Media Studies Portfolio: I'm Back With More Genre Research!

Here I am researching another genre that I could do for my final project :-) This time I chose to find out more about entertainment magazines and they're pretty interesting! Enjoy:

1. Genre: Entertainment Magazines

2. Genre Conventions – Content
a. Provide information on celebrity gossip or new movies, television shows, books, and music
b. Some may contain relationship rumors such as a new romance or divorce between well-known people
c. Contain lists: “Most Successful People” or “Best New Films”
d. Share celebrities’ “untold” or “private” stories
e. Include reviews, what to expect, or behind-the-scenes of a new film or television show
f. A section of a page may be devoted to book and/or music recommendations, including 'rising' artists and writers
g. Includes a celebrity’s advice or experience
h. May contain an article commemorating a deceased celebrity sharing their life and accomplishments
i. Usually include issues on a person’s family, life after an event, or success, or struggles
j. Must be up-to-date and relevant with new events and media releases
k. May exaggerate details or spread untrue information in order to be more appealing to readers

3. Genre Conventions – Production Techniques
a. Often use flashy colors such as blue, red, and yellow to catch readers’ attention
b. Typically retain the same placement and font of the magazine title across issues to create a uniform product
c. May print a celebrity’s quote on the front cover
d. Often use exclamation and question marks to emphasize titles

e. Usually have a close-up of a celebrity on the cover
f. Smaller images on the sides of the cover give a preview of more people/movies in the issue
g. The selling line is usually placed above the magazine name in a smaller but eye-catching font saying things such as ‘holiday’, ‘summer’, or 'collector's' edition
h. The main cover line pertains to the magazine’s main story, such as a quote from the person on the front cover or the title of the film/TV show
i. “Puffs” are shaped as circles or stars on the cover, saying words such as ‘exclusive’, ‘only in (magazine title)’, ‘shocking’, ‘favorite’
j. The cover usually follows a similar color scheme as the new movie or television show that the issue is focusing on
k. Articles include many pictures related to the story and use flashy colors and fonts to emphasize certain words or titles

4. Magazine Sample #1 – Analysis of How This Magazine Embodies the Genre

Image result for entertainment magazines

This issue from Entertainment Weekly embodies the genre because it provides readers with information on new film and TV releases. The main cover line reads Stranger Things so that readers know that this will be the issue's main focus and that it will be giving them a 'sneak peek' into the show's second season. In smaller font, phrases such as "Who's back?" and "Who's new?" attempt to spike the interest of readers by hinting at information covered in the issue. The main characters of the show are shown on the cover, with an eerie, icy color scheme that fits perfectly with the show's storyline. The red font of the magazine name helps it stand out against the dull blue colors. The cover lines share that there will also be several other films and shows discussed in the issue, including The Good Wife, Black Lightning, and the X-Men Series. Another characteristic of the genre that is depicted in this issue is the selling line, which lures readers in by promising intel on their next obsessions.

5. Magazine Sample #2- Analysis of How This Magazine Embodies the Genre

This issue from People embodies the genre because it gives information on celebrities' lives and advice. The main image is of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, with the main cover image reading: "Doing It Their Way!" The eye-catching subheading highlighted in pink provides additional information and entices consumers to buy the magazine. People often uses pink and yellow to help the information stand out, as shown in this cover. Although the magazine's name is hidden behind the celebrities, the title is easily recognizable because of its usual font and placement. The additional cover lines show that other celebrities and events will be addressed in the issue, such as Jane Fonda and "The New Bachelor". A few puffs are used that say "People Exclusive" and "New Photos", which is another characteristic of the genre. Although the overall theme of the cover uses bright, positive colors, a black rectangle draws attention to a more serious story. As can be seen, this magazine perfectly epitomizes the characteristics of entertainment magazines and effectively draws readers in with bright colors and enticing headings.

6. More Magazine Examples Within the Genre: