Groups and their feedback

My group in class today was able to provide very good feedback to my project, and I tried my best to give feedback that I felt would help them as they work on their projects. One of the most helpful aspects of the group session was the round table-like style of the feedback, where everyone could give their feedback.

I openly shared my thoughts with my fellow group members and readily received their comments. One of the primary things I shared were my plans/schedule and see how viable ,y group mates thought they were. They gave solid advice, and I will try to list is as best as I can:

1) Materialize as fast as I can

2) Be comfortable working until the last possible second to get everything right

3) Get writing, brainstorming and learning how to edit as soon as possible

4) Define minimalism for yourself, and try to latch on to a specific brand of minimalism


 Though I am still unsure in how to proceed on certain aspects of the project, I do have a better notion of how I can improve. Overall, the experience was extremely positive and I hope we can do it again. Alright guys, I'm very excited, Let's get this bread. :)

I AM SO CONFUSED

Sooooooooooooo...Film is NOT an option given the fact I completely forgot I had a partner or how to fashion in this project so we're back to a fashion magazine. I am not opposed because I high-key have everything figured out, it's now just a matter of readjusting my plans to the fact this is gonna be crunch execution and I also have to like...figure out minimalism (expect a minimalism blog later). Other than that, I am thriving or at least trying to thrive. I'll probably dedicate myself to figuring out stylish minimalism over the next couple of days.

Starting from scratch due to my constant indecisiveness

So...

I hate the idea of a fashion magazine. I'll be honest, I liked it for a while...that is until I came upon the conundrum that was not enjoying my research or ideas. As I lay awake at around midnight (as I usually do on school nights), I found looking into the basics a chore, with every attempt making me lose more and more interest in the IDEA that was fashion magazine, born from my dreams to one day be on a GQ cover. But as I lay frustrated I realized I loved everything about films. Granted, I had just finished watching the Oscars, but regardless, I really enjoyed everything about movies. Due to this, I started to read about file (more for leisure than research), and came to the conclusion that I would far rather take on a film opening for a project than a fashion magazine.

I recognize the serious problems that restarting could bring, especially with my bad case of Procrastinate-ocitis, but I honestly believe this is going to be a much more enjoyable experience, both for myself (the creator) and anyone who stumbles upon this blog (the consumer).

Alright then, let's get this bread.

What is a fashion anyway?

While trying to think of how the magazine would best be made, I stumbled upon the problem that I have a very limited concept of how aesthetics and design choices work together. To fix this, I delved deep into the realm of aesthetics (and scouring google images) to understand how I want my magazine to look like. Although I don't have a specific design yet, I have more of an idea about the direction I want to take my magazine.

Man with a plan(ning)

In my quest to create the best possible magazine, I sat down in front of my house's magazine basket and looked through in hopes of finding inspiration. What I realized was: wow, these magazines are really well made. I rattled my brain trying to think of how I could achieve such a sleek, professional look. I eventually realized that the key to that would be planning and execution of that plan. After a few minuted thinking I devised a rudimentary outline/time frame for my plan:

1. Week 1: Research and brainstorming
2. Week 2: Finalizing vision for project and preliminary casting
3. week 3: Writing, casting and location finding
4. week 4: Shoot+editing+Putting magazine together
5. Week 5: Finishing the product

REPRESENTIN' IN HERE!

1.  Describe a group, issue, or event that you may want to represent within your project.  

The men's fashion magazine has traditionally over-used white models, and thrown all other potential models by the wayside. For a project undertaking mens fashion, a priority would be to represent more than just white models, bringing about an adequate amount of diversity.

The lack of diversity in men's fashion magazines can be chalked up to a lot of things, such as the creation of most magazines during times of racial segregation and overabundance of white models. However, in an increasingly diverse America, it's very important to include all types of individuals of varying ethnicities and races.

Taking steps to promote diversity can show fashion for all groups of readers. This representation of models of color solves for the over-representation of white models, as well as broadens potential readers.

2.  Analyze two examples within the media of how this group, issue or event is already represented.  

The media has started to become more inclusive in its portrayal of models of color. Fashion companies are reaching a time of "peak representation" by starting to actively hire more models of color. Magazines are starting to represent other races by featuring celebrities.

Magazines like GQ have started to more actively feature non-white celebrities in recent issues, which is a departure from their almost exclusively white repertoire. These steps help secure an active place for representation on the magazine realm. These steps have ensured a new way to represent inside of mens fashion.

Despite these strides, there's still steps that magazines can take to adequately represent multiple groups.

3.  How do you feel about these representation characteristics?  Are they fair? Correct?

These representations characteristics are fair, yet they are extremely limited. This is largely because they are predominantly featuring non-white celebrities, and while that's certainly progress, it's very selective representation.

These representations are usually extremely positive and they are required steps towards more frequent representation, yet they are tying down POC to the standards of celebrities and doesn't let them step out of famous shadows and simply be individuals.

These steps towards representation need to be far more sweeping and inclusive of the average person, and not over-represent celebrities.

4.  Which representation characteristics would you retain?  Which would you challenge?

I would certainly keep the showcasing of celebrities of color in fashion, as they have every right to be part of talks about representation. I would, however, ensure that representation is more inclusive towards the average person of color.

This would be accomplished by seeking out models of color from agencies in efforts to broaden the umbrella of representation. By finding more average models with average stories, we expand the message of inclusion and represent the average person of color in America who would be reading the magazine.

This goes a long way for overall representation, and is a necessary step towards accurately representing minority groups.

Genre 2: electric boogaloo

1. The genre is Sports magazines
2. Genre conventions: Usually more colorful or lively than other magazine, often featuring action shots and a multitude of colors. Letters and headlines are featured in bold so that they can stand out amongst the many things going on the cover. Athletes or models are wearing their sports wear in most cases. If action shots aren't used, the model will pose with a ball or something related to their sport. They target men most if not all of the time and often objectify women.
3. Genre conventions – High Key lighting and low angles. Action shots featured on covers. Targets men by marketing towards "masculinity". Use of bold colors, often several.  Bold lettering to grab attention. Uses allure of celebrities or of other factors that will attract readers. Female athletes often shown wearing little clothing, whereas their male counterparts are usually in full uniform.
4. Film/magazine sample #1 –Sports Illustrated. Serving as the go-to sports magazine for sports content as far as magazines go. They feature mainly male sports stars and portray them in a traditional modeling setting. They feature bold letters to make stories and features noticeable. Their well-established conventions makes them a recognizable face in the sports magazine world, which allows them to experiment without fearing a loss of readers.
5. Film/magazine sample #2 – ESPN the magazine. Similar to Sports Illustrated, it features high-profile athletes and portrays them in a typical modeling setting. It uses most of the bod color and letter schemes more creatively than Sports Illustrated would. ESPN the magazine serves as a print companion to ESPN the actual station, which allows for content overlap.

6. Runner's world

Pro Football weekly

Inside Sports

Baseball Magazine

USA Today Sports Weekly