Evaluation

In this evaluation I aim to illustrate the thought process behind my work, the ways in which my product would compare to that of real media products, how the audience affects my decisions and how I aimed to appeal to them and use media terminology to create a general overview of my work.

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

My media product, Soul Magazine, challenges the conventions of media products in the real world in many ways. The product is not your conventional, music magazine and does not always follow the typical style that is often used in popular, successful magazine products. However, in many ways it does follow the conventional pattern of music magazines.

Music magazines conventionally have a large masthead in bold font which is easily recognisable and eye-catching on the front page. My masthead, which reads ‘SOUL’ follows these conventions. I have used a white background for the lettering to make it easily seen amongst the rest of the content on the page. The outline on the text of the masthead is black to contrast with the white lettering; this makes the text stand out more against the blue background behind it.

Another convention of music magazines is a central photograph image. I have followed this convention as my central image is in a typical style that most magazines use. The photograph I have taken shows the two band members looking directly at the camera. This is a technique that I have seen used by many leading magazines such as Q and Kerrang. Many magazines often show the person looking to one side or appearing casual. I have both followed this convention and challenged it. The models are looking at the camera, (or the reader). However I chose for them to be smiling slightly to challenge the serious approach that most conventional magazines use. This creates a friendly feel to the magazine; which challenges the typical conventions of Blues magazines.

Music real media magazine products use bylines. I chose to include these in my product. ‘Who are the NEW faces?’ is an example of how this technique is used on my front cover. The capital letters in 'new' is eye-catching and appealing for the reader, making that word stand out more that the rest.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine aims to represent a small social group of Blues listeners, however can appeal to a larger audience also. The use of a blue theme achieves my aim of appealing to Blues listeners. I have also used modern conventional techniques that popular magazine use to appeal to their audience such as a masthead and central image in my front cover. This, I believe, may appeal to more modern music fanatics that are interesting in alternative music. The use of vibrant colours may appeal to a wider audience as it does not follow the conventions of traditional blues magazines.

In the photographs young people are represented as serious and professional as well as having a fun, carefree streak. The central image on my front cover represents two young people taking their career seriously, by contrast the plugs inside the magazine on the double page shows them playing their instruments and having fun. This is a typical stereotype of young people, as it shows them relaxed and active.

Similarly, young people are represented on the front cover through the use of the photo plugs. The expression of the model on the left has a daring and serious face, reinforcing that young people are not all stereotypically always having fun. The image on the right shows a young girl smiling which fits with the stereotype. She is wearing make-up and has a lip-piercing which are both stereotypes associated with teenage girls.

In the interview, young people are shown as professional, relaxed and friendly. This is a representation that is important as few magazines or media products represent young people in this light.

After analysing real blues magazine I can see that my product uses similar methods of appealing to the social groups that they target. These are dark colours mixed with various lighter colours, mysterious or alternative images such as the one on my contents page and a consistent use of text boxes in straight, neat rows. This creates a mature feel to the magazine to appeal to an older social group. I have also used some text slanted or positioned at an angle to appeal to a modern, younger audience.

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

My media product may be distributed in shops such as newsagents and supermarkets as well as in popular music stores such as HMV and Music zone. These media institutions may chose to do so because there are few successful Blues magazines and they may want to rejuvenate this. Furthermore, because there is a smaller audience for my product the competition will be less as music magazines based strictly on Blues are limited for these music listeners.

An alternative media institution that could distribute my product could be an online sales order. This means that readers could buy the product online and purchase it on a monthly basis as each release comes out.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for my product will be blues listeners and alternative genre listeners. The magazine aims to attract anyone with an interest in music however, as it does not follow the conventions of a rock or pop band will not particularly target them.
I aim to target a mixture of age groups- Young music listeners are my primary audience as the purpose of this magazine is to revitalise the genre for younger listeners. My secondary audience will be mature, blues listeners who are looking for a different take on the genre or who can't find successful magazines that solely target that genre.
There are no gender favouritism in my magazine as I aim to target both genders. The use of both a male and female model on the front page supports this.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I addressed my audience by making my magazine appeal friendly, naturalistic and appealing. This, I hope, appeals to my audience as they can see the band in a comfortable setting. Rhetorical questions have been used to directly address the audience, 'Who are the new faces?' is an example of this. Throughout the text I have also addressed them directly using declarative statements such as 'Subscribe now!'

I aimed to attract my audience by following some conventions of typical music magazines. This makes them feel safe as they know what to expect when they read the magazine and do not feel deceived by the product.

To appeal to a younger audience I have used teenagers in my photographs and have a variation of colours in my magazine. Blue is also a popular colour amongst young and older people alike. The colours blue and white do not favour one particular gender and appeals to both males and female.

To appeal to an older audience I have not gone over the top with my colour choice and used minimal vibrant colours. The layout and text is more formal than most music magazines.

Overall, I aim to appeal to males and female, long time blues listeners and a mature younger audience.

