question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

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I have got my front cover, and also a copy of XXL which is a rap magazine in America. I am now going to compare the two and look at the similarities and differences between them.

The first obvious similarity is the black and white colour, the two magazine are trying to go for a classic and mature look. Both of the people in the pictures look like they are contemplating, they both look very sophisticated and mature, mature not just physically but mentally. Most magazines these days have pictures of people smiling and jumping in front of the camera around lots of flowers and clouds although in these there is either a clear white background or a black background - once again going for a simple but sophisticated look with the magazine. Both models are wearing a type of clothing on their heads, this obviously symbolises something within the rap culture. On both pictures there is some lighting which is on their face and also on both of them the pictures are not showing their whole faces, on the right is a profile shot where on the left it is almost straight on but there is a side of his face we can't see. Neither of them are smiling, once again this could mean that these magazines show the more serious and sophisticated side of this genre of music- rather than all the "gossip".