Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Uses

Creating my media product, (magazine) I followed the basic layout concepts used by all relatively, simple magazines as it was my first attempt at designing one. I wanted to follow the current and effective styles that music genre magazines use currently, particularly indie and quirky types. Therefore from secondary market research on these types of magazines, I tried to incorporate similar features into my final product. An example of this would be the position of the Masthead, as it is placed centrally at the top which it is for the majority of magazines since it is the first thing the audience sees and gives them a sense of what genre the magazines is advertising.

Develop However, each component I have used has been already been used in this type of media before but I have tried to develop and change the stereotypical conventional elements to make it an indifferent product than others. For example I drew inspiration from a retro magazine issue of ‘Rock&Roll' which consisted of a single black and white image plastered on to a black background. The core image I used for my front cover is a single image being mirrored, immediately leading the audience’s attention to be drawn to the central image as it is the most, uniquely designed part of the product. This challenges the normal conventions of what a front cover image should be as it’s not classed as a singular image and predominately fills the page completely.

How does your media product represent particular

social groups?

The social group I have catered to would be young adults, specifically 17-21 and primarily a female audience. My media product would attract people interested in the genre of Indie, Soul rock and alternative rock. The colour scheme used, is once more aimed to appeal mainly to women. Through the use of having fuchsia with the contrast of black and white it makes the fuchsia more prominent and stands out boldly. My magazine supports the conventions on an Indie magazines social group as it’s normally aimed at young adults, (15-21) who are students in either College or university. Students embody the music themselves as they want to have a sense of freedom and liberation which Indie music allows for them to fulfil. It enables them not be pressured by society as they can start their own trends allowing for them to be comfortable as they are.

My media product would be relatable for people of all ethnicities, as the genre doesn’t limit or subdue people based upon nationality. Whereas regarding upper class audience, it would be doubtful that they would purchase the magazine as the generally have no interest in ‘trivial’ music such as the genre of Indie as it doesn’t fit in with the image of being prim and proper. The genre also frequently excludes the knowledge of upper class people and is commonly known to verbally insult them in songs.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

A media institution that would distribute my media product, are small, edgy, independent stores (record) that locate in Greater London, such as Camden. Camden market would be an ideal setting for my media product as it supports independent stores and upcoming artists. It has a combination of social and differential economic conditions making it idyllic for all finical situations. For example “All Ages Record” would be a perfect option to issue my media product from, as they already support independent artists, meaning the location is well suited, as the type of people who frequently visit the store are more likely to be intrigued by the magazine. As well as this it’s highly likely that the customers and shoppers that visit stores similar to “All Ages Records” will be students, as they tend to visit areas alike Camden, such as SOHO and Shoreditch; as they are places that have a chic, edgy vibe. These are idyllic locations for the type of consumers I would try to attract.

The absolute importance of selecting the right distributor for my music magazine was that with the wrong location my media product wouldn’t sell or appeal to my target audience.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My media product is aimed primarily at females rather than males.

Through my media product, I attempted to create an ambience that relates to late teens and early adults (which is the typical demographic) by reinforcing current, trending factors in the Indie music industry currently. Through primary and secondary research on social groups, my target audience links with ‘socio-economic classes’ of both Hedonists and Post-Modernists. They both share alike interest of relishing in life whether full time or in their youthful years.

My media product focuses on a ‘sub-society’ of people that attended festivals and gigs, which I have incorporated in both the contents and double page spread. The mood and attitude of the models used are a replicate of my targeted social group to match their attitudes making it more appealing towards the audience. In reality, music represents the social group you are associated with as it identifies you entirely, showing everyone who you are. The word ‘indie’ originates from independent; it denotes a musical attitude connected with the indication of freedom. The significance of ‘indie’ as a sub culture is the raw, authenticity that the musical values have upon people. The majority of indie bands are obscure, giving them totally liberation on the styles and techniques used when producing music matching to the personas of many indie fans.

The typical, stereotyped ‘Indie style’ is defined to be casual and dressed down to be viewed as being unique and individual, a form of rebellion against social conventions.

Drug use-

Location: • Festivals• House Parties• Parks• Abandoned Houses.

Type:• Weed • Ecstasy• LSD• Magic Mushrooms• DMT

Alcohol-

Location: House Parties• Festivals• Streets

Type:

• Beer • Cider • Spirits (Vodka and

Sambuca)

Cigarettes brands- • Marlboro• Winston• Golden Gate

Hang out places-

• Camden • Shoreditch • SOHO• Market Places• Thrift Shops• Festivals• Raves

Brands-

• Levi• Harrington Jackets • Ray-Bands• Fred Perry• Vintage

Fashion (Female)

• Converse• Dr.Martins• Adidas • Creepers • Skinny Jeans• Ray-bands (Aviators)• Fishnet tights• Flannels • T-shirts• Dress shirts • Piercing• Tattoos

