Thursday, 10 May 2012
Friday, 4 May 2012
EVALUATION: How does your media product represent soical groups?
My first photos involved my model dressed in dark tight pants, high heels, a loose top and a grey jacket, against a plain white background; this made the photos easy to cut out. I took a range of photos including the model standing alone, the model positioned on the floor and the model using props such as a guitar and microphone. I also took photos using a range of shots, such as close ups and medium shots.
However, the genre of my magazine is rock in musical theatre; therefore I thought that location shots would be more appropriate for my genre. I decided that my next batch of photos would be taken in a castle keep. I believe this would give more of a rock feel. I also changed a few pieces of clothing that the model was wearing such as using a navy military style jacket as I believe this gives a sense of power, and also biker boots instead of high heels, because I believe high heels are too much like the pop genre, whereas the biker boots give a dangerous feel.
I thought the location shots could be used in my contents and article, but I didn’t want to use them for my front cover therefore I went back to the studio and took more images with a different model wearing a completely different outfit. I keep to the dark coloured clothing to give a rock feel, but I brightened the image by using a cream coloured top. I also had the model wear a hooded jumper with a leather jacket over the top, to give it the dangerous feeling I needed I had the model wear the hood up.
In my front cover the image represents a dangerous female, the fact that her hood on her jacket is up, is stereotypically seen as a bad thing. I have made her look sexy and seductive due to the red lip stick.
The colour scheme of red, white and black isn't typical of a musical theatre magazine, however it does represent my idea of a magazine around rock musicals, and as these colours are typical of a rock genre magazine, I believe this is affective in order to attract a wide audience.
The image of the editor represents she is hard working, as she is dressed smartly in a shirt and a cardigan. However I left her hair down as I didn’t want her to seem too stuck-up, and by doing this she seems laid back and down to earth.
The image at the bottom of the page I left open to the imagination, as the story to go with it is upcoming musicals. However I have still made it seem of the rock genre, so the image ties in to the rest of my magazine.
I have also kept the same fonts and colours as the font cover to keep consistency.
For the images in the double page spread I have used the same model as my front cover to keep consistency but also to tie in with the story as the image is representing the same thing.
I have also used the same fonts and colours again, therefore audiences can relate the pages together.
I have kept the text in columns to make the text east to read, therefore the audience’s attention won’t stray.
I believe my representation has been made “true”, “common-sense” and “natural” as images are supposed to portray actors playing the working class, the outfits they are wearing are there costumes, however they have been bought on the high street to show they are working class.
Although my models are stereotypical, according to Gauntlett’s “So what is a role model?” (2008). He says role models can be divided into six different types, and my main model is what he calls a “challenging stereotype.” She seems tough yet still sexy and feminine. But I have broken the convention on sexy. Women in magazines, who are trying to portray this, are usually wearing small clothing, not covering much of their body. In my images the main model I fully clothed, there is no skin showing, however the rock look with red lipstick makes her look sexy.
My magazine represents a young girl, who enjoys rock music and musical theatre. This is explained by Price (1993) that representation is “the way in which ideas, objects, people, groups and life forms are depicted by the mass media…(and)is the method used by the mass media to create meaning.” Therefore the way my model is dressed, poses, her facial expression all represent the meaning of a rock musical magazine.
My representation is being aimed at my target audience of people who enjoy musical theatre, as the model is looking straight on at the audience, pulling them in to look at the magazine. My models appear to be young, which would attract younger audiences but the text on the front cover would attract older audiences. I think my magazine would attract both males and females, the males will like the front cover as the woman looks sexy, but women will like the image as its someone to look up to and inspire to.
EVALUATION: What would be the target audience for your media product? and How did you attract/ address your audience?
My target audience are both males and females from the ages of 16 to 25 as it became apparent in my questionnaire that this is the most common age range. However, my magazine is about the musical theatre genre therefore my primary audience is this. My secondary audience are people who like the rock genre of music, this is because I tried to broaden my audience by focusing on rock music in musicals. Most people that buy magazines are working class therefore my price will have to reflect this. To help me decide on an appropriate price I looked at other magazines and discovered they charged in the range of £2.00 to £3.99. An example of this is my style model Q magazine who charges £3.99 per issue, this is a well-known magazine so they can afford to charge at the top end of the price range. I decided to charge £3.00, hopefully charging at the lower end of the bracket will entice more people to buy the magazine. To gain feedback I had to undertake audience research on my product. I gave the audience a set of open questions and closed questions, to see if they would have liked me to improve my product in anyway. So they would be more likely to buy the product.
Check this out on Chirbit
In 1980 Majorie Ferguson created a theory for different facial expressions generally used on magazine front covers. My magazine portrays her theory of a “Invitational”, as the emphasis is on the eyes, the mouth in shut but with a small hint of a smile, and the model is looking straight at the camera. I have also used Naomi wolf’s (1991) The Beauty Myth, which describes how erotic images of women have been used to sell products such as magazines to women, because women believe beauty is what society has told us it is. I have also done this by using a model of a similar age to my target audience, which will appeal to them. However, my image isn’t exotic but it does portray a strong female and the image makes her look seductive. Check this out on Chirbit
Thursday, 3 May 2012
EVALUATION: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I have researched into the Bauer media group, and what I have learnt is that they do distribute music magazines such as Q and Kerrang!. However, they are categorised as men’s magazines, while I was looking at the women’s magazines they were all fashion and lifestyle magazines, there were no music magazines, and looking through all the categories there was no musical theatre magazines. I believe that there is a gap in the market for Bauer to exploit, and by distributing my magazine they would cover a range of genres they haven’t already. My magazine is targeted at both males and females as well as musical theatre and rock enthusiasts, which is a niche audience and will expand on their profits.
