Media A2

Music Video

To start our Media A2 course, we explored the ways in which bands and artists are represented in music videos. For example, we looked at the way in which Beyonce is usually portrayed in videos such as "Crazy in Love" and "All the Single Ladies" especially compared to her "Halo" music video. We commented on genre, narrative, purpose, audience, mise-en-scene, camera tricks, editing and any extra sound used.

We then got into groups and chose an artist and song to make a music video for. I worked with Rosie and Josh and we made ours for Example - Change the way you kiss me. We began by listening to the song and deciding its genre and narrative and then creating a relevant story board. Together we filmed each section of our narrative and then edited them together using Mac computers. The main problem we encountered was finding enough people willing to be in our party scene, this made us realise how difficult certain scenes can be to organise and film. Later, we also realised the importance of good lighting for all shots as it turned out our party scene was too dark.

Final Evaluation continued

5. How did you attract/ address your audience?

I attracted and addressed my audience in many ways. I used images that would appeal to my audience, such as, attractive boys and girls 'perfect' for my target audience to aspire to be. By perfect I do not mean the best looking, but I mean that they are confident and happy to be themselves, these are the kind of girls I'd want my target audience to aspire to be. The purpose of my magazine is to encourage girls to find themselves perfect. The girls I have used are all naturally beautiful, even without the make up, they are all nice, funny and happy to be themselves. None of my images are airbrushed or changes to make the person look any better, this enables my reader to aspire for real beauty rather than edited beauty.
The language I have used is similar to as if the magazine and reader are close friends sharing the latest gossip. For example, "hottest boys in the music business" the term 'hot' is used often in general girlie conversations to describe people who are attractive. It isn't a formal term, and so the magazine achieves the idea of being chatty and fun by using words similar to 'hot' throughout the magazine. The subjects I chose would appeal to feminists and generally most women this is because it is about good music, aspiring to get somewhere, love and success.
The price I chose is quite cheap for a monthly magazine, this enables more girls to be able to buy my magazine. The magazine is also very neutral to any stereotypes and so a Gothic girl can buy my magazine but so can a preppy, girlie girl.
If I were to sell my magazine widely, I would sell it around area's where there are large amounts of 15-21 year olds. For example, on university campuses, at schools, in shopping and job centers and at festivals. As well as online and in general music magazine stores. This would enable my magazine to be seen and bought easily by its intended audience, there would be no point in selling my magazine in area's where there are few or no 15-21 year olds. Therefore the best way to increase customer demands would be to sell it where my intended audience hang out most. Due to the fact that my magazine is aimed at students, who have exams, want independence and are often acting older than their age, my magazine is tailored to portray itself as the perfect, mature, get away from all the stress of revision etc.

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

During the construction of my music magazine, I have learned a lot about technologies to do with media. I have learned the technical names for magazine features, for example, the left third, the rule of three, anecdotes and hyperbole. I have also learned ho to use these features to their best effect in attracting an audience. I have learned to edit photos and layouts of my magazine using Photoshop. Before September 2010, I had only ever used Photoshop once. Now, January 2011, I know how to use it efficiently for example how to use its tools, how to pick and create the perfect font and how to manipulate the images and texts that I have to create a good layout. I have also learned how to read between the lined when analysing media and the definitions of connotation, denotation and representation including how to use them effectively, for example, my title is in blue because the connotation of blue is freedom and calm.

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

Looking back at my preliminary task, or the school magazine, I have learned a lot in the progression from it to the final music magazine. I have learned that every last detail has to be checked again and again e.g. spelling and layout. I have learned how to link all the content back to the front cover and vise-versa. I have learnt that planning layout and text is very important. I have learned more about actually selling my magazine e.g. publishing house and I have learned how to attract the intended reader directly.
When creating my final task, I had to keep two things in mind at all time: Connotations and denotations. As I wrote my article, pieced together my front cover and even as I was taking my photographs, I had to be exact and concise with what I wanted my images/texts to mean and say to the reader. At time this was very hard, it was hard to think of a way of portraying the message that I wanted, but overall I am pretty happy with my final outcome. The messages my magazine bring are positive and what I intended for them to say in the first place. 
Other things I had to take into account where how fake or real I wanted my magazine to be, therefore, because I chose to have my magazine talk about as real issues as possibly, I was constantly aware of the danger of over editing! If I edited my models too much, then I couldn't continue the idea that you can be perfect without the make up and without the editing. In the end I only cut the photo's I used out and slightly whitened the teeth when they were shown, this is because on photo's they can appeal more yellow than they actually are and its not very attractive or professional to have to look at them/have them on show.

Overall I am very proud of my AS Media work so far. I enjoyed making it all and I have learnt a lot! What I am most proud of is the way the GAP YEAR front cover looks. I am really glad I chose that photo to use as I think its a perfect image for the magazine. It is happy, has two young people (of both genders) and it links to the text in colour and the fact that the two people are embracing links to the main article "Flight or Fight."

