Evaluation: Question 7

Question 7: Looking back at the preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to a full product?

College Magazine

College Magazine 'Contents Page'

Since doing my preliminary task It has giving me skills that helped me construct my whole product which I put hard work into and  I’m pleased with the results. But without doing the preliminary task, I wouldn’t have known how to appeal to them therefore my convention wouldn’t have been appropriate or  attractive, this task taught me how to present professional conventions on my page which is one of the sills that drastically helped improve the quality of my music magazine. Now as I have finished my product I see the drastic difference in presentation and quality, because my preliminary task looked  childish and not professional at all, as I executed the conventions poorly, for example they weren’t enough cover lines, and the I added shapes that covered most of the image; and they was only one image of the same person and structure of the front cover.

As the preliminary task was first time I had ever used Photoshop to construct anything I was lost and wasn’t very proficient in it when it came to constructing the preliminary task, but Photoshop helped me construct my preliminary task and it turned out decent, but wasn’t able to manipulate the background or image like in my finished product. So this task helped me progress into being able to editing and manipulate my images and background in my full product.

However unlike my full product which consisted of front cover, contents page and double page spread my preliminary task only consisted of front cover and contents page of not a very good quality as I clueless on how to use a canon EO5 400D  camera effectively or manipulate lighting to my advantage; but making these mistakes helped me when doing my product because I knew what not to do and at the end the  picture were ok in  the preliminary task and more professional pictures in the process of constructing my full product. And in doing the preliminary task I learnt how to on work on an A3 canvas and use the space accordingly.

During the process from my preliminary task to my full product I learnt how to appeal to my audience by incorporating what they wanted to see and hear into my magazine by fully including them in the product, which I personally think didn’t show that I had done completely in my preliminary task as I didn’t show my best ability in that task. But what I would say I did was well that I was able to stereotype a particular social group  which I used in my music magazine enabled me to fully focus on what they wanted and suit to magazine to what they wanted, as targeted a specific audience for my music magazine.

So overall doing the preliminary task was also a part of my researching as it was a learning curb for me because was the first every time  attempting to make a magazine, and I don’t see it as a ms=mistake but a learning curb.

Evaluation: Question 6

Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies and the process of constructing this product?

The process in constructing my  has been an exciting and but hectic process which has improve my research and evaluation skill,s and taught me many things about technology; for example I learnt how to use a Canon E0S 400D digital lens reflex camera which is an upgrade from the 350D, and this meant the 400d has more megapixels and better grip which meant I was more stable when taking my pictures and had a better focuse making it easier for me to pictures which were more precise especially as I was new to using the camera.

This allowed me to have very strong picturess which really effective becasuse  that made my models look like they’ve been photo shopped but was still natural which my was desired effect. And to keep the structure of a professional magazine my picture were taken in a film studio where the background was a luxurious blue giving it a consistency effect and was perfect because blue was part of my colour scheme and by doing it in one location I kept the professionalism by doing it in one location.

Also I had to be aware of my surrounding in which I had to make sure the lighting improved my model appearance not the opposite, and in the image of the contents page I used the lighting to add a bit of shadow which made it seem more luminous by making the models seem more mysterious because shadows are often associated with mystery stories, and on the lightning increased the brightness on the camera while the flash enhanced the quality of the image. However the canon EOD 400D didn’t go without its problems.
 
For example it would take time to take the images because it would freeze then take a random copy before it’d work properly which did slow down my process but after letting the camera rest for a while the problem soon disappeared. Also I learn how to use my levels, as in one of my images I stood on a chair so I was at a higher level and was looking down on the models who were seated on chairs, I did this so I could have a picture were it was like the audience were looking down on them so they could feel more superior as they don’t to intimidated by the models that they don’ buy the magazine as I learnt levels are good to sure who the dominate person is.

