Thursday, 7 April 2011
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Evaluation Task 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of music magazines)
Title
The title my magazine is 'Snare' this greatly follows the conventions of, not just music magazines but all magazines, as most only use one word for example 'Kerrang!', 'NME', 'Clash', 'Vogue' and 'Now'. Also the meaning of the word and it's link to music follows a common convention as it relays to the reader the magazine's genre. As you can see with my previous examples they all link to the genre even if it's slightly more tenuous like 'Kerrang!' being a reference to the sound made on a electric guitar.
Graphology
Front Cover:
Masthead: my masthead spread the width of the front page. Large text is conventionally used for a masthead and it often fills the top of the page, this is because the top third is the part you will instantly see on a shelf so if the title is large and noticeable the reader will be able to find. The font I used for the masthead was a distressed style font, with scrawled bits. This effect is often used on rock magazines to create a grunge look.
My masthead spans the page and uses a distressed style font just as Kerrang's does.
-Scribbled
Cover Lines: many rock magazines crowd their front covers with lots of cover lines. I tried to keep away from this convention as it often seems hard to read and messy. However I did have to use the convention most mainstream magazines use and include cover lines to fill larger gaps but I still only include 3 main ones. A convention I made sure I stuck to was to have the cover line relating to the main story larger than all the rest so the audience is instantly drawn to it.
Image: most magazines use a shot ranging from a mid to a close up, with the model looking at the audience. This allows them to focus on the person in the photo and give the reader the idea that they need to learn about this important person on the cover. Also because the model is looking out it seems as though they are directly trying to address individuals. I have followed these conventions as the cover is the most important selling point of a magazine and the image is what the reader will mainly look at, so it must be attracting.
Iconography
Costume: my model wore a black top and a black jacket. This dark colour is connected with the rock genre and so I feel this follows the general conventions of stereotypical people in a rock band. She also wore high Doc Martens, which are a style very much associated with rock and indie movements. However she is wearing a contrasting cream skirt and a pretty gold and pearl necklace. These go against many of the conventions of female rockstars because many are considered to be 'tomboys' whilst mine is embracing pretty girly fashions, however paired with her other clothes it creates an alternative look.
Hair: young rock fans often dye their hair bright colours to show their individuality or copy their idols such as Gerard Way, who has red hair, or Jared Leto, who has blue. My model having a darkish purple-red coloured hair is instantly something associated with rock, so this follows the conventions of the genre.
Piercing: my model has a nose piercing, piercing is another stereotypical like of a rock fan. This also helps to show more individuality, which rock bands strive to achieve.
How my artist is represented:
In my magazine I represent my artist as an idol. Someone for the reader to look up to, and aspire to be. This convention of presenting the artists as good people is a convention most magazines keep to. It will help with the sales of the magazine to have optimistic, inspiration stories. Also it will help boost an artist's sale and their fame.
Title
The title my magazine is 'Snare' this greatly follows the conventions of, not just music magazines but all magazines, as most only use one word for example 'Kerrang!', 'NME', 'Clash', 'Vogue' and 'Now'. Also the meaning of the word and it's link to music follows a common convention as it relays to the reader the magazine's genre. As you can see with my previous examples they all link to the genre even if it's slightly more tenuous like 'Kerrang!' being a reference to the sound made on a electric guitar.
Graphology
Front Cover:
Masthead: my masthead spread the width of the front page. Large text is conventionally used for a masthead and it often fills the top of the page, this is because the top third is the part you will instantly see on a shelf so if the title is large and noticeable the reader will be able to find. The font I used for the masthead was a distressed style font, with scrawled bits. This effect is often used on rock magazines to create a grunge look.
My masthead spans the page and uses a distressed style font just as Kerrang's does.-Scribbled
Cover Lines: many rock magazines crowd their front covers with lots of cover lines. I tried to keep away from this convention as it often seems hard to read and messy. However I did have to use the convention most mainstream magazines use and include cover lines to fill larger gaps but I still only include 3 main ones. A convention I made sure I stuck to was to have the cover line relating to the main story larger than all the rest so the audience is instantly drawn to it.
Image: most magazines use a shot ranging from a mid to a close up, with the model looking at the audience. This allows them to focus on the person in the photo and give the reader the idea that they need to learn about this important person on the cover. Also because the model is looking out it seems as though they are directly trying to address individuals. I have followed these conventions as the cover is the most important selling point of a magazine and the image is what the reader will mainly look at, so it must be attracting.
Iconography
Costume: my model wore a black top and a black jacket. This dark colour is connected with the rock genre and so I feel this follows the general conventions of stereotypical people in a rock band. She also wore high Doc Martens, which are a style very much associated with rock and indie movements. However she is wearing a contrasting cream skirt and a pretty gold and pearl necklace. These go against many of the conventions of female rockstars because many are considered to be 'tomboys' whilst mine is embracing pretty girly fashions, however paired with her other clothes it creates an alternative look.
Hair: young rock fans often dye their hair bright colours to show their individuality or copy their idols such as Gerard Way, who has red hair, or Jared Leto, who has blue. My model having a darkish purple-red coloured hair is instantly something associated with rock, so this follows the conventions of the genre.
Piercing: my model has a nose piercing, piercing is another stereotypical like of a rock fan. This also helps to show more individuality, which rock bands strive to achieve.
