GCSE MEDIA

MAGAZINE
RESEARCH
2014/2015
Angel Dewing-Hall

UK tribes
Like the 60s Mods and Rockers and the 70s Punks,
Hipsters are as ubiquitous as Chavs in their role
defining UK youth culture in the 2000s...
Epitomised by Vice magazine, rampant trend-chasing and getting absolutely
wasted, Hipsters are increasingly the most detested Tribe in the UK. Most likely
to be used as a term of derision, Hipster is associated with lacking substance,
arrogance, being unoriginal and more often than not, with being a white
middle-class uni student. Calling someone a Hipster may now be a mockery, but
whichever way you cut it, the Hipster look has definitely come to dominate the
high street.
The Hipster look draws from punk rock and the 90s with a splatting of bygone
subcultures for inspiration. From Soviet prison culture to Grunge, the Beatniks or
white trash chic these disparate influences mean the Hipsters have driven
millennial youth fashion trends more than any other Tribe. From skinny jeans to
the vintage/retro revolution, acid bright colours to animal prints, Aztec print and
dip-dye hair Urban Outfitters brings off-the-shelf Hipster living to the Trendies.
Hipsters popularised fixie bikes, grandma specs, made Lomography and Holga
cameras a regular on teen Christmas lists Red Stripe became the summer drink
of choice, Ketamine the drug, and minimal tech the sound.
With so much influence, whats our problem with these kids? Christian Lorentzen
writes that Hipsters fetishize the authentic and regurgitate it with a winking
inauthenticity and this arrogance and try-hard nature really gets up the back of
a generation proud of keeping it real. Hipsters break-neck turnover through
fads (and huge spending power to support it) mean they are seen as lacking
substance in real meaning by older Tribes, while younger teens recreate their
super cool look and lifestyle in Claires Accessories. Is it fair for Hipsters to get
such a bashing, while the close-by
This is the group of people I would aim my magazine at, with the retro revolution
theme. I feel that the stereotype of people related to hipsters isnt what the
readers of my magazine would be like, they would be quirky and have an edgy
vibe.

MY COLOUR
ANALYSIS
I am going to use a sepia/ black and
white toned colour palette. This is
because it will fit in my vintage/ retro
theme so it adds to the overall image. I
also would like to include some earthy
tones to bring out a rustic theme.

My contribution to my magazine
My contribution to my magazines was the whole product. I took all
of the photographs, sorted out the hair, make-up and clothing of
my models, sorted out the set, wrote my own articles, thought of
my own title and article names. I designed and edited it all myself
also, this being the effects on the photos, the style and format of
my whole magazine. For my audience research I had the help of
my sister in-law Amber, this is because she styles herself on the
type of fashion that my magazine would hold, therefore was the
perfect person to use as my stereotypical target audience.

1. This colour palette contains 5 colours which

I feel go well together, with the two darker
colours, then the strong black, as well as the
two paler colours. I feel this would certainly fit
the indie genre, and more specifically
boys/tomboys.
2. This palette consists of red, black and
yellow. Although these are all bold colours,
they can really make a magazine stand out
and this is used on many magazines. I feel this
would more appeal to boys.

3. This palette is quite a simple one, however

the colours contrast well and the combination
of red and black can give something a strong
presence on the page.

4. In theory this is a boring palette, however

the colours when matched with a vibrant
image can create a bold page. They are also
simple but authentic, with a busy image
simple is good.

5. This palette consists of green, pink, blue

and yellow, but in a pastel style. This gives
vibrant colours a more relaxed feel.

6. The first three colours in this palette are

quite similar, but with the pink they are given
a different edge. The use of the pink makes it
more girly, so would narrow the target
audience.

7. Again these colours are quite girly, but for

an indie genre this can appeal to both boys
and girls. I also believe the colours match up
well.

FRONT COVER

CONTENTS PAGE ANALYSIS

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD ANALYSIS

WHO WOULD READ IT? People who enjoy reading about/dressing in a

vintage way. People who not only enjoy dressing in a vintage way, but also get
inspired and enjoy viewing other peoples interpretations.

AGE?-

The target age would most likely be older people, yet younger people
who are more mature and dress in a vintage way would also be attracted to this
type of magazine.