Thank you,
Lucy Cunnington

Final evaluation

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My music magazine product uses forms and conventions of real media products throughout it. For example, I have a pretty model for my front cover that is looking directly at the audience. The price and issue number is on the front cover - Almost all magazines have this feature, at some point, on their front cover layout. My music magazine is also giving away a free item, this is a very typical method for magazines to attract their audience, as everybody loves something for free.
My music magazine product also develops these forms and conventions of real media products. For example, the front cover model is the same age of the audience. She is also very similar in style and personality to my audience. She could be an audience member. The colours I have used on my price and issue has the connotation of lust, i.e. lust for the magazine, the price is also larger and clearer than most magazines portray. This is because my magazine does not hide its price, it is proud of it. The free give away is also not given to you straight away, the audience is challenged to get the free item, this makes it more entertaining than just giving it away.
My music magazine then challenges a few of these forms and conventions, for example, my front cover model is not wearing a lot of make up, nor does she have any products in her hair. She is natural, the real her, not a lot of magazines have this these days. I haven't edited her face or photoshopped anything on her, she is completely natural, this image used it the original image. Most magazines these days photoshop all their photos, and they cover their models in make up and hair products. I didn't want to do this because the purpose of my magazine is to encourage girls to be themselves, to find their own style, their own beauty and generally be confident in themselves. My magazine front cover also has no bar code, this is because I decided I would have it on the back as I think it ruins the overall effect of magazine front covers. The bar code is ugly and draws your attention away from the intended eye-catching titles. My free give away is also more useful than make up or nail varnish, which is the typical free-be for girls magazines. My free give away is useful and encourages my audience to write about their festival experiences, it encourages them to be academic.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product doesn't concentrate on any particular social group except females. My magazine represents feminist females as positive, it does this using language such as "be the leading lady of your life," this encourages girls to take control of their own lives and to be themselves. This could lead to some readers thinking that males are bad, but I have tried not to use any negative language towards men, I have simply concentrated on how good females can be, without putting down males. I didn't want my magazine to be for any particular stereotype and so I've tried to keep all my language and images neutral to any social groups. My magazine generally just makes young females look good, this is done by language and camera angles used. None of my images used are threatening or scary and I haven't commented on any negative behaviour of any female stars.

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

I think IPC media would publish my magazine as it would fill their market gap. They don't have a magazine targeted at young women therefore my magazine would appeal to them as it could widen their audience. They have a magazine for young men which encourages and helps boys to become men. This is like the male version of my magazine! My magazine also links to all the other magazines in IPC's female audience market. This is because my magazine includes gossip and advice for my audience. (For more information on IPC and other media institutions see my blue book.)

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for for my media product would be all girls between the age of 15 and 21 who like music, want to gain confidence and freedom, they must also be able to afford £2.99 a month. (For more information on my target audience see previous blogs and view my blue book.)

Opinions continued

Double Spread

Other opinions

Front cover

Content page

Advert Analysis

My Perfume advert:

The perfume's name is 'Power' which I thought was perfect for the magazine's audience as the magazine is for young feminists. I have linked the image to the text by using the same colours. The image is of a man and a women, the man is in a suit which shows power, but the woman is in the for ground which suggests that she is the leading one of the couple. The woman's hair is not perfect but she is proud of it which suggests that the perfume will make you more confident in yourself. The advert says that you don't have to be perfect to be powerful. The male is looking side ways, while the girl is looking directly as the audience, this shows that the perfume is for girls and it shows that the woman is so confident she can make eye contact. The guy is good looking, suggesting that the power perfume will give you the confidence to get and be with someone good looking. 'Be the leading lady of your life!' is a comand and it is a link to the chick flick "The Holiday" which is about two women finding their own paths. It is meant to suggest to women that they should do what they want and live life to the full. It links perfectly with the aim of my magazine.

Magazine analysis continued...

 My contents page:

I have decided to keep my contents page simple yet busy. I have done this by having a clear and spacious layout while still including a lot of text and image. I thought that having a main image of a strong famous female (Taylor Swift) would engrave the genre of my magazine into the reader. The image that I have used was taken at a BBC Teen Awards gig that was for under 18's only, this means that almost all of my intended audience could have been there, I wanted to use an authentic image because it suggests to the reader that the photo could have been taken by themselves, and so the magazine is realistic and the reader can really relate to its content. Taylor Swift is doing a power pose which I thought made this image the perfect one for my magazine as that is basically what my magazine is about - Girl Power.

I have used direct address with 'you're invited' to reinforce this connection between the magazine and the reader. I kept the same fonts used on the front cover for the contents page so that there would be a theme and that it would link well. The colours used make it feministic without being too girlie, I chose to do this as my magazine is for women but not young or ultra-girlie girls. All my images are of females, I did this to again say that the magazine is for females and to highlight the fact that males are not the most important aspect of the music business anymore.

I linked the two smaller images with two of the articles mentioned to give the reader an insight into what the magazine is about without having to read. Due to the fact that I want my magazine to be a light, fun read, I have decided not to have too much text and large images. This will help to keep the reader entertained and intrigued as a picture can say a million words.

My double spread page:

I tried to keep my double page within the theme of being easy to read, lots of pictures and the same fonts and colours throughout the page. I decided by having a simple article layout, the content would appear to be interesting as it doesn't look like its a long or tedious read. The images are all of the same girl which shows without having to read the article, who it is about. The images are all fun and friendly -this also suggests that the article will be entertaining to read and that you will get a real insight into Becky Lewis. All the images show her facing the audience, whereas on the front cover she is facing her body away, I did this to suggest to the reader that now that they have baught the magazine, they are allowed to see and read eveything about her. She has faced the audience and is ready to spill her secrets. However, there is a section in the interview where she refuses to tell any more to the VIBE -  I did this to remind to the audience that even with confidence and power, one should always have some privacy about them. I also wanted the audience to realise that Becky is a real person and has certain things she is not willing to share, I wanted my audience to respect that.

I kept the interview chatty and informal as to get a non-guarded response from Becky Lewis. I tried to give the impression that the magazine, Becky Lewis and the reader are all good friends and are just having a general chat. I thought that this was the most effective way of getting the reader involved and interested. I included that Becky was eating biscuits because I wanted it to show girls that eating is cool, Becky is skinny, polite and a super star, I wanted my audience to aspire to be like her, and that includes eating properly. I wanted there to be a subconscious message about annorexia not being neccessary to get power, confidence or fame.