magazine, I have included 3 extra colours of yellow, green and blue. I feel that if I over-did these colours then it would ignore the R&B genre however I feel that I have used a perfect amount of these colours. Even though these colours were used the make certain things stand out, it can again open my magazine to more audiences as it gives the R&B genre a softer less stereotyped feel - the younger teen generation may be open to my magazine because of this.