How my artist is represented:
In my magazine I represent my artist as an idol. Someone for the reader to look up to, and aspire to be. This convention of presenting the artists as good people is a convention most magazines keep to. It will help with the sales of the magazine to have optimistic, inspiration stories. Also it will help boost an artist's sale and their fame.
Evaluation Task 2
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
The rock band Paramore would be featured in a magazine similar to mine. Hayley Williams is the lead singer and face of the band and an icon in rock, as Zoe Pacific is in my band. The one of HW includes the rest of her band although I have only focused on her. It is a mid-shot, however it is still very similar to the more close up image I have featured on my cover. I feel the poses mirror each other as they both have their hands on their hips. Their brightly coloured hair is also very fitting and stereotypical of the rock social group. Also they are both looking directly at the camera, which seems to directly address the reader as though they are looking at them. However the facial expression of the two are very different. HW is smiling whereas ZP has a more intensive look. Their clothing is also very contrast as HW is wearing a casual mixture of jeans and a plain top whilst ZP is wearing very dark clothes, which are usually more associated with rock. I think the features I have demonstrated in HW's photo reflect her bands more playful, pop genre of rock, whilst ZP is really channeling an air of a very serious rock band. I think this obvious look of rock represents a large amount of rock fans as the style of dark colours my model is wearing is associated rock and many fans often take music very seriously.
Evaluation Task 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A publishing company works to make information provided in books, newspapers, magazines and also now webpages and electronic publications available for all to see. Publishing companies are extremely important in magazine production as they distribute the final product to their target audience.
The publishing company that would distribute my magazine:
A publishing company works to make information provided in books, newspapers, magazines and also now webpages and electronic publications available for all to see. Publishing companies are extremely important in magazine production as they distribute the final product to their target audience.
The publishing company that would distribute my magazine:
Evaluation Task 5
How did you attract/address your audience?
Front Cover:
On my front cover I have done many things to appeal to the audience as the cover is what they will first see even before they buy it.
-Title: the title of 'Snare' should hopefully appeal to rock music fans because they will understand the meaning and it's relation to drums and their preferred genre.
-Masthead: the masthead will also appeal and attract because the font is distressed which is a preferred feature of rock magazines. It is written in a huge bold size and is quite a dark yet still eye catching colour both of which will really catch the eye and draw in the audience.
-Cover lines: the cover lines I have included will appeal because the existing bands I have mentioned are popular and will hopefully draw buyers in as they will see the names of the bands they like and instantly want to know more about why their featured in the magazine and what they can find out about them. Also the main cover line will attract the reader as not only is it larger but as the band is supposedly very new they will be more popular and interesting so the audience will see it as more of an exclusive and be inclined to read on.
-Plug: offering something free with magazine with attract an audience because a free gift is quite desirable, especially if it relates to something your interested in such as rock music. So giving away a CD with free music will really attract the dedicated rock target audience.
-Image: the image I have used fills the page which is generally pretty eye catching. The model has bright dyed hair and is wearing dark clothes, both typically associated with rock, which will attract the target audience of rock fans. Finally the model is looking out of the page almost at the reader which appeals because the reader will feel as they are being specifically address.
Contents:
-Band's featured: the famous bands featured will again appeal to the target audience as they are bands they will like. The brief description will entice the audience to want to read that article and know more about what they are saying.
-Plug: the plug I have used on this page of mentioning a contest will appeal to the audience because they will want to see if they have won.
DPS:
-Article: the article is the main piece on this page. It is basically what the target audience bought the magazine for, so it too must appeal to the reader. To achieve this I have really tried to create humour in the interview which will make it more entertaining for the reader. Also the 'exclusive' new information provided in the interview will appeal to the reader because they will want to know and enjoy knowing about their favourite artist's life, as it will allow them to feel closer to them and possibly relate to them more. Also it will allow them to feel knowledgable and cool if they know things about new band that others don't.
-Pull quote: exemplifying an inspirational quote will really appeal to an audience because it's the first thing they'll see and then they'll want to read more. Also it will help them to relate to the featured artist and look up to them, if they agree.
-Images: the multiple, pretty images will attract the reader because the artist they like will look perfect, as they ideally want them to look.
Front Cover:
On my front cover I have done many things to appeal to the audience as the cover is what they will first see even before they buy it.
-Masthead: the masthead will also appeal and attract because the font is distressed which is a preferred feature of rock magazines. It is written in a huge bold size and is quite a dark yet still eye catching colour both of which will really catch the eye and draw in the audience.
-Image: the image I have used fills the page which is generally pretty eye catching. The model has bright dyed hair and is wearing dark clothes, both typically associated with rock, which will attract the target audience of rock fans. Finally the model is looking out of the page almost at the reader which appeals because the reader will feel as they are being specifically address.
Contents:
-Band's featured: the famous bands featured will again appeal to the target audience as they are bands they will like. The brief description will entice the audience to want to read that article and know more about what they are saying.
DPS:
-Article: the article is the main piece on this page. It is basically what the target audience bought the magazine for, so it too must appeal to the reader. To achieve this I have really tried to create humour in the interview which will make it more entertaining for the reader. Also the 'exclusive' new information provided in the interview will appeal to the reader because they will want to know and enjoy knowing about their favourite artist's life, as it will allow them to feel closer to them and possibly relate to them more. Also it will allow them to feel knowledgable and cool if they know things about new band that others don't.
-Images: the multiple, pretty images will attract the reader because the artist they like will look perfect, as they ideally want them to look.
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