Generic Research: Intertextuality - Atypical

                                               Atypical 

• I did some research, mentioned in my questionnaire feedback, to help me incorporate intertextuality into my mental health front cover. I discovered a very exceptional series called Atypical that I think reinforces positivity surrounding mental health and really challenges society’s beliefs that it is a taboo topic or that people suffering from it are odd or abnormal.
• The main character, Sam, is diagnosed with autism. He is eighteen years old and the plot is based around him trying to navigate through being a teenager whilst also having difficulties managing being on the spectrum. Whilst he does encounter a few bullies, he is surrounded by family and friends that help and support him relentlessly. Moreover, some of the bullies later on even become his friends once they get to know him and educate themselves more.
• The show reinforces positivity around mental health through multiple characters and challenges many negative stereotypes surrounding the topic. Such as, the show highlights that having therapy shouldn’t be shameful but really a positive experience that can help guide someone through difficult situations that they may encounter. Sam towards the end of the show, has grown in confidence and with the help of his attentive therapist, he is able to find healthier methods of processing his emotions rather than panicking to the extreme.
• In addition, Sam’s father Doug, later in the show develops to have panic attacks and having to take medication. Originally, he is embarrassed to take the medicine and mentions he doesn’t want to seem weak or abnormal (like people viewed Doug’s father when he was a child because he too suffered from panic attacks regularly) but after some character development, he learns that sometimes it’s okay to not be okay and starts to get on the mend.
• All in all, this show is extremely uplifting to watch and I think it is an extraordinary example of how important mental health awareness and positivity is in not only in society but the media, which is what in today’s world most often influences the public’s opinions and attitudes. Which from my previous research, it is apparent my target demographic spends the most time on social media.
• For my mental health front cover, I will incorporate some intertextual references to the show through perhaps pictures of penguins (relevant to the show, as Sam is very interested in the North Pole) and a reference to the page they can find an article reviewing Atypical.
• As a bonus, all the references Sam makes to the North Pole are actually also raising awareness of the environmental issues society is facing at the moment, such as global warming and loss of habit for species that live there.
• Although society has gotten better around the topic of mental health, there's still lots to improve and shows like this are helpful.

Statement of Intent: First Draft

How do you intend to use the four areas of the theoretical framework to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of your chosen brief? (approx 500 words)

• Product 1

My magazine will use a formal mode of address and sophisticated language that fits the vocabulary of my socially conscious, middle to upmarket 16-25 year old target demographic. I will use a variation of play on words for different features such as because the title of my magazine is ‘Fresh Voices’, I will use different subheadings that incorporate both words. Moreover, I will use my designated colour palette to highlight the important subheading and masthead to create a sense of brand identity. I will incorporate codes and conventions such as feminism into my first front cover which will feature a successful and talented female model, who will not be a celebrity for relatable purposes, will be dressed professionally with minimal make up and not overly sexualised for the male gaze as most modern magazines do. The subheadings will anchor the messages and achievements of the model and will be commemorating her for her mind and hard work not for her looks and body. As the print magazine industry is declining in sales over the recent decade, I will make both the topics approachable and relatable to my target demographic and aim to make the successful female model for the first front represent a positive female role model for readers.

    The second magazine front cover I will be creating will include a male model, who too is not a celebrity, to ensure audience relatability, and who speaks out about struggling with mental health and be a positive role model for young readers that may also be suffering. His headline will be about his courage and resilience to not give up trying even when things are difficult, the importance of raising awareness and the ways he has learnt to cope with it over the years. His body language will express a sense of victory and reflect the inner peace he has found. I will include illustrations surrounding him that will anchor the topic and the messages the magazine is trying to give across, surrounding raising mental health awareness and open discussions. Both magazines will present a clear house style, consistent colour palette and typography -sans-serif- and both to contain a clear cohesive sense of brand identity, with a link of call of action on the front cover with the web address for their online website to promote cross digital convergence.

How do you intend to link your media products to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the digitally convergent nature of your media production?

Website

To include cross digital convergence between my magazine and its online website I will use a consistent use of house style (between both the print and online version),  formal mode of address, content in the articles, typography, cohesive colour palette and  similar images with the addition of a few more that anchor the message of the article. I aim to include hyperlinks in texts that transport the reader to another web page with another article that is relevant to the topic at hand. I also intend to implement hidden easter eggs when you click on an image, which will allow users to enter and win a prize that will also be advertised on the front cover of the print magazine to promote cross media convergence. Moreover, I will include links to the magazine’s social media pages and include a comment box to increase audience interaction as it been shown in Shirky’s End of Audience theory, today’s audience is no longer passive and want to interact with the media they consume. To create a cohesive sense of brand identity between both the print and online magazine, I will include a similar layout between the two forms of media and create a user friendly platform that is easy to navigate. I will attempt include intertextuality through references to shows that relate to mental health and the female model’s profession.