Also Photoshop was a very important and useful program which helped me make my product, and at the start of constructing the magazine my skills on Photoshop was very limited but I got the hang of using Photoshop CS3 which enabled me to separate the subject and the background so I was able to manipulate the background and create a unique but edgy background second round, and I was able to adjust the brightness, contrast and colour levels of front cover image enabling me to make the pink stand out a lot on my music magazine, giving  my front cover the stamp it needed.

However I didn’t uses the spot healing to the point it looked fake because I still wanted to keep my model natural as to appeal to audience who are normally people and didn’t want to pressurise them to look what is stereotyped as ‘perfect', because that not what my magazine is about as it’s about expressing yourself; so I just used that tool to make the front cover image more appealing, and giving her a blue glow around the ages to make her allow her to glow more. Also to create to the boxes that made the up the foundation of my mast head I used the rectangle tool to draw the boxes, and then move the layout be hide the text. Also another important and useful aspect of Photoshop was the fact that could create JPEG files that turned Photoshop work into images so that I was able to upload my work onto my blog as Blogger don’t except images unless it a JPEG file; so I was able to upload my product onto blogger.

Also in the tool section I used the tool that was shaped in the shape of a ‘T’ to construct text that enabled me to install font onto Photoshop and use it, and contrast my cover lines and mast head, this was a very easy and convenient method for me that helped me in the process of making my magazine, and to make the text look more attractive I right clicked on the layer, which opened up a box with options on how to edit text. This is how I how I made my main cover line so unique and distinctive



 But that effect worked best with text, so make my images more distinctive I used an effect callled  filter; which had many options to choose from, and the one that I choose is the artistic genre becasue  it gave my double page spread and urban but it was still slick at the sametime. This made it more realistic and attractive; because my audience as stereotyped as people from the "Hood", and they listen to urban music so it's not a coincidence thatI used a urban effect on my double page sprd which continues from my main coverline.

Evaluation: Question 5

Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

The research on my audience that I did I feel guided me through the process of making my music magazine, and therefore helped me attract my audience in different ways. For example my front cover which is vital as it’s the first thing the audience will see, so it therefore determined whether they will look, pick up or even buy my magazine. And to assure that they do pick up ma magazine I had to pick the appropriate model that they can relate to; therefore the age should be similar to the audience, including the same sex because makes it easier for them to associate themselves with her. However despite all that the model has to be appealing to them so has to have some sense of attractiveness so they can look twice or even stop to look then leads them to buy it; but so my audience don’t feel so intimidated I decided to use no branding clothing so my  audience can visual themselves as her not the clothes she wears; as the majority of the people associated with the two main genres of my magazine RnB and Hip Hop may not be able to afford expensive clothing, but I still included a diamond ring so when they visual themselves as her they also visualise themselves having all the riches and fame leading to want to find out more.

Also I made sure I focused on my genre which is RnB/Hip Hop and a bit of pop because this is what my target audience is attracted to is what they want to read about which is shown through my audience research questionnaire and to input this into my magazine mentioned appropriate issues relating to my genre through my front cover’s cover lines. So this involved me including popular RnB/Hip Hop/ Pop artist who are well known in the music industry for example ‘Nicki Minaj’, and male artist such as Chris Brown who appeals to my genre’s sexual nature because Chris Brown has many female fans. Also the issues raised in my cover lines such as “ Tyga says ‘time out’”; Tyga who is a rapper  and music genre focuses on Hip Hop, Pop rap and R&B has a recent hit called ‘Rack City’ explicit version has over  8,622,671 hit on YouTube for now, so they is a lot of hype around him; so I know including him in my magazine would create some hype but also keeping it relevant to the fact it’s a music magazine so audience that find out more about the star, that they wouldn’t be able to find out in his music.

