Evaluation: For My Main Task

Sophie Killoran.

In what ways does your music magazine use, develop or

challenge forms and conventions of real music magazines?

My masthead main Title.

 

For my title of my main masthead magazine I used ‘Roadway’ I liked the simple effect this had on my title ‘Broken Record’. With my title I didn’t want to have a bold larger font, I just wanted it in simple plain black text, This is because my magazine isn’t mainstream and isn’t looking to catch peoples attention the people that read my magazine know it exists without the need of over advertising. I think my masthead works in this independent way because it combines the certain conventional and unconventional features of a masthead, making it simple yet unique and with its simplistic features in a sense slightly more eye-catching and memorable to my usual readers.

Mise-en-Scene of Images.

For my images I had two different looks, the rock and roll, British look, with the simple plain background and its British clothes and colour’s: blue, white, black and red.

My other look for my model was the more classy British look, wearing pearls black and white. Again with the plain background. These two were a contrast to how people portray the British people either highly classed or the British rock and roll look stereotypically.

These image looks go with the concept of my magazine because they reflect the essence of British rock and indepent look that I was trying to capture. In addition to this, my image looks follow the conventions of magazines by displaying the model who was the new artist as not caring what others think, rocky and the other look of her personality was changed, well brought up and respectable highly classed lady. This is portrayed by her mode of address – she is looking directly at the camera in most of the photos.

Costumes and PropsTo create my indie magazine British look I had various props including; Tea mug and cup, Pearls and also I Did use a teddy in shots which are the images I didn’t use but I felt it captured my models softer side. I used a mirror this caught her looking at her reflection as I wanted this theme first of all about how she is looking at what she is becoming as a newly signed artist but I changed it into the two set costumes of her two spilt British personality's. ‘Who says you cant be more the one kind of person?’ And also in my shots I had my model wearing geek glasses however I choose not to use these shots. All my props and costumes where chosen because I had a certain theme of the British look I was trying to create. Just like mainstream magazines have today, with their unique looks.

Written Content 

The written content of my magazine follows the codes and conventions of a standard independent real music magazine by covering similar topics in the questions. For example, it asks about Millie Mays new album, upcoming touring experiences etc. It includes various interviews with well known singers like ‘Hayley Williams’ as well, All of these topics could be found in a real music magazine aimed at teenagers and young adults. In addition to this, the stand first follows conventions by introducing the Millie May at the start of her interview. My language used in the interview and throughout the whole magazine is chatty with familiar mode of address which is conventional and relates to the Teenagers of this age.

Music genre and how your magazine suggests it.

The genre of my music magazine is indie/rock/alternative. This is because it is not connected to the mainstream magazines. I based my Magazine on the independent magazine ‘Indie’. When I first read this I saw exactly the type of people who where featured in it and read it and this is what I wanted to aim my magazine towards teenagers of about 13 onwards including up to the age of around 24. It is a new age hip fresh look and I have tried to keep my magazine slightly simple with its basic British colours to create this certain feel and look to it.

LayoutMy layout of my magazine was quite conventional. My cover has a classic layout of the image taking up the entire page, The title across the top of the page in bold black simple and clear, and the sell lines displayed around the edges of what my magazine featured. A conventional layout is also evident in my contents page, where I have the heading "con” and“tents" split across the top and side of the bottom photo with the text organized in to sections above and down the side of it. My double page spread also sticks to some but not all magazine codes and conventions in that the interview is organized in to columns on both side, and the main image is split on two, is on the both as well. With the title on the far left hand bottom, following onto the far top right hand corner.

Contents Page

With my contents page I had the page numbers in a larger white font outlined in black. I had one larger picture in the right hand corner outlined by “CONTENTS” which is split in half to go upwards/sideways and on the top. I have used two other photos on the far left bottom also. The written text is black and simple. And my background is white. My contents page is unlike any other music magazine resembling for instance “Q” or “NME” as there contents pages are more packed with information whereas mine is more simpler and straight to the point with little information. This is because it is the congenital look I am trying to create of ‘indie’.

