1.In what ways does your Media Product use, develop,or challenge forms and conventions of real Media products?
On PowerPoint slides I have annotated features they have in common and then other features that are different in comparison to another Music Magazine media example.
FRONT COVER
CONTENTS PAGE
DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD
I didn't use all the conventional features on each design as I felt that they 'took over' the whole design I had specifically created for each of my Media Products. Especially in the double-page spread. I wanted the image to be bright and clear to the reader so that is why I made the pull-quote delicate and small, and the 'artist''s name rotated on the side, to make better use of space but also in a unique layout in comparison to the majority of music magazine's double-page Spread titles. I used a house style of red/pink shades, black and white as I felt they contrasted but in a clear and 'quirky' way, but I aimed for a quirky, cool edge to my magazine and I feel this is why they blended well. As my magazine is also aimed at 'indie' people, they are stereotypically known as 'quirky' and always looking for originality which is what I was trying to aim for when designing this magazine.
I used conventional features also such as web-addresses and 'freebies' and also a splash/puff to help entice the consumers of my market. I also used black and white for my masthead with some bevel/emboss and stroke effects alongside inner and outer glow to name some. I thought these contrasted well which helped make it stand out a lot. This scheme also helped the coverlines stand out.
2.How does your Media Product represent particular Social Groups?
I chose to base my Music Magazine's Genre on 'Indie' music. I have also added a 'Rock' edge to this. Indie stands for 'Independent Rock' but in music this defines the terms 'independent of Major Labels/Mainstream 'stuff'. It also defines the independence from major commercial recording such as Universal and EMI Records. It also had a 'DIY' ('Do-It-Yourself') approach to recording and publishing, for example Rough Trade, especially in its early days. It has aspired in the 60;s and 70's garage, punk and post-punk in the 80's, to a more experimental and 'werid' alternative sound depending on the band/artist these days. People who listen to indie are basically 'indies' some are also refered to as 'hipsters' and even 'grunges' but these are a little sub-stereotyped and don't fully define 'indie' people. They are usually teens, but also young to early middle-age adults (likely going into the 20's and then also into their 30's, but not really 40+). People may describe them as Hipsters, with an accurate definition of their 'stereotypical' personalities- They are a subculture of men and women.They value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. 'Hipsters' reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and 'charity shop' clothing, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses. Both hipster/indie men and women sport similar androgynous hair styles that include combinations of messy shag cuts and asymmetric side-swept fringes -known as 'bangs'. Such styles are often associated with the work of creative stylists at urban salons, and are usually too "edgy" for the culturally-sheltered mainstream consumer. The "effortless cool" urban bohemian look of a hipster is exemplified in Urban Outfitters and American Apparel adverts which cater towards the hipster/indie demographic. FASHION is a huge priority in an indie/hipster's involvment, and the indie music inspires this- there is an argument they are 'original' because they look up to their independent acts- they look similar styling, so are they just another typical stereotype alongside moshers, emos,chavs etc.?
Indie basically means to 'follow your own mind'. I also chose to add a rock edge to the magazine.I did this by giving my model on the front cover a 'rock star' look, with indie added to it. I changed her hair to a bright red. This is unique, quirky, and 'daring'. The clothing she wears is scruffy and ragged, giving her an almost trampy, but 'indie' look. I also added to the rockstar look with some red lipstick-rebellious, and some aviator sunglasses which gave her the 'rocky'&'famous' edge.
In relevance to the SEG grouping I think it is mainly D/E. This is because the magazine is mainly aimed at teens and also students (possibly in their 20's) and are likely to be unskilled and unemployed. This is relevant to the price of 1.99. It is cheap and is worth the Contents.
3.What kind of Media Institution might distribute your Media Product and why?
As NME Music Magazine is similar to my magazine with its main aims at indie/rock genre, I would of liked M-Magazine to have been a type of 'spin-off' magazine from NME Magazine, focusing on more of the Indie genre even though it still involves sub-genres within the magazine. This would mean it has to be owned by IPC Media as this is the wholly subsidary of NME. My magazine does involve features of independent labels and focuses on 'independent music' but I think if it is owned by a far more popular publishing company such as IPC and also featured even in NME (synergized marketing) I think that 'M-Magazine' would sell far more than having trouble getting it popular and increasing the sales with an independent label.
4.Who is the audience you have aimed your Magazine Product at?
The audience that has been aimed at is 'indie' people/'hipsters'/'grunges'. As I have previously mentioned the typical stereotype they are in previous evaluation answers. However in previous planning for the magazine I was going to do 'RnB'/Hiphop but in a more pop culutre. But in relevance to Maslow's Hierachy of Needs- Safety would have been a problem. That music genre is majorly urban, and would have a higher influence of violence, gun crime,and sex, a lot of this in lyrics and promoted in artist's characteristics. This may not be as suitable for younger readers, and also could increase complaints for the magazine's content.R'n'B and Hiphop/Rap are highly influenced also by black america, which also now has high relevance to black communities in the UK- with grime scenes in places such as London. I feel in the indie genre issues such as sex and violence are displayed more creatively, and that indie artists display such issues in a more pleasant manner, making them a little more sensible about situations in interviews and so on, making the magazine more suitable to read if only a bit crude.