Furthermore throughout my magazine I used the Myriad Bold font which kept my magazine quiet consistent but bold, however to vamp up my front cover I used the Myriad Font but also the font called ‘College’ font from Dafont.com which I downloaded because it really made my music magazine very distinctive and urban which is what my magazine is about because music started from the streets, which I felt worked with my magazine. However I used the Myriad Font which I then upgraded by adding effects such as inner glow a creamy white, outer Glow in blue, dissolve effect made it 3D, and had the artist name in white and other part of the cover line in black which stood out from the rest of the over cover lines. This created a recognisable and visually effected trademark look that my target audience would be able to notice and be attracted to because of its individuality; which co notates what I  tried to achieve with my magazine; and I believe if you put passion and hard work into something that comes out originally, different and it’s looks like special and individual that people who it’s meant for or see it, would be encouraged to be original and individual, which I believe is what music is about because it help you express who you are and how you feel.

Also from my audience research task which I conducted on BBM I realised that colour is what helps makes a music magazine stand out, and the colour scheme of my music magazine which  was based mainly on the colours, Pink, blue, white and black, and these colours I believe are statement colours that shout authority. And colours like red and blue are popular colours among young people because these colours are everywhere and are part of us; as red is associated with passion, and blue is associated with the sky= heaven; and these thing make people happy. So to appeal to my audience I used a Varity of colours as not make my magazine look weak by just using pink, that why had my model’s facial expression masculine but her pose seductive and feminine so my target audience can see what the female gender is made of therefore wanting to express that themselves. I also addressed my audience in standard English with a twist of urban which was appropriate because my target tend to uses a mixture of standard English and words from the urban dictionary, that why I said ‘Birth of the starz’ instead of ‘stars’. And i don’t think this is restricting my Varity in age because people of the older age boundary aren’t my target audience and aren’t as focused on buying music magazines especially of an RnB/Hip Hop/ pop genre, as I’m targeting a younger more activity audience as evident through my style.

And on my contents page I attracted my target audience by basing it on a main image of a young and urban girl band, and keeping it very vibrant, colourful but also edgy. This meat my audience had more to look at and felt as if the page was brought alive, so they feel as if they’re money is well spent.

Evaluation: Question 4

Question 4: Who would be my audience for the media product?

As I have stated previously my target audience is of the young generation aged 15-21 mainly an American audience because America is the founder and foundation of music. For example Hip Hop started in the 1970’s in The Bronx, New York City, and now Hip Hop in this century involves Cultural elements that include Mc/rapping. So this influenced my decision because it’s much easier for an American artist to break into the UK music industry than it is vice versa; and also because American at this moment in time is the most powerful Country in the WORLD, becasue of it's wealth and influence as it has powerful people like the president Barack Obama. Also mytarget audience for my media product is the female gender, as I can relate to them du to my gender; and I not being biest but a women is the neck to te head of the family who are men, and without the neck the head can't functionn, so this why they would be able to bend them into buying magzines that appeal to them.

              

My Music magazine is targeted at the younger generation due to the fact that the younger generation take quiet a interest in music and statistic show that the female gender buy more magazines in generall than men; and the artist that are featured in the contents of my music magazine appeal to this social group because they speak their language through their music and give an escape rot from the world which bombards  them with responsibilities, but the motto that is frequently used in this social group is  “YOLO”, and the artist featuring in my magazine music inspires  these young souls. Also the issues that are raised in my magazine give “Top Tips” on shown they can to live the ‘American dream’.

 

In terms of ethnicity RnB/ Hip Hop is normally associated with black minorities, whereas Pop the white people who go clubbing, and between them they wouldn’t really go but things are changing including the music industry’ but what hasn’t changed is the fact that the white people are the ones who buy the albums and go to the concerts, whereas the black people are stereotyped as the group who legally download music; which is the reason famous artist like Beyonce and Rihanna lighten their skin so they appeal more to the audience who buy and download their music and albums. And as a result I was influenced to choose a black but light skinned model, because even though black people listen to this type of music white people are the ones that buy it; therefore another reason for adding a tint o pop to my magazine; this therefore makes my music magazine more accessible and relatable.  

Evaluation: Question 3

Question 3: What type of media institutions might distribute my media product and why?

