Evaluation

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

My music magazine, "Paradox" used forms and conventions of real life media products by including actual conventions from magazines such as a house style which therefore creates an association when customers buy the magazine and also creates recognition for the future. I have also used a clear bold masthead for magazine so it's easily viewable and the customers can find it with ease when in a shop and it's also got an appropriate colour scheme which links in with the genre of the music which is Pop Punk. In this case it's white lettering against a block black background which makes it stand out. This is also complimented by the mise-en-scene of the props used, which are music instruments such as electric guitars etc which link to the genre of music once again and the general clothing. Furthermore the actual written context inside my magazine is reliable and uses the correct codes and conventions because it's the magazine interviewing the main band of that issue, "WOLF" and seeing when they're next on tour which a good music magazine should do and also advertising other bands that are featured in the magazine. As well at the bottom of the front cover there is a puff/covermount, offering two giant posters spread over a doublepage which will incite the audience and also be anothe reason why the reader would buy the magazine. I have also airbrushed the images so they can reach their maximum potential through Photoshop, which all magazines do. There are also a couple of coverlines to interest potential readers and encourage them to read and buy the magazine from the context inside. In my case it's about featuring bands inside and indepth information they wouldn't be able to get anywhere else.

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

 

 

 

My media product represents particular social groups through the music displayed throughout the magazine and the language used. The most similar music magazine out there that's relatable to my magazine would be Kerrang, from the fact that mid-shots have been used for the majority of the time when showing the bands. Furthermore despite the simplistic clothing look from my band, "WOLF", the band members in my band all wear similar shirts to each other on the front cover yet when shown in the double page spread they the lead singer has a different coloured top compared to the other band members to make him stand out and get noticed as the lead member. Even though a mid-shot has been used in both these photographs, on the double page spread the lead singer has taken a slight step forward so he is in the centre of the photograph and also nearer the camera meaning it'll focus mainly on him. As well seeing as the genre of my music magazine is Pop Punk and in history this genre of music has been known to be almost aggressive and rowdy because of the rock'n'roll attitude I have contrasted the well known stereotype with my band, who look friendly and inviting and imply that they're the more gentler side of rock and punk.

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

 

The kind of media institution that may distribute my music magazine would be Bauer Media because not only do they also publish other magazines that are like mine such as Kerrang and Mojo, they also give me a higher chance of getting published because they willingly publish other magazines like this and would probably be interested in a new music magazine on the market. Furthermore in the past they have published many famous magazines that are extremely well known and influential.

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

 

 

The specific target audience of my magazine are 14-18 year olds of both genders as it goes within the teenage age group who will most definitely still be in education and spending their available time listening to music among other things. The other hobbies and interests this particular audience will have is watching reality television shows, listening to music stations such as Kerrang and XFM (which links to my genre of music in my music magazine) and perhaps even play some instruments.

 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

Originally to attract my intended audience I went on Survey Monkey and sent out a questionnaire to people to find the following information: favourite colour, favourite genre of music, favourite artists etc. I then collected the results and saw what was most wanted and favoured and used that data to create my magazine. I then decided to use well known bands that fit into the Pop Punk genre in my magazine which would automatically attract their fan-base.

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

I learnt how to use the camera's designated to taking the photographs for my magazine and also learnt how to use online editing of photographs, which was primarily Photoshop. I also occasionally used YouTube for specific tutorials for effects that weren't the basics of Photoshop to get even better editing for my magazine.

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

 

 

Looking back at my preliminary task I have realised that it is extremely difficult to turn an idea into an actual creation with a professional look as there are many long processes one must go through, such as leanrning what the target audience wants and then creating the idea behind the magazine but also that after you've managed to get your idea into something more solid, you then have to learn all the editing behind it and make it look more professional. I've also had to learn how to use PhotoShop better and make a vision something physical. I have also seen that I have progressed extremely well compared to this prelimary and my actual finalised magazine - making it look better and more realistic.