Evaluation Coursework

‘SHENANIGANS’

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

The Cover Masthead – a typical feature of magazines. It is positioned horizontally across top of page (see Kerrang!). The font connotes edginess and rebellion and mischievousness . The word ‘Shenanigans’ itself connotes mischievousness which is appropriate as rock bands can be associated with mischief.

The use of a strapline is conventional in magazines. The strapline itself connotes loud noise and shouting which can be associated with ROCK MUSIC.

The use of coverlines is conventional in magazines , as is the anchoring of the main image with the main coverline (see Q magazine) .

A central image is conventional of a music magazine, usually of a band or solo artist. The central image is also usually from the main feature of the magazine.

To follow the conventions of music magazines I included one other image (not including the poster promotion) for another feature in the magazine. Usually, however, a music magazine will have one than one image other than the central one (see Kerrang!). Moreover, there would usually be a preview of more than one poster, I have used only one.

Typically, music magazines will have several cover lines, I have used only two.

I have used lures such as competitions and posters to attract readers. This is conventional of magazines.

The competition has been placed in the ‘sweet spot’ of the page to immediately attract the attention of the reader. Use of the ‘sweet spot’ is conventional in magazines.

I have included institutional details (in this case the magazine’s website). It is typical of magazines to have the institution’s website on the cover.

I have used only two fonts on this page. Conventionally, magazines will only have two or three fonts in order to avoid confusing the reader.

I have also used only three main font sizes for the same reason.

I included a barcode in a conventional position with a price and issue date.

I used a gutter to advertise the features inside the magazine to my target audience. The is method commonly used on music magazines.

The Contents Page

The sections of the contents are thematically grouped, as is conventional of most magazines.

A montage of images has been included to give the reader a preview of the features within the magazine. Many other magazines do this too.

All the images have been anchored with page numbers to make it easier for readers to navigate the magazine.

I included institutional details on the page, which is conventional of magazines. I have however developed on this with the unconventional location of the details (the rim on a drum for a drum kit in the photo).

The vertical positioning of the title of the page ‘Contents’ is unconventional as most magazines have it placed horizontally along the top of the page.

The repetition of the masthead on the contents page shows continuity of design and is conventional.

Having an editorial on the contents page to greet the reader is conventional of magazines. There would normally, however, be a photo of the editor as well.

It is conventional to have a main image, which I have done so here. The image would, however, usually be positioned in the top half of the page.

To follow the conventions of music magazines, I used a colour scheme consisting of four colours (black, purple, white and red). I developed on this convention by carrying my colour scheme through to even the double page spread.

As with the cover page, the contents page has only two main fonts and three main font sizes to avoid confusion.

The Double-Page Spread

I have included a by-line; this is conventionally done by magazines.

The feature has multiple entry-points to make the page more interesting for the reader. This is a conventional method.

A heading is used to title the feature in a different font, font size and font colour. These will make it stand out. This is conventional of magazines.

The font colour of the answers is different from the that of the questions to differentiate them.

The article ends with news in brief to offer essential information for readers. I also carried my continuity of design through to the double page spread by replicating the ‘layered box’ design from my masthead.

A main image is used on the page as well as several others.

None of the images are for the male gaze and most of the band members are looking at the camera. This connotes confidence to attract the female audience.

The use of photos from a photobooth connotes the fun side of rock stars and shows the confidence of the band in order to attract the female audience.

In the main image I have used ‘mise-en-scene’ of guitars and an amp to connote that this magazine is aimed at fans of rock music.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My product represents several ethnic groups including: Asian, Caucasian and Black. I have done this by including photos of people from these different groups.

While I have represented all three of these groups, I have included only one image of someone from a Black ethnic group. This means that this group is represented to a lesser extent than the others and so may not feel like they are the target audience.

The middle class social group is represented by my product. The clothing and jewellery worn by the individuals in the photos suggest middle class finances. In all of the photos the hairstyles of each of the people are quite toned down and aren’t extravagant – this is typical of middle class girls.

On the double page spread, the main image has a school-like setting which also suggests middle class.

The musical instruments also suggest that the individuals have a higher budget than those from, say, the working class.

With the exception of one photo, all of the individuals photographed in my product are female. By doing this, I have represented the females of the target audience.

Moreover, they are all presented in a positive light. The girl on the poster has her hand on her waist and is looking at the camera, connoting confidence. In the main image of the cover, the middle band member is looking straight at the camera, also connoting confidence. On the double page spread almost all the band members are looking into the camera and seem to be having fun in the photobooth photos. This connotes confidence.

I have also done this by using a purple that is quite close to pink; this colour is stereotypically feminine and therefore represents the female gender.

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

There are two media institutions that would be ideal for the distribution of my magazine:• Bauer Media GroupOR• IPC Media

• Bauer Media distributes a wide variety of magazines for a diverse range of target audiences. The company already distributes music magazines such as Q and Kerrang!