How Does Your Media Product Represent Particular Social Groups

The social group I chose to aim my media product was the eccentric independent rock teenagers who aren't necessarily into mainstream music too much and who like independent low key bands and clothes brands creating their own unique style. I used a model that were wearing British rocky clothes which would be similar to how they dress and a more up class look to show the differences in British culture Which would be what my audiences where into. The culture of music.

What Kind of Institution Would Distribute Your Product and Why?

I’d consider Bauer Media as they already distribute Q magazine which is kind of the same genre as my product as it has that rocky look. However it is not an independent magazine distributer and they already distribute Q, it still would be worth looking into.

Indie magazine however, is distributed by COMAG. This is a worldwide independent company and this would most probably be the distributers I use as it is the exact same category as my magazine is. COMAG is published by ‘Plastic media’ Who I would hope would publish my magazine also as this magazine is aimed at the exact audience and type I want my magazine aimed at.

Who Would Be the Audience for your Media Product?

My magazine is aimed at 13-24 year olds both male and female. But its slightly aimed at females more because of the way I designed my magazine and how I presented the written content, cover and double page. I think my magazine would still attract men because of he content inside or even because it’s a independent simple cultural magazine and not a ‘gossipy’ girlie type one.

My audience would wear outrageous, fashionable/retro/vintage unique clothing and be interested in local indie music and some old music, with expectations to a couple of new age modern music in the more mainstream area. They would spend their free time going out with their friends to pubs, gigs, parties and other events like festivals. Camping trips, shopping in charities shops and taking a lot of free time along going on walks and reading books.

I based this audience on what I had learnt from my research. From my questionnaire I learnt what was most popular amongst young people I was aiming at so I could base my magazine on this. For example, I found what artists, festivals and so on were most popular so I could use this in my magazine. I also found things from my questionnaire that helped see how my certain audience consumed music, which I thought was very important. I found that music was most popularly consumed over the internet, usually illegally downloaded. And listened to at live gigs regularly.

Continued:Although my questionnaire showed me what my targeting age range was interested in, it didn't decide what particular social group from this age range I was going to aim my magazine at. From "Find Your Tribe", I got the result as a ‘RAH’. I saw that this was for more open minded chilled people which is who my audience is aiming at which my results I could see I was basing my audience around the same frame of mind as myself this helps because I can relate to what my audiences wants in their magazines.

The economic group would settle in to groups B - E. This is because they would most likely be students at college or university working a part time job

Their physiographic profiling would be a combination of explorer and eccentric independent person. My audience would be classified as explorers because they would seek new experiences and thrills, such as travelling. They would be eccentric and care free about the world ‘almost hippy like’ seeing love in the world in their own individual way. They are also indepent as they have their own style and interests and don’t follow a crowd. They may also be succeeds as they could be a student or someone trying to gain experience and qualifications in order to become successful.

How Did You Attract/Address Your Audience?

I used many simple yet different techniques to attract my audience. I used normal British language so my audience could relate to it and understand it easily. I didn't make it complicated and structured. I created something that was easy and enjoyable to read. I also included slang to relate to the younger generation. Throughout my magazine I felt I used the right fonts that would attracts my audience. For my masthead I used a fine, modern, simple black font that I thought would appeal to my audience. I continued to use this font in the interview and subscription and poster shout outs. I felt the content of my contents page would really attract my independent audience. I used one simple model. I included articles about real established and uprising new indie artists. I felt these would appeal to my audience as they would want to know about all the updates to do with music and its culture. I also included free posters, which would definitely appeal to my audiences. I also tried to aim my double page spread content to my audience as much as possible. In the questionnaire I included questions and answers that would appeal to my audience and be something they could relate to. This was chatty language and wasn’t too formal so my audience felt like it was friendly and easily readable.

