AS Media StudiesMusic Magazine

EvaluationKatie Capstick

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

products?

My media product has many elements that are similar to real music magazines like Q.

Many of these involve:-The element of using a ‘tagline’ for recognition of the magazine.-an issue date , website and price of magazine. -The use of a large image of an artist on the cover is a common convention of many music magazines, which I decided to use to attract readers.-Another convention I have used is the use of informing the audience what content is inside the magazine.- The similar use of the artists name to help persuade audiences to buy the magazine.-The font I have used is also similar to that of real media products, it is simple bold font which is eye-catching and easy to read. I have decided to use the font ‘Georgia’ as it is simple yet eye-catching.

Another important feature of a magazine is the name . I chose to use the name ‘AMPLIFIED’ which relates to the semantic field of music so therefore was appropriate for a music magazine. Also, a common convention of a music magazine is to use bold and eye-catching font, I have therefore followed this convention by carefully selecting a font similar to the striking font used for ‘KERRANG!’ magazine.

An aspect of my magazine that is important to comment on is the props I have used in my photos. I have used props such as a guitar headphones and a microphone, which is a common convention in music issues to give the photo shoot a music feel and to portray the correct genre. My photos relate to the music issue of FHM where Pixie Lott is holding a microphone. This is how my magazine suggests the genre; rock-pop. The people I have used are young and therefore appeal to the target audience. The outfits that I selected have a rock-pop vibe and relate to the clothes worn by many rock-pop artists such as Pixie Lott.

A typical convention of magazines is the use of a barcode, this is important as they need one to be sold. So, therefore I decided to display on eon the cover of my media product.

An element which is common in magazines is the use of a banner at the bottom of the cover which informs the reader what extra features the magazine has a what other artists are included. The use of the word ‘PLUS!’ which is a common feature in magazines such as NME is something else I decided to include to make my cover look eye-catching and to portray that my magazine offers a lot.

As you can see ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine changes their colour scheme each issue, which is a convention that I have used in mine if I were to create another issue. The issue I have used involves colours such as pinks, blacks, greys and reds and I have continued this colour theme throughout my contents and double page spreads. These colours would perhaps be seen as feminine colours targeting a female audience, however, in general the magazine would be aimed at an all gender teenage audience, just like ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine isn't gender specific but sometimes uses very feminine colours for example in the Lady Gaga issue.

On my contents page there are many common conventions of a music magazine contents page.

All magazines include the name of the magazine at the top of their contents page, I have therefore followed this feature.

Another convention which I have followed is the use of the date and ‘This Month’ which relates to the use of ‘This Week’ in NME magazine contents page.

Also music magazines tend to use the convention of having a ‘Band Index’ like in NME. However, I decided to use an ‘Artist Index’ as well as a contents including ‘News’ ‘Reviews’ and ‘Live’ similar to like on the NME contents page.

I have also included an extra story on the contents page just like in the NME one.

Similar to the NME contents page where a colour theme has been used I have followed this convention my using pinks, blacks and reds which relates to the colour theme used on the cover.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

When discussing social groups, it is apparent that my magazine target social groups that are interested in pop, rock and R&B. This is represented through the costumes, hair, expressions, gestures, and lighting in my images. These elements of my magazine show that my magazine is aimed at teenagers aged from 14-19.

The costumes I selected relate to rock and pop similar to what Cheryl Cole is wearing for her Q magazine shoot; a rock magazine.Also the lighting used in my photo shoot is similar to music magazines like ‘Q’ showing lightness and showing that there are no dark backgrounds which would be most likely associated with social groups such as Goth and metal.

Also the poses that my models have in the images are similar to those in popular music magazines such as Q and the FHM music issue. Therefore this represents the social groups of people interested in pop/rock as Cheryl Cole and Pixie Lott are in this group.

The shot angles used show a full image of the model from the front which also show the social group targeted. Perhaps in Goth or Indie magazines you would see shots from above the model looking down giving a more depressing feel.

The language used is also young yet simple and not too sophisticated so therefore appropriate for the social group.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media

product and why?IPC is the company that I researched that publishes magazines and would be the company which would distribute my media product as is publishes many magazines similar to my magazine such as NME. Also NME magazine is priced at £2.20, mine is at £2.00, so therefore is priced right for this company to publish.

On the site I can clearly see that they distribute a variety of magazines and I think this would be a good publisher to use when distributing my media product as it would therefore reach my target audience.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience of my media product is teenagers aged 14-19. This is shown through the images used; teenagers aged 17. Also artists such as Cheryl Cole and Pixie Lott are shown to appear inside the magazine, this also represents the young target audience.

As you can see ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine changes their colour scheme each issue, which is a convention that I have used in mine if I were to create another issue. The issue I have used involves colours such as pinks, blacks, greys and reds and I have continued this colour theme throughout my contents and double page spreads. These colours would perhaps be seen as feminine colours targeting a female audience, however, in general the magazine would be aimed at an all gender teenage audience, just like ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine isn't gender specific but sometimes uses very feminine colours for example in the Lady Gaga issue.In my images I have created a

band which represent the social group of young people who are interested in rock and pop therefore highlighting who the target audience is.

This is therefore the target audience of my magazine.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience by using many bold features and bright colours. I have used big strong images which is an attracting element, also by using young people for my models this will therefore attract and appeal to the target audience of the similar age.

The eye-catching, fancy font I have used on the double page spread is young, fun and interesting so will therefore appeal to my target audience. I have also used colourful text which is also attracting to the audience

I have used a big bold image which relates to music with the headphones and microphone used, therefore is appealing to the target audience.

On the cover I have used a slogan ‘The UK’s biggest teen magazine’ by using a superlative here it makes the magazine sound like the best, therefore attracting the audience

By using the word ‘PLUS!’ here attracts the audience as it is bold and eye-catching and gives the sense that the magazine is offering more.

The colourful text of the artists names here is very eye-catching and appealing to the audience

The magazine name is bold and memorable; ‘AMPLIFIED’ which will address the audience. Also the bold font of the artist name ‘Angelic War’ is also eye-catching, therefore attracting the audience.

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

Before the preliminary task, I hadn’t used Photoshop before so I had to learn how to use it before starting my coursework. I have learned many new things whilst using Photoshop, many of these include airbrushing and adding effects to images, adding texts and changing fonts, and adding different layers.

These images show the before and after of my main image showing the many effects used; airbrushing, cropping, using the dodge and burn tool, inserting text over the image and using the brush tool.

This is the online technology I have used when producing my magazine. This is blogspot, a website I used to post all my work and production to show how I have developed ideas for my magazine.

I have also used youtube.com to collect videos that I could post on my blog. Also by watching music videos, I have got inspiration to the genre of magazine I would like to create and have found the look I wanted for my band featured on the cover of my magazine.

Looking back at your preliminary task (the school magazine), what do you feel you have learnt in the

progression from it to full product?

I have learned to organise my time better. In my preliminary task I worked in a group so therefore we could get more work done. Whilst working on my own on the final task, I found I was rushed towards the end because I had more responsibility.

I have gained a lot more skills on Photoshop. Before the preliminary task I had no idea how to work it, now I can use many tools and add many effects and layers.

I have learned how to plan a task properly by looking at common conventions of other magazines before heading straight into creating your own magazine. It was important for me to do research so I know my magazine would look very realistic.

I have learned about the production of magazines and how every little features and detail is important.

I have also learned how to set up a photo shoot in the college studio, I have learned about lighting equipment, camera angles and how to use professional cameras.