1. In what
ways does the media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of
a real media product?
a) Front cover
For my media product I have used aspects of both a conventional, music
magazine, and some elements, which on the other hand, contrast to this and challenge
these conventions of a music magazine. As part of my case studies, I analysed
other music magazines, including XXL magazine and Kerrang. They had each used
generic codes and conventions of a music magazine, for their own genres, such as
mastheads, cover lines, skylines, barcode, as well as conventions for their own
genre e.g. house style/costume.
My front cover uses a medium-close up image of my cover artist (who is
a young male), on a neutral background, which is common for a front cover. By
using this it makes text on the front cover easily visible, and also making the
colours stand out. The shot angle is an eye level shot, which is neither
unconventional nor conventional, as some magazines choose to use a low
angle/worms eye shot of their main artist(s) for their front cover. The front
cover includes the name of the magazine, the masthead, & a skyline. The
name of the magazine is something which is unique, easily memorable, and stands
out; three things which are conventional, and which are also necessary for a
product of its type where there would be competition with other brands. For the
masthead, I chose to use a bold, simple font making it easy to read, and also
making the subtitle for it stand out in bright red, a colour scheme which was consistent
throughout my magazine, and for this aspect of my front cover I have taken
inspiration from my research case study For the cover lines, I chose to use
italics, but still with a simple font. I used these around the artist used on
the front cover which is conventional for a music magazine front cover. These
cover lines used around the artist on my front cover link to the cover star as
they are artists who feature alongside the main cover star in the magazine. I
have also, conventionally used a skyline at the top of my front cover, which
mentions artists and groups, who will feature in this certain issue of the
magazine. I have additionally used an issue number, dating, price, and a
barcode. These would all add to the authenticity of my media product, and all
of which are conventional for a magazine front cover.
I have made sure that most of the elements of my case studies were
reinforced with the production of my magazine, and overall I would say that my
magazine front cover would conform to the generic codes and conventions.
b) Contents
I have both conventional, and unconventional parts to my two page
contents spread as well. I have a clear, large and bold title which says
“contents”, which is conventional for a contents page. For the first page I
have used a canted angle, medium long shot of the cover artist, who will
feature in the magazine. I have used subtitles for the “regulars” and
“exclusives” for what will be included in the magazine. The second page of my
two page contents page, is slightly less conventional, being that t uses a
black background. I have used four original images which have page numbers,
each with a coverline for the title, which are all conventional. I have
additionally stuck with the colour scheme, as part of my house style, and have numbered the pages, and used
branding which is typical of a music magazine, especially of my genre of
rap/hip-hop.
c) Double page
spread
Both of my case studies had used conventional features of a double
page spread, however XXL’s was more simplistic in comparison. Kerrang used more
images, and colours, and the text was not so…Whereas, on the other hand, XXL
only used the colours of their house style (white, black& red). XXL used
one large main image which was of the cover star who is to appear in their
magazine, in the centre of the page. This contrasts to Kerrang which used
several images, laid about the page. XXL kept to a clearer and bold style of text
for the subheadings, in a simple structure, being in one column
Kerrang used a close up of the artist that this article is about with
them at the centre of the page. They have used pull quotes as one of the
typical conventions, for example,” I feel like I’ve been doing this forever”.
They have kept with the e house style as well; the colour scheme of black and
white with splashes of orange, the font used are consistent between the front
cover, contents page, and double page spread. It uses a masthead or a heading,
and a cover line/ subheading beneath the heading. It uses drop caps for the
opening paragraph, with an orange “w”. It also, conventionally includes other
smaller pictures of the artist, which links to the different sections of the
text. I utilised this convention on my double page spread using a drop caps at
the start of my text, therefore I followed these conventions.
XXL, similarly uses an image of its artist for their double page
spread, being a long shot at a canted angle. It doesn’t have a colour scheme,
and doesn’t continue the house style of the magazine for the double page spread.
It also does not have a masthead or any coverlines, which both are
unconventional for a double page spread. However, it does still use a pull
quote, and the text is organised in columns.
