Completed Music Magazine

This is my completed rock music magazine:

Cover:

Contents Page:

Double Page Spread:

Evaluation - Question 7

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

Evaluation - Question 6

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

 

I have learned how to use an SLR camera properly to take good quality photographs for my music magazine.

I have learnt how to use and easily navigate around an Apple Mac whilst creating my magazine, as I have used it to run all the programmes i have needed to create my magazine on.

I have learnt how to use photoshop to create a music magazine and how to alter images and text on it.

I have learnt how to use iphoto to upload my images from the SLR camera to the Mac

I have learnt how to use flickr to annotate my finished magazine cover, contents page and double page spread and to discuss the roles of distribution under my images.

 I have learnt how to use blogger to record all the work and progress I have made over my magazine construction and media course.

iShowU video (with voice over) of me using the technologies I have learnt how to use:

 

Evaluation - Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

I have answered this question in Prezi.

(please allow the embedded Prezi to load properly before attempting to view it :) thank you)

How did you attract/address your audience? on Prezi

Evaluation - Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product? Why?

Below is a drawing of a member of my target audience with annotations around him:

Target Audience

My target audience I believe is primarily male, as the majority of rock music fans are male (67% rock gig ticket buyers/holders are male) This is why the drawing of my audience member is male. I believe my target audience to be College/University students between the ages of 16 and 21, as these are classed as 'student years' which is when a person buys the most gig tickets and is most into music and likely to buy a music magazine - this is why my audience member is 17 years old.

The majority of rock fans wear black clothing, with jeans, casual t-shirts and accessories predominantly in red or white (black red and white are the typical rock colours) this is why my audience member is wearing red and black accessories and t-shirt, as well as wearing jeans and black Converse style shoes.

Shops

HMV is the music shop of choice for the typical rock music fan - followed closely by HMVs rock 'sisiter' shop called FOP, as they sell a lot of rock music which appeals to my target audience, that is why my audience member would shop there.

Afflek's Palace in Manchester is an alternative/rock/cyberpunk/goth superstore which has over 30 shops and 4 floors in it. Rock music is played in all the shops in Afflek's and all the clothing and accessories sold in it is appropriate to the rock genre and rock audience, that is why my audience member would shop there.

Hobbies

- Playing Guitar/instruments: many rock music fans play rock related instruments as they are inspired heavily by the music they love.
-Going to gigs: rock gigs are the most widely attended gigs in the UK and so it is likely my audience goes to gigs as a hobby.
-Manga art/drawing: from my own experience rock fans seem to draw Manga and Anime style art more than fans of any other music genre. Both myself and many of my rock music loving friends all draw Manga art as a hobby. (the drawing of my audience member is classed as 'Manga Art')
-Reading magazines: rock fans are usually the most devoted fans out of all music genres and are the most likely to read about their favourite bands in magazines.

Music

My audience member would listen to rock music from the past and the present, such as:

-Queen
-My Chemical Romance
-ACDC
-Muse
-Linkin Park
-Black Sabbath
-30 Seconds To Mars
-Metallica

As well as variations on rock music riffs and drumbeats which incorporate alternative/metal music into their over all sound, such as:

-We The Kings
-Midas Fall
-The XX
-Goo Goo Dolls
-Lifehouse
-Elliot Minor

TV shows

My target audience would watch pretty much all types of TV other than Reality TV, as although everyone in the rock music loving community are diverse and enjoy different TV things, they collectively hate reality tv shows. Shows they would watch:

-Doctor Who
-Hollyoaks
-Battle of the Bands

Shows they would not watch:

-XFactor
-Britain's Got Talent
-The Only Way Is Essex
-Big Brother

They would not watch these shows because they often don't like modern music that has no soul and is only made for money (like Rhianna, Rizzle Kicks and similar 'artists') and these shows either promote that style of music, or have people on the shows that love that style of music. A common phrase within the teenage rock loving community is: "modern music is c-omputer r-ecorded a-utotuned p-op, c-r-a-p" - which proves my theory of which tv shows and music artists they would and wouldn't watch!!

Evaluation - Question 3

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

I have used Flikr to answer this question - please click on the images to be taken to Flikr to read my answers under the images.

Evaluation - Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My rock music magazine represents the 'rock' social group by appearing similar to existing music magazines targeted at social groups which revolve around rock music.