Personality

• Moody • Aggressive• Rough• Rude• Quiet• Scruffy

Make-up

• Dark Lipsticks

• Heavy Eye makeup

• Pale• Dark Nail

Varnish

How did you attract/address your audience?I addressed and attracted my audience by making a product that related to them, using both stereotypical elements that they’d be able to relate to, such as the use of formal and informal language mixed together as I didn’t want to undermine the audience with the lack or overuse of ‘slang’. After the photoshoot, I examined all photos and decided to use a close up shot of the model as it showed a clearer, more expressive tone I wanted the magazine to exhibit. The facial expression I directed the model to use represents a rebellious and anarchic attitude, which would appeal to my target audience as they can relate to being defiant as a result of their ‘culture’, current stage in life and their own personal interests of things such as festivals, drinking and the possibility of illegal raves. I edited the selected photo three times, which resulted in them all presenting very different modes. One was the original print with certain features, such as the skin to be heightened and rich looking. The second was simply black and white, however I finally settled on a black and white version of the photo but extra editorial features of a vibrant fuchsia colour that was used to outline the side features of the models face, with the lips being fully highlighted in the fuchsia shade to emphasis the sexual portion that links with the genre of Indie. An occurring problem with the specific image was that it had been taken in a Landscape format whereas magazines are generally portrait. On my first attempt at fixing this problem I stretched the image; however this gave an unrealistic depiction of the models facial appearance, which led me back to square one. After viewing multiple of other well-known magazines I came across an ‘Elle’ issue of a mirror like affect cover which reflected the viewers face. From this I advanced towards my own idea of having the model being reflected; as if it was from the view point of a mirror. I am pleased with the main image, as I feel it reflects the target audience seamlessly, even with the dispute that the photo used appeared to be more of a fashion statement, projecting the values of beauty rather than music. When in reality fashion and music go hand in hand. Within regards to the audience it is effective as readers will be attracted to the specific styles shown in the magazines, since it will appeal to their own personal preference concerning fashion. For my contents I used a specific image of two musicians that I had recently seen at a Camden Gig that was in located at their Music Company’s studio; which is very obscure to people that aren’t attracted to the Indie sound, which further appeals to my audience as they get the chance to also explore community’s that relate to them.

Another big concern was the right type of font to use that would give the magazines an element of ‘sheek’ and for it not to seem too dull or too eccentric. I used bold lettering for my masthead as it is what attracts a reader to a magazine. It reads the word ‘Aubade’ meaning a piece of music suited for the dawn or early morning which reflects both the main subject of music and the particular genre of Indie. The writing on the sleeve is in a smaller font, it is the conventional way for it to be displayed as it entices the reader to take a closer look at the magazine to see what it has to offer. The font used in the contents is simple and minimal in comparison to the font used on the front cover as The colour scheme used on the front cover consists solely of white and fuchsia which matches the colours used within the central image. The colour choice I have used would appeal more towards a female audience, as a lot of fuchsia has been used in both central image and writing on the sleeve of the cover.

Contents Page Images

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the process of making my media product I used existing magazines as a guideline to help me construct and picture how I wanted the layout for my Cover, contents and double page spread. This allowed for me to further develop my initial ideas.

In the whole process of constructing my media product I have learnt a great deal regarding using various technologies. For example when setting up a blog on ‘blogger’ it displayed the week by week process I went through in order for me to create my final product, which was provided to I and other viewers. The blog was also a helpful tool for me as I had the visual of what I had done so far in the development of making the product which helped my figure out what I had left to do.

When doing the photo-shoot for the images I would be incorporating in the magazine I used a Nikon Camera. Within the 30 minute time slot I was allocated I used various techniques to create the perfect image for my magazine. I wanted all the images to have an edgy vibe, which I achieved by using colour sheet filters that are normally used for lights within a stage productions. I placed them one by one over the harsh yellow light that was shining directly onto the model using varying colours such as red, blue and purple. In the end I opted the red coloured filter, as it was the best fit for the genre and suited the model best, bringing out her features more. When doing the photo-shoot I had the model pose in numerous positions so that each image would be versatile. After selecting the best photos I further developed them. Also I learnt how to direct as a photographer as I instructed the model(s) how to pose and what facial expressions to use that were suitable for the chosen genre, and deciding what angles to use such as high or low angle.

Photoshop was a necessity when it came to the final design for the front cover. With Photoshop I learnt how to reflect images which evidently became the tool I used for the front cover. I also learnt how to import text from DaFont.com onto the front cover which gave the text a more edgy, sheek feel setting apart from others in the market.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the

progression from it to the full product?

With my preliminary task compared to my actual final media product is a vast difference. The font was bold, plain and simple not something that is appealing to audiences as it is purely boring, which wasn’t suitable for my final media product. The layout I used for my preliminary task wasn’t suitable for my main magazines nor actually the school magazine, as it had three photos plastered over the front cover which is not the conventional method for a design of a magazine. The colour scheme I used was to match the colours of my school, i.e Red, blue, white and black.

On the front cover, I used three different images consisting scenery and a model walking in the background, which isn’t professional looking as it is over busy. The page is clustered with images with very little writing, with empty spaces where it should be filled. But as it was aimed for sixth form students aimed at 16-19 year olds.