The audience as it is aimed at indies/hipsters, means the likely people to read it are teens, people in their 20's and a smaller audience going into their 30's but rarely 40+ - this is also linked at the independent music- it didn't really kickstart till the 60's to more 70's, so people older may not understand as much of the genre as their own 'peak-time' interest in music.
5. How did you address/attract the audience?
SEG Group-wise I think my magazine is majorly aimed at D and E grouping. This is because the majority of the readers I have aimed my magazine at audience wise are teenagers and people going into their 20's. This means most these people are likely unemployed- as they are school pupils/students. This means that I have made my magazine cheap, at 1.99 pounds. I also based my magazine to be sold in the USA- I have also got a dollar price statement near the barcode of my magazine- which shows how much it would be sold for (about 4 dollars- which equals about 1.99 in the United States) I have also based a lot of content in my magazine- this would be expensive as I am selling it for a lower price- hopefully there would be high sales due to a lower price, but also I have to make it affordable but also to attract the audience, so it would encourage them to spend their low income on such objects. Using a model of a girl who is young enough to understand the younger generation and of similar age also helps the reader to connect with the main article and share their interests and so on. This would also help attract the audience.
Here I have a video of a student from my Media class at college who is sharing her views and others (from my Media class)'s statements on what they actually think of my final Media products.
6.What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I used a mixture of Photoshop and Publisher to help create my designs for the magazine. I used layers to help create different effects for the different pages I created for my magazine. For my masshead I used a simple 'Calibri' font, (in my 2nd draft I used 'Onyx' but this has changed since)and used the colour black. I made the 'M Magazine' look more effect however by using Bevel/Emboss,Stroke- in white with Outer Glow, and also a Drop Shadow. If I had used a different colour aside Black and White it may have shown the effects more but I wanted to keep it simple but effective. I also heightened the angles to higher degrees to make more of a drop shadow. I airbrushed my model and also used spot removal on her skin to make it more clear and defined. I also made the brightness/contrast higher as I wanted a more brighter 'photoshoot lighting' look to the photography I had previously taken. For the backing on the Coverlines I made boxes using the rectangle tool, and also the splash/puff was made using one of the star shapes on the Shape Tool. I filled all these with colour off the colour pallet but changed the opacity slightly on some- some more than others such as the splash, to make a lighter and more 'see-through' look. I also changed the colour of my model's hair. I had to create a new layer, and change the layer to 'Soft Light'. I then had to change some of my opacity levels to make it look less 'paint' like on my model's hair. I then chose the '300' circular painbrush, varied it in size as I covered the hair with the chosen colour I had picked on the colour pallet. I then varied to number 11 brush as she had more wispy, delicate bits of hair to colour red but very,very delicately. I then had to erase any messy bits that had gone inaccurate or covered the background.Also the more you painted over the same area of hair, the deeper the colour got (however there was a limit). I then had to duplicate the layer, then selected 'Hue/Saturation'. I then right-clicked and created a 'Clipping Mask'. This means it only affected the one layer underneath. I then used the 'left to right' scrolling bar to change the hue/saturation of the colour. This also could change it to go all 'rainbow like', going from green to orange even though I chose a red. When I found a better red shade I was pleased with, I decided at the same time to mess around with the brightness/contrast and lightness/darkness till I got a pink to red shade I was pleased with. Here is evidence of the same photo, but changed via photoshop:-
BEFORE THE PROCESS
AFTER THE PROCESS
I used the Bevel/Emboss, Stroke and Outer Shadow effect on the majority of my text on the front cover aside the price near the barcode and the issue number and the monthly date information. All the sentences have different colours used on them but I have stuck to the house style. For example on the black 'banner' I have used white writing but with a pink 'stroke' effect with the additional Bevel/Emboss and Outer Shadow effect. I haven't over-used the tools as I didn't want the style to look overly 'fussy', I wanted a simple yet effective design. On my first front cover I used Publisher for nearly all of the design. I thought it would make it look more simple and effective but it looked way too basic when I actually analyised the finished design properly. I used the basic text tool, including for my masthead. The house style blended in too well with the background. I also thought my magazine looked more 'fashion' and a colour scheme that was pretty neutral- reminded me of something Vogue would probably publish. I completeley changed the colour scheme, it went from shades of pastel grey and black blended with neutral colours to a neon pink/red and black and white, which contrated 100% better than the first time round. However I did find the crop tool easier on Publisher beforehand, but this was not as effective as when I got the hang of it on Photoshop, so that is when I started to use Photoshop more for the smaller details, I started this mainly when I went into 2nd drafts.
7.Looking back at the Preliminary Task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
The pieces of work are really different as I did the Wyke College Magazine on Publisher, and the Music Magazine on Photoshop. I used lots of different techniques on Photoshop which therefore made the Music Magazine cover look more effective, and also in contrast the college magazine looked a lot more basic.
The cropping and text skills on the Publisher is also a lot more basic and doesn't look too great. The Main Coverline doesn't really stand out and you can't tell what the main article is properly. However you can tell now on the Photoshopped version, as different coverlines are more effective than others.