My cover image has taken certain aspects of an existing rock music magazine cover to ensure it represents the rock genre social group.

Posture

Similarities

My male model on the right of the image has very similar posture to the male model on the right of the existing magazine image. The posture is relaxed and casual, shown by the wide stance, relaxed hands around the pocket area and their heads being slightly to one side. The relaxed posture gives the impression of rebellion and rock because they appear to have attitude and have a relaxed view on the world.

My female model has a wide stance and folded arms just like the model on the existing magazine, this shows attitude and is distinctly  'rock'.

My male model on the left has a casual posture with one hand in his pocket, just like the male models on the very left and very right of the existing rock magazine.

Differences

My male model on the left is slightly leaning against the wall behind him, giving him an even more relaxed posture than the models in the existing magazine.

Gesture

Similarities

My female model has her arms folded just as the female model does on the existing magazine to put across their rock attitude.

My two male models have one or both of their hands around/in their pockets just as the male models in the existing magazine do, to convey a relaxed and almost uncaring rock attitude.

Differences

My male model on the left is doing the rock symbol across his chest with his hand, this adds to his rock attitude.

Angle

Similarities

Both photographs are taken front on.

Differences

My photograph is taken from a slightly low angle to make the rock band look dominating. Whereas, the existing photograph is taken from a slightly high angle.

Shot type

Both photographs are long shots which ensures full body detail can be seen.

Lighting

My photograph is taken in natural light, whereas the existing photograph was taken in a studio with artificial light.

Costume


Similarities


All my models and the models on the existing magazine are wearing black items of clothing. One model in my magazine (female) and one model on the existing magazine (male far right) are both wearing a mixture of black and white clothing. My models are wearing casual t-shirts, just as most models in the existing magazine photograph are. My models are all wearing wristbands similar to the ones worn by a few of the models in the existing magazine photograph. All my models are wearing 'Converse' shoes, just as the model on the far right of the existing magazine photograph is too.


Differences

My female model is wearing long sleeves, whereas the existing magazine's female model is wearing a vest top. My model on the far left is wearing blue jeans which none of the models in the other magazines are wearing. My model on the right is wearing elements of red on his clothing which is not present in the existing magazine photograph.

Expression

Similarities

My models are not smiling, or pouting, they just have a neutral expression which shows their carefree and rebellious attitude, similar to the relaxed neutral expressions on the existing magazine photograph.

Differences

All my models are looking at the camera, unlike the models in the existing magazine photograph where only 3 of the 5 models are looking at the camera.

Hair

Similarities

Both my male models hairstyles are tussled to give the appearance of attitude and not caring, they are not gelled or styled, similar to the male hairstyles on the existing magazine.

Differences

My male models hair are not cut short and are almost in my models' eyes which is a typical teenage rock style cut of hair. My male model on the right side has blonde hair and none of the male models in the existing magazine have blonde hair. My female model has short choppy dark hair with a fringe that nicely frames her face and accentuates the attitude in her expression, whereas the female model in the existing magazine has shoulder length ginger/died dark orange hair to show her loud attitude.

Evaluation - Question 1

It what ways does your media product use, develop and challenge existing media texts?

On my contents page I have used the same positioning of the masthead/title  as my inspirational magazine has used because I believe it looks professional and doesn't take up too much space which can be filled with articles and picture which make the contents page look more appealing. I've also used the same date and issue format in the top left corner of the contents page, as thought it nicely filled the gap in the page I had left after I had filled the space on the rest of the contents page. I used 3 of the same feature headings as the existing inspirational magazine, as I believed they are typical titles to find on a contents page. I used the same shot types of medium close ups because it shows the expressions of my artists clearly as well as showing enough of their clothing to know that they belong to the rock genre. I used the same style picture boxes with white boarders around them because I felt it made them stand out from the background and look clear and professional. I also used stars across the bottom of the contents page as I really liked the rock style it brought to the contents page through simple shapes.

 I developed the masthead size, font and colour as I used the position and wanted to make my contents page different to the inspirational contents page whilst still making it look professional and rock style. I also developed the issue size, colour and font to make it look consistent with my masthead and not seem a copy of the inspirational contents page. I developed the picture boxes to be larger and more separated than the ones in the inspirational contents page and I changed the shape of the cutout in the corner of the box to add a personal touch to the boxes rather than copying the original. I developed the positioning, colour and style of the stars I used, as mine are white and broken, whereas the originals are red and block colour.