My audience are quite young, but I believe this could be an advantage to Bauer Media Group, by attracting a younger audience you are securing profits from the next generation of magazine buyers. Although the cost of the magazine is what’s called a pocket money price I believe that profit will still be achieved, as this is what my target audience can afford by keeping the price lower than the norm, I can ensure buyers.
Friday, 30 March 2012
Double Page Spread- Stages Of Development
The first stage of my double page spread was to make the background black, I chose to do this because it would vary from my first two pages but still keep with the house style. Next I started blocking out my page according to my plan, with the two white boxes representing photos and the header in the top corner diagonally. I began with just the red text for my header, using the same font as the text on the front cover relating to this story and also the contents page. I then added my image but there are a few problems with it, first of all the header is covering the models head and second the background to the image is a white screen I used and this does look authentic.
After looking at my first step, I decided there wasn’t anything I could do with my image that would allow me to follow my flat plan, and would make it look authentic. Therefore I decided to change my image, I believe this one works better and looks more professional against the white background, it also makes the model look fun, which in turn will make the reader want to learn more about the story. Next I added my too smaller images in the same style as the main one; they both look fun and will help break up my text when it is added. The last this I added was the introduction, I decided to use the same font as the contents page to keep consistency. I also used the red to make the text stand out as this part of the story will attract the audience to read more.
My last stage was to add the interview. I chose to have the questions in grey and the answers in white, to allow the audience to distinguish easily between the two. By keeping the text in columns I have made it easy to read, and consistency is kept with both my front cover and contents, where I’ve used columns. When I was looking at my page it seemed too full however I didn’t want to discard some of my text, I decided to add quotes in the same font as the text but using the effects and colours of my header, this broke up the text and made it seem not too long. The last this I added to the page was page numbers in each corner, and if I was to add more pages to my magazine I would use the same font and colour for all my page numbers, to make it easier for the reader.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Contents Page- Stages Of Development
I began my contents page by starting with a white background and adding the light grey gradient the same as the front cover, to keep continuity. I then added a header in the same front as my text on the front cover. However it did seem to catch my attention, in the way I would want my magazine to catch the audiences, therefore I added a black background behind it. After this, I created the date and website in the same font as the text on my front cover, to make it look more authentic. The last thing I added was the red rectangle at the bottom which was in my original flat plan.
The second stage was to add the text to my contents page. I decided on using the left hand side of the page for the, to keep to the same style as my front cover. The font I used for the contents page is the same font as the text used on the front cover. I then added titles to break up the text, although they didn’t stand out against the rest of the text, and so I used drop shadow and outer glow effects.
Next I added the images. The top one partly covers the header, I decided on this because of the front cover image doing the same with the mast head. The other is across the shape at the bottom, but I angled it opposite to the shape to create a contrast.
To me the titles and the image at the top still weren’t standing out enough compared text, to combat this I decided to extend my idea of the red rectangle at the bottom of the page, by using them behind the image and titles. By angling them the same way I have been able to keep consistency, but at the same time create something that is more attractive to the reader. Next I added page numbers to the images to the audience could relate them to page featured in my contents. Lastly, I added some text across the bottom to give the audience an insight into what the story is about this image.
My next stage was to add a letter from the editor, I kept to the same fonts I have used previously, but I had to break this consistency for the signature, to make it look more authentic. After I had done this there still seemed to be a large space down the middle of my page, therefore I added a button to attract the audience’s attention, I believe this to be true as I have added drop shadow, outer glow and bevel effects to the text to make it stand out. Where I have placed a black box I will later add an editor’s photo, this will hopefully achieve my aim of authenticity.
Front Cover- Stage Of Development
This is the very beginning of my front cover I started with a white background and added a light grey gradient to make the background less bland. The mast head is in the left corner and reads “EMT” with the words “everything musical theatre” underneath, this instantly tells the audience what the magazine is about. I also added a banner above this to contain information about what the magazine contained. I first tried the banner red but it didn’t blend well with the mast head.
This is the second stage of my front cover, I have added a banner at the bottom, this time in red to add colour, as this colour didn’t work in my first banner attempt, I decided to try it in a different place, this time I believe it looks better, and works well to contrast with the image. I then added the head line across the image to tell the reader more about the story. I added an outer glow and bevelled it to make it stand out more and catch the audience’s attention.
Next I added the text down the left hand side, firstly to organise the text to make it easier to read for the audience and to keep their attention. But also not to cover my main image too much, I was able to achieve this because the image is off centre. My last stage will be to add a price and a barcode to make my front cover more authentic.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Flat Plan- Contents
Flat Plan- front cover
This is the flat plan for my front cover. I decided to have a large central image as this is stereotypical of music magazines. Also from looking at my style models i decided to have my masthead in the left hand corner instead of the traditional layout where the mast head covers the top of the page. I think this gives my magazine a different look to others and will help it to stand out. The main text is on the left hand side below the mast head this is to give the cover some organisation, and make it easier for the audience to read. i decided that the head line would cover the bottom of the picture to capture the audiences attention, and to highlight the story behind the image.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Flat Plan- Double page Spread
Monday, 19 March 2012
Images i haven't used in my magazine
Friday, 17 February 2012
Questionnaire Results
This slide contains the results from my questionnaire and also the questions i asked my audience. I used a range of open and closed questions both having there benefits. Open questions allowed the audience to answer the questions more truthfully and therefore gave me a range of results. however the closed questions allowed me to narrow the answers the audiences gave down allow me to make a decisision of what to include in my own magazine more easily.
Questionnaire results
View more PowerPoint from charlotteconnor26
Friday, 10 February 2012
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