AS Media Studies

Olivia O’ConnellG321

Foundation Portfolio

Evaluation

1.In what ways does your media

product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real

media products?

I have looked at the codes and conventions of a magazine front cover through this activity shown in the link below;

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCbWJLDL1CM/UFr7qfkRxZI/AAAAAAAAAAo/ETRDKQJAIbI/s1600/Publication1.jpg

Front Cover. For my magazine I related it to several of the generic conventions of a magazines such as the inclusion of a; Barcode, Date line, a Puff, a Pug, Cover lines, a celebrity endorsement. I also followed the main convention of a music magazine which was to make the main image cover a part of the masthead. Most magazines are able to do this because their mastheads are recognisable which is why I made my glitzy and bright coloured so it became recognisable to regular readers. I did however challenge the conventions as my main image does not consist direct mode of address. I like this idea as it allows my cover star to build up an attitude, like she is different to the rest.

My influences.The main influence for my magazine was looking at ‘Top

of the pops’ which is a popular music magazine which is aimed at young teenage girls, which is the same as target audience whom I choose to aim my own magazine at. The thing I liked about ‘Top of the pops’ magazine was the actual layout and house style used. I like the layout as it is busy and makes it look as though the magazine has a lot to offer. With my magazine I tried this affect but didn’t make it quite as packed as I didn’t want to take away from the mast head or main cover image. I liked the colour scheme of pinks and purples as the colour connotations connected to them are very girly, love, pretty etc. This helped my magazine show the relation to my target audience.

Below is a link to my final front page cover.http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/ejude.html

I have looked at the codes and conventions of a contents page through this activity shown in the link below;

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M4fqB4GggmU/UJuAnqhGnWI/AAAAAAAAAD4/_NZRpIuq7Sw/s1600/1st+contents+page.jpg

Contents page.On my contents page I made sure to include the same cover star on my front page and my contents page. This is too create consistency throughput my magazine so that it all links together. Keeping along this idea of consistency I also included the same background and the masthead to connect it all together. I also think keeping this similarity makes the magazine become more recognisable and familiar. I believe without a magazine creating some form of consistency can cause the reader to become lost in it all, putting them off the product. This is the reasoning behind my decisions.

Below is a link to my final contents page .http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/tikyki.html

My influences.I looked a many different magazine contents pages when doing my research to gather a wide range of ideas. I included generic conventions being the most obvious thing a list of topics that are in a magazine. Looking at current contents pages in top of the pops and other music magazines made my decision that I wanted mine to be simple and not be overloaded with information as ‘less is more’.

I have looked at the codes and conventions of a magazine double page spread through this activity shown in the link below;

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cFtt1sTDWc/UJuPIRz7BaI/AAAAAAAAAEI/o66j8qG-2IY/s1600/1st+double.jpg

Double page spread

Below is a link to my final double page spread.http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/hkujk.html

My double page spread looks quite similar to most double page spreads with the large image on the one side and then the article on the other side. I didn’t want to make any drastic changes to the double page spread because that’s what people are used to reading so its familiar too them. I have made sure the language throughout my article is suitable for my target audience and checked it so it had the correct grammar and spelling. The background again I have used to create the on going consistency throughout my magazine.

My influences.Like my contents page I looked at loads of different magazine double page spreads, not only music ones this was so I could again widen my variety. Looking at all those double page spreads allowed me to see that most magazines did the style layout I choose. This is to do with the how readers are familiar with this layout . As they are familiar with this it doesn’t cause confusion to the reader which will keep them happy.

2.How does your media product

represent particular social groups?

Representations to social groups.

The images I have used in my magazine I have used to relate to teenage girls who are in touch with their fashion and enjoy the Glitz and glamour of celebrity life.I have stereotypically represented my model as a fun, loving happy woman who enjoys to shop and listen to pop music.The way I have positioned her I wanted the woman to come across un-stereotypical as she has created herself and wont be living up to any former celebrity (which is mentioned in the article). Also, the way in none of the photos she is not looking at the camera which makes her look rebellious as its going against the generic look at the camera and smile pose which ‘top of the pops’ tend to go with their cover star image. I think representing her in this was shows her as an individual, independent woman. This is a good representation for young girls as it shows someone who has done well for themselves with confidence and courage that they can aspire to be like.

3.What kind of media of media

institution might distribute your media product and why?

The distribution of my magazine.Major distribution;Bauer media; This is one of the major distributions of music magazines who distribute current magazines such as; Kerrang & Q which are two of the most widely known magazines.http://www.bauermedia.com/

IPC Media;IPC is another major distributer who distribute current magazines such as; NME and Uncut. NME is one of the best selling music magazine which has a mass audience whereas Uncut has more of a niche audience.http://www.ipcmedia.com/

BBC;BBC is a massive company who distribute Top of the pops magazine as the show was aired on their channel. This is why I would choose BBC as its big and known widely.

On my Publication plan is a more detailed plan for my magazine. It also includes where I would want my magazine to be sold. The link below shows my publication plan.http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/blog-post.html

4.Who would be the audience for

your media product?

My magazine target audience.