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

Throughout this exercise my ability to work on computers has improved. Before this course I could not use Photoshop at all and struggled to edit pictures. After using Photoshop to edit my photographs I have learnt how to darken or enhance images, (contents page image and larger image on the double page spread), crop images so that only the section that I want would be used and how to change the backgrounds of an image. I have also developed my skills on Microsoft Publisher.

I can now produce work on www.blogger.com and have shown this by publishing my posts and in the profile section.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product.

In the production of the preliminary task I have progressed my skills on Photoshop and Microsoft Publisher. I have also developed my photography skills, the photos taken for my music magazine are more improved than the ones for the preliminary exercise. I have learnt how to edit photos, plan work and keep draft copies to show how my ideas have progressed.

After editing:

Analysis of Double Page spread

The colour gold has once again been used to portray a new, wealthy and exclusive band. Bylines reading 'We're all having so much fun' and 'We've revitalised Blues music' have been used to show what the band have said during the interview and to grab the readers attention.

I have used two shades of blue so that the colours are not consistantly the same throughout the magazine, however I wanted to stick with the blue theme for the reasons I have already given. This adds variation and an interesting edge to the page.

I have used plugs in my double paged spread to add verismiltude to the piece. For my work to look like a real music magazine conventions such as Plugs and bylines are necessary. Plugs that I have used are the images in the bottom right corner. These are also advertisers as they promote the band. I have filled most of the page with text because the band are new stars and therfore I believe the page should have as much information about them as possible so that the readers can judge whether they like them or not.

The text is in @MS Mincho font which I thought was the most appropriate for an interview style conversation. The text that reads who speaks e.g. 'Adam:' is in bold font. This has been done to make it stand out in comparison to the rest of the text.

I have included straplines and a website address to add to the realism of the magazine. The text boxes also have a black border line to separate the text boxes and make it bolder. The first text that can be seen on the left of the page is in white font so that it is clear to the reader that it is separate from the interview.

Red has been used for the byline at the bottom of the page so that a variation in colour is seen and a vibrant feel is present amongst the traditional blues themes. This goes against the conventions of a Blues magazine, however I believe that is the selling point for my magazine, that it is does not always follow the conventions.

Analysis of Contents page

For my contents page I continued with the white colour scheme, but also used the colours black, blue and gold. White was used once again to reinforce purity. The colour black was used to add a sense of darkness and emptiness. Using photoshop I edited my photograph of Adam Thompson, the guitarist, so that the image was black. This was done to create the feeling of emptiness and mystery, so that the reader sees this about the band in the contents page and reads on to find out:
a) What the band members look like, who they are and why they are in the magazine.
b) Whether the band will appeal to them or not, as the picture is blank and gives nothing away.
c) It adds a sense of mystery so the reader wants to read on. The band name, the expressers contrasts with this image as expressions cannot be seen.

The white on black colour scheme was used to make the lettering stand out and so that is easily eligible for the reader.

The colour gold was used to suggest new and exclusive ideas, it also connotes wealth which appeals to all audiences.

The main heading on this page reads 'Inside...' this is not standard english as by itself it does not mean anything but the use of elipsis intrigues the reader and shows them that if they read on they can find out what the magazine features. I intentionally did not have the words 'Contents' on this page as I thought it was unnecessary and simply a page filler. The numbered text and general layout has been used instead of this.

Analysis of Front Cover

For my front cover I have used a central, photograph image of the new band that I am promoting in my magazine. The image has been carefully planned so that the drummer (Emily Smith) and the Guitarist (Adam Thompson) are seen with their instruments. The drumstick is clearly visible to characterise her and so that the reader immediately recognises what her role in the band is and that the magazine is based on music. The instruments are in front of the models, this connotes that they put music first and are determined about what they do. For example, if they were casual artists I would have chosen for the instruments to be next to them or loosely to one side. I also decided to keep the brick background that can be seen as it shows setting and adds to the characterisation I am trying to portray. It creates a natural setting; suggesting that the picture has been taken outside their home or in a public setting.

The colour scheme was deliberately chosen as being firmly blue and white. Blue connotes the ocean- freedom, vastness and calmness. This fits in with the theme of Blues music. The colour white was chosen to suggest purity, a clean and fresh band and to show that they are new artists. I chose not to include vibrant, extravagant colours such as red and gold because, although I want to show that the band is exclusive and new (which are connotations of gold), I wanted to show that the music is still essentially Blues and not a typical Pop or Hip hop magazine.

The costumes are casual dress to support the theme of a natural environment. I believe this is comforting for the audience to see as so many bands hide behind the Rock and Roll lifestyles that they lead; I thought it was important to show the band as they are.

The facial expressions are serious and quirky. This shows that they are serious about music and also adds a sense of mystery. My aim is to intrigue the reader and for them to have an immediate liking towards the band.

I have used a conventional approach of including smaller photographs on my front page as well. This has been done in a photo-book style; I am hoping that the images look like photos or snapshots of famous artists.

I also included a barcode, price and date on my front cover to reinforce authenticity and realism.

Draft of my contents page