Digital Mock Up

Magazine Title

I have chosen my magazine title to be 'dark temptation'. I have chosen this title because I think it is catchy and easy to remember but not only that I think it is also something that everyone has a temptation of dark things that we shouldn’t want, also in most cases we always want what we can’t have so the idea of 'dark temptation' is supposed to suggest being tempted by things that shouldn’t tempt you. I also wanted it to remind you of the cynical dark side of our need for things such as alcohol and drugs, but not only that also the temptation and need we have for music in this generation. I do think that my magazine is slightly more targeted at the teenage generation as I have based it on the NME magazine which I think is definitely aimed more so at the teenage audience, I think this is inevitable as the teenage audience are the main people that would be interested in purchasing a music magazine.

I have included some images from various different bands. Some of the bands included are famous, such as the strokes and the vaccines, but I think this is different from using one single individual artist as the focus is taken away from the single person with a band. In the picture above, we are focusing on the style of the band and what they are doing as opposed to who the band are, we are relying on the stereotype of the way they look which is what I wanted to create because readers are going to aspire to dress and act like them, and when this is the initial thing we notice when we look at the photograph then this is a positive because this is the first thing readers will notice. I have retrieved some images of the internet and recreated them to be my own in Photoshop because it is hard to recreate an image like this using my own resources.

I liked the idea of using massive music icons, such as the above, Jimi Hendrix, for my magazine front cover because they instantly draw reader's attention and make an instant positive statement about the magazine. i think you would have to be sensible about which artists you included however, as in some cases the musician may give out a certain impression which is associated with them because of their reputation and so therefore I think it would definitely matter who it was that I included. Artists with troubled backgrounds such as Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears are not great artists to include when trying to promote a magazine to the teenaged audience as they are not always considered inspiring, i think it very much depends on the artists reputation and how popular the artist is with the public as to how many mags will sell as for it to be appealing to the public, the desire to read about the particular artist has to be there. After considering this, i experimented with a few designs that did not include a named, famous artist for the front cover, instead i have included almost faceless photography, this way, the readers are looking completely for the stereotype of the front cover for them to be able to decide whether or not they are interested in reading the magazine. i think it would be difficult to find an artist with a completely untroubled past.

Draft 3

front cover draft 2

Draft 1

Language – the eye-catching colours of white, black and red against the grey background, and the use of hyperboles also makes it stand out more, such as, ‘The Grinch Speaks’ and ‘NME goes head to head with Simon Cowell’ they are a statement in themselves and by using the face of Simon Cowell that is well known and linked to the x factor which is the main name included on the front cover. It grabs our attention and makes us want to read the magazine.

Institution – NME magazine

Ideology - values of NME include: fashion, music, trends, gossip about new and old band and music in general but as opposed to other magazines found on the high-street it does not feed off gossip as much and does not write such horrid gossip instead focuses on mainly the music and what the artist is doing next with the occasional story to keep readers interested. There is no horrible story printed on the cover of the magazine about a stars life instead there is just stories about various different music artists, and upcoming bands and the state of the music industry today and also reviews about primal scream and various different artists and therefore that is something that I think particularly the teenage audience would want to read about as they are so music involved and the music being included in mostly stereotyped to be from this generation.

Audience – people interested in music trends. People who are not interested in reading about celebrities, perhaps more focused on people who are interested in the music industry and the latest top artists, that may get the magazine every month so that they can keep up with what music people are listening to in the particular time period, the impression the magazine gives is it is aimed at the younger more interested in the trends of new music that features in the charts.

Representation – the image is representing dominance and cheekiness by the impression on Simon Cowell looks very sly in the picture but similarly to Rihanna on the previous front cover, he still looks bold and confident. I think this is an image that some people may aspire to have especially boys because they may desire to be feared and admired by the overwhelming confidence, also despite looking cheeky he looks cool and not afraid to do whatever face he wants to and therefore I think this could be seen as a positive and perhaps an image that some people may aspire to have which is I think why they have used him especially, I think they have also chosen to use Simon Cowell as he is an obvious strong image that he portrays, he seems confident and people know him to not be afraid of voicing his opinions.  I also think that fact that he is the main judge of the x factor is important because that in itself gives him some sort of leadership which is what will make the audience put him on a pedestal.