Continued:In my images I had my model wear unique yet British clothing. I felt this gave her an image that my audience could relate to. I also had her pose in confident, fun ways which gave them a friendly, exciting image which is also something I think my audience can relate to. However, I think I should of given my model more of a background to work with in some shots instead of a plain background. I think I also should have used some males in my images to equal out the balance between males and females in my magazine, therefore appealing more to the male part of my audience as well. I created my masthead to appeal to my audience by using a modern simple black font. This was bold and easy to read, and I think it worked really well for the style of my magazine.

I represented my social group in a positive way through my images and content. I think the way I have represented my audience would attract them to my magazine. In my images my artists look confident, independent and fun loving so I think this representation would address my audience well.

I laid my magazine out in a clear and modern but the large and small use of fonts makes it look futuristic. I used a grid like style, especially on my contents page but placed images and text in a way that made it look interesting. The layout of my magazine cover is what a magazine would usually look like, which I thought worked best in the music magazines I looked at in my research. I think the layout of my magazine would appeal to my audience because it was easy to read yet each page had a modern and fun that my audience should find interesting.

Continued:

I intended to aim my magazine at both males and females, but it turned out to be aimed at predominantly females. I think the colour scheme I used is however optional gendered as it’s the British colours. Overall the look of my magazine I think would easily appeal to both sexes.

From my audience feedback, I think I have been quite successful targeting my audience. All the females and males I asked said they really liked the colour scheme I used and the images. Nearly everyone I asked said they liked how I had included the free posters and kept my magazine simple and easy to read. People also mentioned how they liked the layout because they thought it was well composed and interesting with the picture taking up the whole page. Some improvements people suggested were to include some more articles on established artists in my contents page and sell lines because they said this would have attracted them more, more free things to give away and more photography images. Overall, I got good audience feedback and feel my magazine worked well to attract them.

What Have You Learnt About Technologies From The Process of

Constructing This Product?

I used my MacBook Pro to complete my work as I had Photoshop and InDesign on it which was the programmes needed for my coursework.

I also used a memory stick to transfer the work I’d done on my Apple laptop this was also because I needed my work on a separate stick so it didn’t get confusing and I always had enough room to put all my media work onto it, and if I needed to edit something on the college computers I had it all saved onto my memory stick.

The camera I used to take photos was a black cannon, it had an adjustable focus point and was helpful when I wanted different shots.

Even though I had InDesign and Photoshop on my computer already I had never actually ever used it, so it was all very new at first and I did find it slightly difficult to use, until I read some information on how to use it in a manual book.

To upload my work I put it into Microsoft power point, then I uploaded that to slide share before taking the link from slide share and copy/pasting it onto my blogger which then uploaded my videos of my work immediately.

I used the site ‘blogger’ as a presentation of my work and all my final research and piece for my coursework is displayed onto my own blogger out in the public domain, accessible to other people.

I used the site: Dafont.com to find my ‘roadway’ title font, I took it from this website and downloaded it onto my computer.

Overall, I think I have learnt a lot using these different technologies, as I had no idea about how to use InDesign and Photoshop so it really helped widen my knowledge of using them, also I had no idea that by uploading a PowerPoint to ‘slide share’ that you could copy and paste that url onto blogger and a video would automatically upload, a much simpler easier way of showing your work.

Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task (The School Magazine Task), What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The Progression From It To Full

Product

Since creating my perlimary task of my school magazine my knowledge of using Photoshop has increased so much as before I had no idea how to use them both. For example I now know how to make elements of my magazine stand out more by using drop shadows and outer glows and how to render parts of my photo to give it a more focused look. I learnt how to select parts of photos using the quick selection tool in order to cut things out. I've also learnt how to download newer more interesting fonts, e.g. ‘dafont.com’ increasing the visual appeal of my magazine. As well as this, the complexity of my page layout has increased as I've learned how to use layers in Photoshop more effectively, and how to place the text correctly in InDesign. Overall my understanding of the various software's has improved a lot throughout this project because at the start I had no idea how to use Photoshop and InDesign, and now I have produced a professional looking magazine using it I feel and I am confident using both software's again with ease.