Photoshoot Plan

Institutional Research

XXL is a American Hip Hop magazine published and founded by Harris Publications, in 1997. The target audience for XXL magazine would be young adults for example 16 -34 year old's because most of the time they have quite sexual pictures, which mature readers may appreciate. They have the most current artist on the front cover, so they can connect and relate to the currant generation more. In addition to that they sometimes have a 'throw back' magazine that is dedicated to the 'old school rappers' for example - Tupac, which over 25 audiences will enjoy widening there target audiences.

XXL has a circulation of 204, 459. They have a lot of convergences as you can see at the bottom of their  website http://www.xxlmag.com/ for example - Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and more. XXL is a monthly issue that goes all around America, which is why their readers are mainly of a African American background, which is the same as Vibe magazine because the celebrities on the cover relate to them the most.

Costume for XXL has a lot of variety, it goes from women in their underwear to men in suits. This is because it focuses on the target audiences for example - audiences are more likely to buy a naked women and a clothed man another than the other way round.  Women are mostly framed for the male gaze. 

   
Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine founded by producer Quincy Jones. Vibe is targeted to 18 to 34 year old's young adults as sometimes Vibe cover photos can be quite explicit and sexual - too much for younger readers.  This target audience is mature enough to appreciate the music and the photographs that are inside the magazine. Vibe currently has a circulation of 250, 000 and publishes six times a year with seven regional editions, so its quite frequently published and has a good audience. 71.3% of the audience is made of African - Americans because this magazine is mainly full of hip hop stars which this culture would enjoy reading about. Vibes, convergence consist of a website link, and a twitter and facebook page, they are mostly online based to get a wider range of people looking at there magazine.

The costume for Vibe is usually very smart, unusual or in some cases nothing at all. It always shocks people, but this is why Vibe is such an international success. The target for this magazine are 18 - 34 year old's who are listeners to the Hip Hop and RnB genre. Those are type of audiences that would be interested in this of magazine. Black African American are the predominate ethnic race who purchase this magazine. As the Rap and Hip - Hop culture relates to them the most and a monitory of artist are from the same areas e.g. - L.A, New York and Atlanta etc.

Vibe is aimed at both males and females. The number of males that consume this magazine is 50.5% and females is 49.5% having a magazine aimed at both audience sells the magazine more and gives it more publicity. 

Genre Research

Target audience 
Hip Hop magazines are preliminary 18 to 30 year old's - mostly young adults. Those are Hip Hop's magazine main target audience,as they are the people who are mainly interested in these type of issues and gossip. Also this target audience feel like they can relate to the artist, as most of the styles in this magazines are mainstream and appeal to them the most.

 Iconography  
Hip Hop conventions are the  cool, sexy and collective look. As you can see in these images Hip Hop can be both sexual and smart. The common iconography for Hip Hop are Diamonds, Gold chains, Glamour and Sexual themes e.g. high heels.  They always have a prop to make the artist stand out more and making the target audience wanting to purchase it.

Representation: 
Women are often portrayed as sex symbols for Hip Hop magazines, they are often objectified and framed for the male gaze. As you can see in the images they are wearing a lack of clothing and are both in very sexual positions making them look less educated and having them look more exposed which would make more sells  and bring more attention towards the magazines- as sex does sell. Where as, males are represented are strong characters who are 'one top'  of there music and improving having them look composed together. There are definitely some sexist views in the Hip Hop genre but it also does sell. 


Ethnicity 
The predominate ethnicity for this magazines are black African Americans as most of the artists who are in Hip Hop have started from there position and are from there area and background. For example, audiences will relate to an artist like T.I because he is from Atlanta he is a success story because he did start for the bottom this give him an big following in that part. 

Ages 
Ages in the Hip Hop are mostly young adults as they feel like they connect with the music the most and can relate to what the artist are speaking about. Hip Hop Magazines have a huge following of both males and females with 50% being males and 40% being female it shows that both genders enjoy reading these types of magazines and magazines appeal to all genders.

Body Positions 
Body positions using the my two images as examples: Naya Rivera (at the bottom) is in a very sexual and leaning over, hand on head head type of look looking very inviting and making the audience (both males and females) look at her elongated body. Having females wanting to have her body and having males want to the be with her as she looks very sexy.We also have T.I in a very conventional position of him in a mid shot of him smiling which connects to the text saying "Has the last laugh". Both magazines are both eye catching but for different reasons I'm going to take some of these techniques and put it into my own magazine as they do attract attention. 
Costume

The costume with the Hip Hop genre are for women barely clothed but the conventions are quite cool, and mainstream they usually are dressed in something that everyone does want to wear.  It adds to the conventions to the rich lifestyle. 


I have two images of Miley Cyrus it shows the variety of images for the front cover to the double page spread this is interesting for the readers as you can see a lot different images. This is something I'm going to do when creating my magazine I'm going to have my models in different clothing and positions keeping my magazines interesting.








The history of the Hip Hop genre came from 'old school'. .Hip-hop culture originated in New York among black and Latino ghetto it was there ways of communicating this ways their street culture. Before the 90's Hip Hop was called old school and that was more street dancing popping and locking. After the 90's a new type of Hip Hop was founded with a younger more sexy feel to it and since then it has expanded to what it is today.

.Key record labels have to be Def Jam, Island, Maybach records these are the top labels that everyone whats to be apart of they have the big superstars like Beyonce. Rihanna and etc. Hip Hop genre always have top artist making people love and respect it more. With Hip Hop you know what your going to get and it never disappoints. 

This is a mood board that I've created is to show the history of hip hop and the genre from famous artist e.g - Biggie, Tupac and other rappers who have made a huge musical impact on rappers today.

These are popular music website people go on.
http://www.vibe.com/  
http://www.xxlmag.com/

Four Annotations

Comparing Magazines

Front Cover

College Magazine - Contents

My Front Cover

Preliminary Task: Photoshoot plan

Context Page Pictures

Magazine Sketches

Questionnaire & Analyse

Magazine Sketches Annotations