Magazine Research Post #1c: Sub-Genre I chose

 Women's Fashion Magazine

The subgenre I chose was Women's Fashion. I find the articulation and presentation of women's fashion magazines to be sleek, concise, geometrically pleasing, and aesthetically promising. For my research, I chose Vogue, since it is the most popular Women's Fashion magazine around the world. 

Vogue is an influential American fashion and lifestyle magazine. It was founded in 1892 as a weekly high-society journal, created by Arthur Baldwin Turnure, and later bought out and transformed into a women's fashion magazine focused on beauty, composure, and etiquette. 

In this issue's cover, featuring Naomi Campbell, a British supermodel, she is shown posing a black power chair. She is seen wearing a silky black dress, which matches seamlessly with the power chair. Campbell draws the reader's attention, posing in a away that is elegant, but demeaning and demanding of respect. The supermodel is alluring using the use of dominance-imposing articulation, while still exerting typical feminine features. The draping and silky dress exudes elegance, with it falling on the models with awe-inspiring conformity. These contrasts help establish the supermodel's already demanding presence. 

Moreover, the masthead stays behind the model, which created a three-dimensional effect that draws in even more attention to the supermodel. Also, the masthead covers nearly a fourth of the cover, while still maintaining a minimalistic look that is pleasant to read. Along with the coverlines, the masthead is in black, which is the same colors as the chair and the Campbell's dress. This creates an accent color that is appealing to the eye and maintains that minimalistic look. Additionally, the coverlines are in hierarchical lettering, which keep the cover easy to digest. However, the headline "Reframing Fashion", is in white, which adds a nice contrast the the black accent color of the cover, while simultaneously becoming a focal point of the cover. These bold contrasts reinforce the brand's minimalism and confidence, while keeping a modern style and drawing the reader's attention in a flawless manner. 

Reflection

Learning what the general conventions of the models chosen and how they interact with the cover will be important in creating a successful magazine for this course. I think knowing how the model is articulated and posed will help me gain a better understanding of the reader's perception when it comes to the cover of magazines. Furthermore, I think learning the use of hues within the cover will greatly improve the overall aesthetic of my magazine once I begin creating it in the future.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vogue-American-magazine

Magazine Research Post #1b: Sub-Genres

Vogue (Popular Women's Fashion Magazine)

Vogue has a rich history of talented cover illustrations and fashion authority. Over the years, Vogue has evolved with the coming times, reaching to encompass the broader world of culture, entertainment, beauty, politics, and the arts. It has had many collaborations with more than competent photographers such as Horst P. Horst and Irving Penn.

And so, here's how they create their stunning covers

1. They choose a theme, typically influenced by upcoming fashion trends, cultural events, and global issues. They then conduct an editorial meeting where Vogue editors, and creative directors finalize the central theme or message. After finalizing, they choose the star to be the face of the cover. They consider cultural relevance, current projects, and alignment with the chosen theme

2. Vogue's representatives get in touch with the star to outline expectations, dates, and other details 

3. Basing on the theme, the location is scouted and chosen, or a studio set is designed. Vogue cover artists, photographers, stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, art directors, and set designers all commune together, Then, the editor takes care of the cover story and picks the best image for the cover.

4. On the day of the shoot, the creative team comes together to bring the concept to life. 

5. From the photos taken, the editorial team selects the image of the star that will make it to the cover. It is based on multiple factors, including the alignment of the theme, visual impact, and how well the image will reproduce in print.

6. While the visuals are pertinent, fashion writers work on the cover story and other editorial content

7. Designing the layout, which includes the image and textual content, is important to ensure a visually appealing cover.

GQ (Popular Men's Fashion Magazine)

GQ notes they are the "global flagship of men's fashion", with award-winning journalism and elevated photography, design, reporting, and writing in the men's space. The magazine is a mix of competent photography and writing aimed at young-men who are interested in fashion, culture, entertainment, sport, and relationships. 

The conventions of the cover is shown on this issue of GQ. First, the highlight of this issue is a celebrity who has the harmonious looks to attract the reader's attention. The rapper, Travis Scott, is known for his charm and his popular high-profile tracks in the music industry. Scott demands the attention of the reader, with cigarette smoke wisping around the cover to showcase and complement Scott's already intense charisma. The coverline, "Men Of The Year", highlights the main pull of the magazine, while also enticing the reader as to why Travis Scott is featured on the magazine to begin with. Moreover, the masthead appears behind the cover star, which draws even more attention to Scott and while also creating a "3-D" effect that makes the cover star "pop" out. 

  

More coverlines also assure the reader that the magazine is worth buying by highlighting fashion awards alongside the masthead.. On top of this, the cover is easy to navigate for the reader and is geometrically legible, with a clear and concise hierarchy of lettering. 

Reflection

Learning the basic conventions of different magazines can put a broad scope on what I should do and shouldn't. Moreover, learning these basic conventions will help me in the long run once I get around planning and creating my brief. Considering the research that needs to be done, I think knowing a basic outline of the conventions will  narrow down exactly what I should research and how I can apply it to my brief.

https://www.gq.com/info/about-gq

https://www.vogue.com/about-us

https://glamobserver.com/behind-the-scenes-of-magazines-the-making-of-a-vogue-cover/

Magazine Research Post #1a: Genres and their Conventions

GENRE RESEARCH: Genres and Conventions 

 

Genre 1: Fashion (Genre I am choosing)

The fashion industry is a multibillion-dollar global enterprise that is focused on making and selling different clothes. One may find different aspects of the industry, noting the distinguishing features of “high fashion” and ordinary clothing, or “mass fashion” The word fashion is simply defined as the type of style or styles of clothing and accessories worn at a certain time period by different groups of people. There may be notable differences between different fashion designers shown on the runways of Paris and the mass-produced sportswear and/or street styles.  

 

Covers  

1. Selects a theme, fashion trends, cultural events, and global issues. Editorial meetings are scheduled to finalize an idea and Mood Boards are used to curated to the vision of the cover 
2. Reach out the cover star, outlining expectations and dates 
3. Planning location and set, ensuring it complements clothes, accessories, and the overarching aesthetic 
4. Photo shooting entails stylists, photographers, makeup artists, and the art director to ensure the envisioned concept to brought to life 
5. After a photo is chosen, it undergoes meticulous editing   
6. Layout design is also pertinent in complementing the cover image 

 

Genre 2: Food  

Recipes of Food Magazine: 

1. The recipes in the magazine are usually submitted by the readers 
2. Recipes submitted are tested in the kitchen by staff. When selecting the recipes, testers look for mass appeal, easy-to-find ingredients, easy directions, and accessibility to readers. Most importantly, the submitted recipes that do pass will not alter in any way to stay faithful to the publisher. 
3. The public-relations section of the magazine encourages competition of different entries 

3. 
   

Elements of Food Magazine: 

Effective food styling: every dish. Ingredient, and/or prop is captured in a way that adheres to the reader’s appetite. 

Diverse recipes: clear instructions and seamless layouts, all complemented by graceful photos of the corresponding food 

Engaging storytelling: features on food cultures, interviews with chefs, and different travel articles 

Sources

https://www.britannica.com/art/fashion-industry 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vogue-American-magazine 

https://glamobserver.com/behind-the-scenes-of-magazines-the-making-of-a-vogue-cover/ 

https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/what-makes-taste-of-home-the-most-popular-food-magazine-in-the-world?srsltid=AfmBOopvsGXvLfTufm683_a06j2LUnivRHgoOlnAe4u20u7sooUuOLEv 

https://www.craving.co.nz/blog/what-does-a-food-magazine-include