Analyse 'drugs the facts' and 'The Score,' looking at how genres have been used and subverted in order to attract specific target audiences. How effective is this?

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Analyse ‘drugs the facts’ and ‘The Score,’ looking at how genres have been used and subverted in order to attract specific target audiences. How effective is this?

‘Drugs the facts’ and ‘The Score’ are both produced by the Health Education authority for a specific purpose, to inform young people of the dangers of drugs. ‘The Score’ may also have been produced to offer help to drug users as the National Drugs helpline is displayed clearly on the front cover. Both of the leaflets are specifically designed to appeal to a young audience, ‘drugs the facts’ is aimed at young teenagers between the ages 11-14 years old, whereas, ‘The Score’s target audience consists of  more mature teenagers, between the ages 14-16 years old. Each leaflet uses generic features found in a teenage magazine. ‘The Score’ also borrows genres found in computer software, television programmes and scientific textbooks. ‘Drugs the facts’ uses generic features found in a teenage magazine throughout the leaflet but have also used and subverted genres found in a scratch card.

             The front covers for each of these leaflets are particularly important, as they are the main devices used to initially attract the target audience. ‘The Score’ uses a metallic coloured background, which is dark in colour, this may represent the dark, sinister side to drugs. The psychedelic colouring may symbolise hallucinations, an effect you could experience when using drugs. ‘The Score,’ heading stands out against the disordered background through the use of typography. It is in bold white text, which is clear, and shadowed to make it more distinct. The title, ‘The Score’ may have two hidden meanings, one clarification is that ‘the score’ means the facts, whereas another interpretation is that ‘the score’ is a slang term used when purchasing drugs: ‘scoring.’ The circle of symbols surrounding the title may be attempting to overcome apathy on the part of the target audience as they may be unfamiliar with some or all of the symbols and they would therefore be intrigued by them and read the leaflet in order to discover the symbols meanings.

             The front cover of ‘drugs the facts’ is intense with colour and contains a lot of information about the contents of the leaflet. The typography is very varied in order to attract the target audience by making it more engaging and interesting to read. The background of the leaflet is similar to a disco ball type pattern representing perhaps a club or disco where drug use is more likely to occur.

              There is a moderate sized picture of an eye positioned almost in the centre of the front cover, connoting vigilance and insight. Above this are specific names of drugs the target audience might not be accustomed to therefore encouraging their curiosity, prompting them to read the leaflet. The general layout is crowded and offset, to entice a younger audience who may be attracted to the colours and aspects used.

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            There is particular emphasis on ‘problem page’ through use of typography, which is a borrowed convention from a teenage magazine, a convention likely to appeal to the target audience. As the NHS is a respected organisation their logo assures the target audience of the accuracy of the information being presented in the leaflet, it also connotes authority due to the supremacy of the NHS, a government organisation. The NHS is a health orientated organisation, so their logo being present on the front of the leaflet represents the seriousness of the issue, which is the ...

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