For the main image of my double page spread, I have used a black &
white long shot of the artist for the article, in the centre of the page. I
have used a masthead with the same font as which I had used for the contents
page, therefore continuing the house style, of the magazine. I have used page
numbering and branding similarly to my contents page, being that it is
conventional as a music magazine of its genre. Because my double page spread is
an interview on an artist, I have chosen to use pull quotes, which are a
feature of double page spreads. I had organised my text in columns on the page,
and had used drop caps in bright red, again, continuing with the house style. On
the other hand, the layout of my text may be unconventional for a double page
spread. This would be because for the first paragraph, where it uses drop caps,
the text is in rows. The text after this introductory part of the article, is
then, more conventionally organised in columns, as it would in a magazine.
My double page spread, reinforces most of the conventions of a double
page spread, in particularly the ones from which I had identified from Kerrang
magazine in my case study.
2. How does
the media product represent particular social groups?
The social groups I have used would be teenagers, and young adults. This
group are working class young people, mostly males, but female as well. The
ethnicity of this group are usually of a black origin, however there are other ethnic
groups. My media product represents these particular social groups that I
intended to target, as it uses things such as slang and lexis which are used by
this certain group. I have also chosen to use the clothing in the mise en scene,
used by my artists. These would both represent youthfulness in a positive way,
which was something I was aiming to portray of this social group. There aren’t
any iconic signifiers of the genre in particular which would indicate the exact
genre of the magazine, however the representations are positive representations
rather than negative ones which are often associated with this genre of music I
have chosen for my music magazine. I think that I have reinforced stereotypes
of certain social groups, and therefore conformed, rather than challenge these
stereotypes, as I have used a young black male for my cover star. Also, I have
used a certain modern demographic, which is stereotypical for my chosen genre
of rap/hip-hop. This would be because my cover artist is a young black male
between the ages of 16-22. I have used this purposefully, as it is generically
this certain group of people who are appealed by genre of music, mostly, even
though there is a wider audience who listen to this genre of music.
Furthermore, it is this age range who would be the target audience for my
magazine, which would conform to the generic conventions of a music magazine.
3. What kinds
of media institution might distribute the media product and why?
The kinds of media institutions that may produce my media product
would possibly be Bauer media group or IPC. This would be because they already
produce magazines of the same origin which would be music magazines. Bauer
media produce magazines, such as Q, and Mojo which are highly established music
magazines, however these even are of a different genre of music. Therefore
there would be a gap in the market for my music magazine of hip-hop/rap, aimed
at a young target audience. This would be one of the reasons for why Bauer may
produce my magazine, as they are already a well-recognised media distribution
institution producing music magazines. IPC would also come into consideration
when mentioning media institutions whom may produce my music magazine. They
produce newspapers such as the sun, and the people, and also consumer/comic
magazines, however, none of which are music magazines. IPC is a possibility,
however Bauer media would be preferable, for my certain media product. This is
probably because Bauer media would be able to create an established brand for
my magazine through their name and their distribution, primarily though in
store sales. They would use sale or return, and subscription as forms of
distributing, as well distribution methods like e-zines, and electronic brand
extension. The reason why I would use sale or return would be because one of
its benefits is that it is risk free – copies which aren’t sold are returned to
the publisher/distributor. Customers, who continue to purchase my music
magazine, would be able to subscribe to the monthly magazine which is another
method distribution, whether it be electronically or postal. To extend my
magazine as a brand, id possibly use alternative methods such as electronic
brand extension, and e-zines, as an electric form of my magazine, making it
even more accessible to my specific, chosen target audience.
4. Who would
be the audience for the media product?
The target audience for my music media product would be young adults
and teenagers between the ages of 16-26. Their taste of genre would be
hip-hop/rap music, they would be people, who live inner city. The audience would be working class, as it is
most commonly this social group in society which listen to these genres of
music as they can relate with it often. They could potential be college/ university
students who study, and are in education, or young adults who are working, most
likely to be males, although females would be attracted to this genre of music
also.
5.How did you
attract/address your audience?
I had analysed in detail the feedback which was given to me in class
discussions and in focus groups, on my media products pitch. This allowed me to
understand which ideas I could use successfully as they said what they thought
would work, and where I would need to improve in terms of actually targeting my
audience for my music magazine.