• Bauer Media is a multinational company and has the funding to support a magazine such as ‘Shenanigans’. And independent company would struggle to fund such a high maintenance magazine.

• Bauer already distributes Kerrang!, which covers the same genre of music. Kerrang! Targets a male audience so there would be a gap in the market for a magazine to target a female audience. One disadvantage of Bauer, however, is that the ratio of male:female readers for Kerrang! is 60:40 which would make IPC a better choice.

The alternative option is IPC Media.

• Much like Bauer Media, IPC Media is a multinational company that distributes a wide variety of magazines.

• IPC media will have the funding to successfully distribute my product.

• The company already has experience in distributing music magazines. IPC Media already distributes NME which is a magazine targeting male fans of rock and alternative music. My product targets female fans of the genre and so will offer a suitable parallel for the magazine to fill a gap in the market.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience: • Those within the age group of 16 – 20 years.• Those of Asian, Caucasian or Black ethnic groups. • Those at middle class level.• The female gender.• Fans of rock and alternative music.

How did you attract/address your audience?

• The font used for the masthead connotes rebellion, edginess and the mischievousness associated with performers in the rock genre.

• The use of the pronoun ‘you’ and the imperative creates interactivity with the audience.

• The photos used are all of females and will therefore attract a large female audience. • The clothing and jewellery worn by the individuals in the photos suggest middle class finances. In all of the photos the hairstyles of each of the people are quite toned down and aren’t extravagant – this is typical of middle class girls. Therefore the product will attract those of middle class.

• The strapline connotes rebellion and loud music

• The lures ( i.e. the competition and posters) will attract readers.

• The purple colour used stereotypically connotes femininity and so will attract a female audience.

• The main image contains a guitar to represent the genre of music.

• The individuals in the images are in poses that connote confidence and femininity and so will attract a female audience.

•The girl on the poster has her hand on her waist and is looking at the camera, connoting confidence. •In the main image of the cover, the middle band member is looking straight at the camera, also connoting confidence.

• The majority of images are of female artists. The smaller image of a female artisit has the artist looking at the camera and yelling which connotes confidence and will attract a female audience.

• The ‘Features’ text resembles a scream and so connotes yelling and loud music to attract fans of the genre. It also connotes originality which is associated with the genre.

•The mode of address in informal and witty and so will attract an audience of youths.

• Once again the colour scheme will attract a female audience.

• The ‘mise –en-scene’ of the drums will attract fans of the genre.

• The colour red connotes passion and danger and so represents the atmosphere of the music genre.

•The mode of address in informal and humourous and so will attract an audience of youths and fans of the rock genre.

• Once again the colour scheme will attract a female audience.

• The ‘mise -en-scene’ of the guitars and amplifier will attract fans of the genre.

• The colour red connotes passion and danger and so represents the atmosphere of the music genre.

The poses in the images connote confidence and therefore represent women in a positive light. For instance, almost all the band members are looking into the camera This connotes confidence and will therefore attract a female audience. The photobooth photos connote fun and energy and will attract fans of the music genre.

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

• I have learnt more efficient ways of using the technology (Photoshop). For instance: using the layer masking tool to hide unnecessary parts of an image and using layer styles to improve the text.

• I have learnt that the colour displayed onscreen does not always match the colour that prints and how to compensate for this.

• I have had issues with resizing some images without distorting them.

• I learnt that it is easier for me, personally, to use a PC as opposed to an iMAC as I am used to PCs and found the confusion the iMAC caused (e.g. the windows would switch back and forth and there was no right-click option)

• I briefly experimented with an alternative program, Quark, and have found that I work better in Photoshop. I believe that this is because Quark was not very user-friendly for a first-time user and I was already familiar with various aspects of Photoshop

• I have had issues with different versions of Photoshop and the harmonisation between them. For instance, the Photoshop in school did not crop the same way as my own version does which made changing images in school difficult.

• I developed my skills in using an online blog to document my work progress.

• After using a digital camera, I sometimes had problems when resizing images as the quality of the image would decrease. Moreover, some of the photos could not be used at all because the quality was not good enough.

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

• I have gained a better understanding of audiences and how to attract them. My target audience is more specific this time and my product is more representative of those I wish to address.

• Features I had used for my preliminary task were developed more in this product. For instance, the masthead was more conventional as it was more than just a ‘title’ or ‘headline’.

• My design was more creative and targeted towards the audience this time.

• I used a less ‘busy’ background for the cover to avoid confusing readers and to make the coverlines more visible.

• I used fewer fonts so that my cover page wouldn’t be confusing.

• I used more than one image on my cover page in order to follow the conventions of magazines more closely.

• I used less conventional positions for certain features (for instance the title ‘Contents’ and the institutional details) to make the page more interesting

• I have more sections to divide the features

• I made sure not to only feature one ethnic group in the images so that I would actually address all of my target audience

• I improved my manipulation of photos – the main image on the page is an example.