Below here is a link to my blog where I have concluded the target audience for my magazine which is teenage girls (15+) who enjoy to listen and keep up to date with pop music. The aim of my magazine is too obtain up to date information on all things pop. Such as the newest top 20 and the latest news on new and upcoming celebs. Below is the link where I analysed what I would have to look for in a target audience and my final decision.

http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/potential-target-audience-for-my.html

I set up a questionnaire which I made to see what different teenage girls wanted and didn’t want from their music magazine. I did this to help be eliminate certain things and work more on other things such as; how much they would pay, would they want it weekly, monthly etc, and what they wanted it to contain. Below is the link to my questionnaire and the questionnaire results.

http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/publication-plan.html

I ensured the content of my magazine was suitable for this age range by using suitable language and topics within my magazine. I had to make sure that none of the context was too difficult to understand so that a 15 year old would not be able to understand it. I had to make it quite simple. Below Is a link to a detailed language analysis profile where I looked at the how language had to be a certain tone, style, register, different forms of address and particular vocabulary for different ages. Looking at this helped me to ensure the text that I did include was appropriate.

http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/language-analysis.html

5.How do you attract/address your audience to your media product?

Attracting/addressing the audience.

Colour; I choose six colours to work with which were a lime green, a hot pink, a lemon yellow, a sky blue, orange and a plum purple. I choose these colours because I believe that they come together and compliment each other. I found a glittery background that contained these coloured which I thought would work well as it links to the title ‘Glitz’ being as it is glitter. This background also stands out and creates a vibrant, fun look. I also believed that it related to my target audience as glitter is seen as a girly thing.

http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/house-stylecolour-scheme.html

Images;With my original photography, it took two attempts to get them right. The first attempt resulted in images that were of a poor quality as they were blurry and also they didn’t look very professional. Also, the way I had my model dressed wasn’t very celeb like and didn’t work well. The link shows this first attempt; http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/hsjsjsjskss.htmlThe second attempt I made was a drastic improvement as the images were more varied, goof quality and the model looked the part. I was glad how they turned out and actually found it quite difficult to choose which ones would work best throughout my magazine. Here is the link showing my further photography; http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/pdfoco.html

Masthead;My masthead was one of my favourite parts in the finish. I loved the effect which I discovered using paint.net which allowed me to add a glittery effect. I liked how it turned out as it linked to the masthead title itself. I think title ‘Glitz’ could be seen as slightly un-relatable but I likethis contrast as it can relate to the glitz and glamour of celebrity life.Below is the link to my finished, final mast head;

http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/h.html

6.What have you learnt about

technologies from the process of constructing the product?

Technology- Paint.Net.

Advantages; - Simple- Photos effects; brightness,

contrast, shadowing, feathering etc.

http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/ofjkdopvkodf.html- Photo cutting with the magic

wand- no background to photo.

Disadvantages; - Time consuming of the cutting

out of an image.- Its easily to ‘over-edit’ a photo.- Not enough memory.- Having to change it to a JPEG

file to go onto the blog. - The software could be difficult

to use if you weren't good with computers.

Technology- eBlogger and publisher.Advantages of eBlogger;- Easy to add posts- Easy to delete unwanted

posts- Easy to edit posts.Disadvantages of eBlogger;- Posts have to be added

frequently so that the time management is good.

- Cant add posts between dates.

Advantages of publisher;- Easy and simple to use.- The construction lines.- Print preview to view it at

different stages.Disadvantages of publisher;- There are no photo editing

techniques.- Its hard to move photos

around because the construction lines can be quite restricting.

7.Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression

from it to the full product?

Comparison of the two front pages.Looking at these two together I can see where I have greatly developed my skills with using pain.net and my ability of arrangement. The preliminary front page looks more amateur then my final front page looks. The masthead is weak and the cover lines look rushed and look as though they were made on paint. There is too much going on and is no real focus. The image is of a good quality but has no meaning. The masthead on my finished piece is much stronger and looks more professional. Overall, I think I have made a good development. Here is link to my preliminary front cover task below; http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/preliminary-task-stacs-sixth-form.html

Preliminary front page. Final front page.

Comparison of the two contents pages. Looking at the two contents pages together I can clearly see a development. My finished piece has a strong image which is continuous from my finished front page and also the masthead is stronger. The inclusion of the editors note also makes it look more professional and realistic. My preliminary tasks again looks very amateurish and un-organised. There is no main focus with nothing showing to offer the reader. Again I can see how my skills have developed by looking at these two images. Here is the link to my preliminary contents pages;http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/perliminary-task-contents-page.html

Preliminary contents page. Final contents page.

8.How successful do you feel your

end product is in fulfilling the task? How well does it fit the

brief?

Overall success.

Overall, I think I have been reasonable successful with my media product and I think it fits the brief quite well. I have created a magazine that follows the codes and conventions of a music and general magazine and gone against them in some aspects making my magazine different to current ones. I think the research that I did helped me to create my product to the best possible way and without it, my product would look something like my preliminary task. I am most please with my masthead as I believe is could become very recognisable also I believe my front page came out strong and realistic looking. If I had to do it again, I would work more on the contents page as I don’t think it looks as good as the rest. Overall, I loved creating this product and believe I have done it to the best of my ability from looking at the development of my skills through the preliminary task. Also, I think I have kept well to my time management throughout the duration and have enjoyed creating and keeping to the pop music genre.