I attracted my audience by using several different elements. The looks
of the magazine being the most important, and what the audience would be
attracted to first, instinctively. I chose to use a cover star of people, of a
certain social group in society that I wanted to represent in my magazine. I
felt that this attracted my audience as they would be able to relate with the
magazine, and therefore would automatically be more attracted to it. I had also
used a clear layout and shown consistency in this in my magazine. I had used a
house style of certain fonts, and a colour scheme of white, black and red which
I had kept consistent throughout my music magazine. This would attract my
audience as they would be able to clearly identify my brand I’m trying to establish
and music magazine from others, and it would be one which stands out, which is
one of the ways I aim to regret my audience. I used additional elements as
well, which helped attract my target audience to a certain extent. In my
skylines I had mentioned the names of other already known artists of this genre
who would appear in the magazine. These artists would attract the chosen target
audience for my music magazine as it is these artists who produce music for a
same target audience of young adults and teens, and produce music of the same
genre (rap/hip-hop). I had used the pricing of the magazine, at a low price of
£3.99, to attract my audience because it is inexpensive, and also because it is
a monthly issuing magazine. The other thing which attracted my target audience
was the use of logos and
I addressed my audience by giving accurate representations of this
social group. The reason for this, is because the artists involved in my music
magazine, are supposed to be of the same social group as my target audience for
my magazine, and the audience would want to be construed or represented
accurately when being presented in the magazine.
6. What have
you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
There are various things which I have learnt about the technologies
and how I can utilise them in the future, through the process of constructing
my media product, in this case a music magazine. Firstly I had learnt of forms
of websites and utilities which help me organise and present my work. Blogger
was helpful as it had allowed me to post my work as I progressed, allowing me
and also my teachers to know where I am at and exactly how I can improve upon
the work I already have. Websites such as TimeToast helped me to keep to strict
deadline dates for each section of my coursework. This allowed me to realise
whether I was on schedule or running behind schedule and which work I needed to
do for when. Other forms of technologies had also helped me and I had learnt
that I would present my work in other ways than just one, for example through
the use of Prezi, slideshare, emaze, bounce app etc. - Prezi in particularly,
when I pitched my media product to my peers and teachers in class.
I had also learned physical skills from the process of constructing my
music magazine. One of them would be the photography for my music magazine. I
acquired the skills to the Nixon DLSR camera, and was able to set up the
photography studio and all its equipment. This included synchronising the
infrared photography equipment, getting the right lighting ratio, and how to
take the photos. All of which needed in order to get the exact pictures I desired
for my front cover, contents page and double page spread.
I had learned editing techniques too through the use of technologies.
During the process of producing my music magazine, I had successfully learned
how to use Photoshop, InDesign, and Adobe Illustrator to a good extent, which
was of use. I had used Photoshop to edit and alter images I had used for my front
cover, making sure everything looked correct, and how I liked it to be.
InDesign was used when producing my Contents and Double page spread, and the
fonts which were used throughout my music magazine, were crafted on
Illustrator. This allowed me to create a unique font for my music magazine,
which I could use.
7. Looking
back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
Looking back to my preliminary task, I
feel that I have learnt a lot and acquired new skills along the way,
contributing to the final product I have produced. From the feedback and
evaluation of my college magazine, I was able to identify where I needed to
improve upon in order to produce my final product, learning things in the
progression. I had gained better skills in terms of using technologies. For
example I had learnt how to edit on Photoshop effectively, learnt the basics on
photography, and had also learnt of new online presentation technologies.
I had
made improvements from my college front cover to my final music magazine front
cover.
I ensured that I had included all of the
conventions of a front cover, whereas in my college magazine I didn’t manage to
do so, and something I learnt that has an important role on the look and
authenticity of the magazine I was producing. I had learnt that I could have
improved on the editing of certain things in my college magazine, therefore I
managed to do so in my music magazine, for example, the editing of the title of
the magazine was something I done better the second time.
For my contents page, I had learnt that
I should use images which aren’t so similar, and that I should lay out the
contents page better, in a more structured way. I had worked on doing so by
making sure that each photo I used was distinct from the rest, and that they
were laid out in such a way that not only does it look better, but is also
clearer. Also, I had used more cover lines, and contents for the contents page;
something which I had learnt that I should do for my final product.