Language – the eye-catching colours of white and black against the red background, and the use of hyperboles also makes it stand out more, such as, ‘I’m not dead!’ and ‘artic monkeys split!’ they are a statement in themselves and by using the face of Dave Grohl that is well known and linked to the foo fighters which is the main name included on the front cover. It grabs our attention and makes us want to read the magazine.

Institution – NME magazine

Ideology - values of NME include: fashion, music, trends, gossip about new and old band and music in general but as opposed to other magazines found on the high-street it does not feed off gossip as much and does not write such horrid gossip instead focuses on mainly the music and what the artist is doing next with the occasional story to keep readers interested. There is no horrible story printed on the cover of the magazine about a stars life instead there is just stories about various different music artists, and upcoming bands and the state of the music industry today and also reviews about primal scream and various different artists and therefore that is something that I think particularly the teenage audience would want to read about as they are so music involved and the music being included in mostly stereotyped to be from this generation.

Audience – people interested in music trends. People who are not interested in reading about celebrities, perhaps more focused on people who are interested in the music industry and the latest top artists, that may get the magazine every month so that they can keep up with what music people are listening to in the particular time period, the impression the magazine gives is it is aimed at the younger more interested in the trends of new music that features in the charts.

Representation – the image is representing anger, Dave Grohl looks very fierce in the picture but similarly to Rihanna on the previous front cover, he still looks bold and confident and looks as if you would not want to get on the wrong side of him which I think again is perhaps an image that some people may aspire to have especially boys because they may desire to be feared, also despite looking angry he looks cool and not afraid to do whatever face he wants to and therefore I think this could be seen as a positive and perhaps an image that some people may aspire to have which is I think why they have used him especially, I also think that fact that he is the lead singer of the band is important because that in itself gives him some sort of leadership which is what will make the teenage audience put him on a pedestal.





Language – the language used on here is very important as we see the rebellious connotation of the stars being used instead of letters for the effect of making the cover seem more rebellious and more exciting with the hidden meaning and almost the clues that have to be found out by us, and worked out by the readers. Also the use of capitals helps to draw our attention; also by it being situated in the middle of the cover it draws our attention to the model even more. There are also many other artists listed in the bottom left corner of the magazine and they consist of many different genres from idie to R’n’B so therefore the magazine will appeal to a wider audience.

Institution – NME magazine

Ideology - values of NME include: fashion, music, trends, gossip about new and old band and music in general but as opposed to other magazines found on the highstreet it does not feed off gossip as much and does not write such horrid gossip instead focuses on mainly the music and what the artist is doing next with the occasional story to keep readers interested. There is no horrible story printed on the cover of the magazine about rhiannas life instead there is just stories about various different music artists, and upcoming bands and th state of the music industry today and therefore that is something that I think particularly the teenage audience would want to read about as they are so music involved and the music being included in mostly sterotyped to be from this generation.

Audience – people interested in music trends. People who are not interested in reading about celebrities, perhaps more focused on people who are interested in the music industry and the latest top artists, that may get the magazine every month so that they can keep up with what music people are listening to in the particular time period, the impression the magazine gives is it is aimed at the younger more interested in the trends of new music that features in the charts.

Representation – the connotation of the bird on her shoulder is almost pirate-like and pirates are evil and naughty so that is the image of rhianna they are trying to portray, the fact rhianna is not smiling shows rebellious, and the way she is stood shows her attitude, she looks bold and confident instead of shy and timid, I think this may appeal more to the target intended, which of course is teenage, the way she is bold and confident may inspire teenagers to be more like her which makes her more of an idol, also she is relating with the stereotype of teenage years and being full of attitude and being rebellious and therefore that is what rhianna is reinforcing here in this photograph. Rhianna has a very unique style also which I think some people may envy so this is also another thing I think has been puroposefully included in order to make us envy her and  aspire to be more like her and confident like her.