Creative Critical Reflection

1: Using Conventions
Ken Walden
 Using Conventions
• In my magazine cover, I used multiple conventions that reflected typical rap
magazines. For my cover I used the Adumu Regular font type. This font type
was very similar to typical rap magazine fonts and gave off the sense that it
was a hip-hop magazine to the reader. Most rap magazines utilize a bold,
prominent house style. With the house style I used for my cover, and overall
text, I was able to use the typical rap magazine convention of a bold,
prominent font type.
 • In addition to the house style, I was also able
to use a mode of address that closely mirrors
rap magazines. For my mode of address, I
used my subject who was looking directly at
the camera. Like many rap magazines, the
mode of address they use is typically their
Using rapper or artist looking right at the camera
Conventions with a menacing, serious look. Their body
language is also serious and intimidating. My
mode of address was similar to usual rap
magazines as I had my subject cross his arms
and not smile or laugh.
 Using Conventions

• Rap magazines have a masthead that take up a majority of space on the top. I used
this convention of having my masthead directly at the top and being noticeable. I
also used a similar layout of my cover lines to that of a rap magazine. Rap
magazines have their cover lines work with their mode of address as they are
featured around them. I also used anchorage in my cover as my cover lines are
around my mode of address and work with him. The cover lines are also usually
featured on the sides of the magazines. My cover closely mirrors this with the
implementation of the cover lines. I also had the headline be more prominent than
the cover lines so it would stand out more to their reader. In addition to the
headlines, I also used a slogan which I put in the sweet spot.
 Using Conventions
Rap magazines primarily use red, black, and white for their colors. I used this
convention as I had all my text color be either red, black, or white. I followed
the usual color scheme of rap magazines and did not stray away with out of
place colors such as blue, yellow, green, purple, or orange.
 Challenging Conventions
• For my magazine, I challenged the typical conventions of rap magazines
having black text on a white background. For a majority of my pages, I had
the background colored entirely black instead of white. Rather than white
and black text, I used white and red text colors. This challenges the
conventions used by rap magazines as they use white backgrounds with black
text. Reversing this process, I was able to make the text on my magazine
stand out more than a typical rap magazines.
 Challenging Conventions
• In addition to challenging the typical conventions of a rap magazine through
the use of black backgrounds, I also challenged them by my cover photo.
While my mode of address was similar to normal rap magazine covers, my
cover photo included a plane and hanger in the background. This challenges
the usual close close-up shots that rap magazines use. The addition of a
more interesting background in my cover photo entices the reader more than
a normal rap magazine cover photo would. It makes the magazine more
appealing and interesting as a whole as the cover uses more than just the
subject.
 Representing Social Groups
• In my magazine, I represented the social groups of rappers and fans of hip-
hop. I also represented the culture of hip-hop in general. Through the use of
stories such as, “The Age of Aging Rappers,” “Juice Wrld Gone,” and “Nick
Cannon Prays for Eminem,” I represented hip-hop and what was occurring
in that world. These stories represent rappers and the issues they face.