INTRESTS?-

Music, fashion, instruments, bands, gigs, concerts, festivals,

reading, photography, walks, charity shops, London, local bands, e.t.c.

DRESS SENSE? -

Tea dresses, tweed, flannel pants, suits, denim shirts and

jackets, anything 1920/30/40/50/60 style.

WHAT THEY WOULD WANT IN A MAGAZINE-

Possibly elder
singers, from bands they listen too- iconic people doing little interviews or
modelling. They would also want a lot of modelling shoots, from cute settings
that would also tie in with the vintage theme.

NameAge-

Amber

22

Ethnicity-

White British

Current Work Status? Drama teacher

Likes-

Music, fashion, instruments, bands, gigs, concerts, festivals, reading,

photography, walks, charity shops, London, local bands, e.t.c.

Dress Sense-

Vintage, tea dresses, tweed, flannel pants, suits, denim,

anything 1920/30/40/50/60 style.

Favourite Band?

The Stypes

Music Genre- Indie Rock

What You look for in a magazine- Interesting interviews, alternate

photos and different styling to the stereotypical fashion magazine.
The structural layout of this magazine cover works well. The key points of
the cover fits in the template, with the lining of the masthead, the lip line,
the angle of the sunglasses to the jaw line, all the conventions of the image

The structural layout of this magazine works well. The key points of
this front cover hit the target areas, with the mast head, the
striking eyes, the lip line and bow tie e.t.c

The structural layout of this magazine works well. The lines match up
with key aspects of the cover, the mast head, the picture, the eyes, lips,
jaw line e.t.c.

The structural layout of this magazine doesnt work very well. Some
points hit well but others miss the layout completely. For example it
hits the corner of his eye perfectly, yet if he was moved across
slightly, then the right hand side right angle would hit his jaw line
too, making the structure of the poster work better.

The conventions of this magazine work perfectly. The angles line

up from, the line of the I and the N on Indie, the square hits her
eye, her lip and her jaw line and finally her shoulder. The biggest
triangle cuts cross her cheek bone to make it more prominent
and lastly the right hand side right angle hits the E of indie.

M.A.V.E.
Vintage
M.A.V.E.
Vintage
M.A.V.E

M.A.V.E Vintage
M.A.V.E Vintage
M.A.V.E Vintage

The style of font I liked the most was the 6 th option. I liked the contrast of
the bold font with the gentle vintage font. I think they complement each
other well because of the strength of the contrast.

MY VINTAGE COLLAGE

The main idea I had for the male hair

styles was quiffs. From this I came
across other styles that would be
accessible for my models hair style. The
inspiration I had for this was the looks
of Morrissey and Elvis Costello and from
here my research progressed to include
variations stepping away from the high
quiff.

The type of hair I was focused on was loose curls

and victory rolls. I wanted this style as it would
suit my models face well but also still keeps to the
vintage feel with the ringlets and victory rolls
which is a trademark piece.

The style of makeup I had in mind was

winged eyeliner, heavy brows and a bright
red lip. My inspiration for this look was of
course Marylyn Monroe and Audrey
Hepburn- 2 of the most beautiful women of
all time.

I looked at a very outdoorsy type shoot for my

magazine. I felt that this created a very retro feel
and gave a more vintage feel to the pictures
because of the surroundings. After my research I
had the idea of shooting in front of some little
cottages and old brick-work walls.

The magazine styles I

researched fit the style of
magazine I wanted to
create as they were all
vintage/ indie based
magazines with similar
fashion and styling I
wanted to create with my
own magazine. With the
varied magazines I
looked at I decided about
the model and the style
of the model due to the
magazines which are

I looked at this style of dress to

look at the century I wanted to
focus on. I looked at both
1950s and 1930s style
dresses and then decided that I
preferred the 1930s styles and
therefore dressed my model in
this style of dress. I also liked
the patterned dress such as
floral styles to make the picture
pop.

I looked at these types of clothing styles to look at

different eras in order for my models to suit the
type of magazine I wanted to create. I looked at a
range of different styles/ eras in order to find the
one which I liked the most and therefore the one I
would use for my magazine.