 

I conducted a publishing house case study in my planning and research stage of my coursework and through that decided that Conde Nast were the publishing company would most likely publish and distribute my music magazine,  and reason they would want to publish and distribute my magazine is that firstly they don’t offer music magazine to their audience which, so my magazine would be something new and fresh as readers may get bored of the same old thing; therefore this enable Conde Nast to tap into a new market, therefore expanding their audience to that of a more Varity. This would lead to an increase in their popularity, connection with public and sales. Also another reason Conde Nast would publish my magazine is because music link with a lot of things involved in the magazine that Conde Nast publishes such as The New Yorker ( which is the city Hip hop was founded), which is the culture genre, and Teen Vogue which is based on the fashion and lifestyle genre. And these thing link to my magazine because Music is  not always about the music but about the performance which involves they way the artist conduct themselves especially in the way they dress, and some are seen as fashion icons such as Rihanna. And culture is a way of life and music is part of culture and life , for example if you go to Hawi where it’s known for its distinctive dance, that dance is part of their culture and can’t be performed without music; and people actually go to that country to experience the culture and it’s music.

Also publishing and distributing my magazine would have a positive financial benefit for Conde Nast Publications because they would be no competition within the company as Conde Nast publishes more than one fashion and lifestyle magazine; which would mean they would be tapping into a mass audience as music is a part of people lifestyle no matter where there from. And because my magazine already includes a famous and recognisable artist so won’t have to spend a lot of money on promoting, but will see an increase in advertisements and sponsorships because my music magazine would be new and targeting a wider audience range. This in turn as I said previously will increase Conde Nast Publications income.

Furthermore I would also need to have a plan of how i would take off my music magazine, and if so I would probably distribute my magazine in iTunes store which is a top music and retailer in the US and in the world which is where my main audience is from; and already has over 50 million customer so not much advertising would be needed. And because iTunes is known worldwide it also expands the audience that my music magazine would be available to, therefore creating more awareness on my magazine and increasing the number of readers; and my audience most probably download music from iTunes already so my magazine can be advertised or order in iTunes making it more accessible to my audience geographically and digitally because everything buying and shopping online is increasing in popularity.

Evaluation:Question 2

Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The social group I’m targeting is young teenager of the female genre particularly in the age ban of 15-21 where people are still in education so the reality of life, work and bills hasn’t hit them yet, therefore are still carefree of how they spend their money, and statistically girls but more magazine then boys in general. And my target audience are RnB/ Hip Hop/Pop listeners; so I represented this through my image by basing my look on Nicki Minaj a RnB/Hip Hop artist, and is representing the lady’s as the new fierce and sexy rap artist of this generation, making 1.7 million in the U.S alone for her debut album Pink Friday which million of girls brought, and so I used my images to show girl power and because I based my images on girls who girl of this generation would listen to it shows girl power and therefore more girl from any background can relate to it because the images show them what they can become.

So they way I did this was through as my main model is wearing black leather trousers and a pink sheer top. The black leather trousers suggest masculinity because biker men wear a lot of leather and are seen as hard, manly and masculine, which is how female artist have to be to compete against the men, whoever my model wore a sheer top because of the male gaze theory were men find curvy women who reveal their feminine parts because this is appealing to them. And this is how female artist portray themselves in order to sell their or promote their products, like Nick Minaj, Lil Kim and Rihanna who were and are popular female artist who are making it bigger than some men in the music industry. And these artist have broke boundaries and set a new trend of fashion which is a mixture of rock/ retro and the young people of this generation are embarrassing it because this looks enable young people to expresses their feelings because they feel repressed as they’re not much around for youth’s but music has opened new doors for this social who are stereotyped as part goers, so I feel through costume I represented this social group really well.

Also in the genre RnB accessories such as jewellery are very significant and important because they connate that the person is rich and this is what attracts the audience especially the young generation because they dream is to get rich and if hey se someone who has all this they want to know how they got it, therefore they would like to read more about them. So I included a big diamond flower ring which is hard to fins because it’s expensive. And goes with the whole attitude that the model brings across because when music artist don’t have the tendency to smile but give out air of attitude which shows that they have it all which is very common in this genre.

                  

Evaluation:Question 1: Part