I challenged the colour of the left side of my contents page, as I thought the dark colour of black would look more 'rock' with the red side of the page rather than white on the original contents page, as from my original audience interviews and feedback my audience associate dark colours with rock. I challenged the picture boxes by adding a description below the pictures which is not present on the original contents page. I challenged the font, size, positioning and colour of the listed contents page articles, as I have changed the font to one I believe to look more rock style; I've made the font a slight bit bigger to allow larger gaps between the listed articles so it is easier to read; I've positioned my text on the left of the black side of the page, rather than on the right like it is on the original and I changed the colour so that it could contrast with my background colour. I added a checkerboard pattern to the bottom right of the background to add an extra rock look to the page, as rock stars often wear accessories with checkerboard patterns on. I also added a skull stamp to the bottom left corner to add to the rock type of my contents page as death and skulls are often associated with the rock genre.

 I used the same background colour as I really liked how the red and white text really stood out on the black background and looked very dark and distinctively 'rock'. I used the same style heading of a quote on my double page spread as I thought it would grab the reader's attention more effectively than a standard title would. I used the same red colour as the inspirational double page spread and I also had my title quote in capitals, as it makes the title/heading easier to see and commands the reader's attention more. I used the same white font colour in my article as it has a clear contrast with the background colour, making it easier to see and read. I also used the same placement of a full page image on the left side of the double page spread as I thought it looked eye catching and summed up what the double page spread was about right away.

I developed my quote position and font to make it stand out more on my double page spread and suit my featured band more. I also developed the exclusive box in the top left corner by making it a different shape and colour, whilst it still being an exclusive box. I challenged the positioning, rotation and colour of the small images scattered on the double page spread as I wanted them to appear like gravestones at the bottom of my page to link with my band's name of Crypt.

 I created a cartoon of my band and put it in the top right corner of the double page spread rather than having a drop down information box as the inspirational double page spread has, as I wanted something cute, funny and different to reflect the mood and tone of the interview article which is quite funny, cute in places and definitely 'different'. I challenged the introduction text that the inspirational double page spread had, as it was only a line which was related to the title quote and I wanted mine to be an introductory paragraph that worked as a hook to make reader's want to read the interview beneath it. My article type is also different to the inspirational existing magazine's double page spread, as I created an interview article, rather than an a biographical review of the band which included quotes. I challenged the outline of the smaller images on the double page spread by adding a three colour boarder around the top of them and adding drop shadows in between them, whereas the existing magazine just places the images beside each other with not boarder or line around them.

On the cover of my magazine I used the same masthead position as I thought the masthead being at the top of the magazine looked conventional and professional. I also used a partly see through banner across the middle of the contents page with a red outline, as I really liked the effect it gave and how it really emphasised the feature article of the magazine. I also used the same bar-code position to keep my magazine looking conventional and professional. 

I developed the masthead by changing the colour and font. I specifically changed the masthead colour from white to red to bring out the colour in my blonde haired male models red t-shirt print more. I changed the colour of the banner text to make it stand out more than the original red banner text had done. I also did this because my model with her arms over the banner is wearing black and white and so I thought it would look good to have the banner in black and white too. I developed the part of my model which overlapped the banner, as I have put her arms partly over the top of the banner, rather than completely over/across the banner as the existing magazines models hands have done. I developed the alternate colour articles list by changing the position of the list on the contents page and changing the font to make it look less out of place.

I added a slugline under the masthead which the Kerrang magazine didn't have. I completely changed the shot type, style and pose of my cover image, as I have three models in my image (to make all the band members seem equally as important, rather than singling out the lead singer to put on my cover). The picture is also a long shot rather than a mid shot which is on the existing music magazine. The poses are also different as I tried to make my models seem like they have a layed back rock attitude (through the folded arms of my female model, the rock hand gesture of my left male model and the layed back posture and hand positions of my right male model) rather than an almost threatening 'don't mess with me' attitude that comes across from the cracking of the knuckles pose on the existing Kerrang magazine cover photograph. I added an article description to my front cover which the existing magazine didn't have; it had competition information and a list of article titles. I also added a banner at the bottom of the cover of my magazine that is similar to the banner across the middle of my magazine with the intention making the artists mentioned in the bottom banner seem the other major artists featured in the magazine aside from the main featured artist named in the central banner; the existing magazine didn't do this.