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

Since creating the preliminary task my knowledge and skills of using Photoshop have increased by a considerable amount. At the beginning I was a novice as I had never used Photoshop before but now I know how to edit my images and how to create elements to make my magazine stand out more. For example I now know how to use blending options such as drop shadows, inner glows and strokes. Also I have learnt how to rasterize layers so that I could make it look like the images where covering my text for example on my contents page the title of my magazine "Vengeance" is partially covered by my images. This gives my magazine a more 3D look which is more desirable and attractive to my target audience. I have also learnt how to brighten my images, how to add contrast and saturation. Examples of which can be found in all my images as I enhanced them all so they would look sharper and brighter. In addition to this I have been able to effectively gain a better knowledge on how to use layers as my magazine has developed and become more complex.

Overall I think that my understanding of Photoshop has vastly improved throughout this project especially as I had never used Photoshop before and now I have been able to produce what I believe to be a professional looking music magazine.

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

I used the college computers when constructing my music magazine. The other technologies that I used are:

This is the Nikon camera that I used to take my studio images on:

For the images I took at concerts to use on my front cover and my contents page I used this GE camera:

By using "Adobe Photoshop CS5" I have learnt how to edit my photographs and manipulating them into creating my magazine. Photoshop enabled me to edit my photos to enhance colour, add saturation and brighten my images. It also helped me to create layers so that I could create the rock attitude that is reflected in the style of my magazine.

I set up a blog account on blogger.com to post the research as well as to post my final product and evaluation.

Overall, throughout this project I have learnt a lot about technology and how to manipulate it through creating my magazine. Before this I had never even used Photoshop before so I am very pleased that I have managed to create my magazine to the standard that I have accomplished. However after this process I now feel confident in using all these technologies.

5.) How did you attract / address your audience?

As well as this because my magazine is slightly more aimed towards the male gender it is written in a way that attracts them similar to the style of "Kerrang!". I think the unique selling point of my magazine is that even though it is more aimed at the male gender, the writing style allows it to attract the female gender making it a unisex magazine.

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

Below are two images I have taken off of the Internet. They represent what the target audience for my magazine would look like.

The target audience for my magazine is females and males aged 14 to 25 with a male bias because of the look of the magazine.

Typically they would be young and individual in both mind and style. Their wardrobe would consist of band t-shirts, tank tops and worn out ripped skinny jeans. They would be permanently plugged into their ipods listening to their favourite rock bands and the non-commercial bands that have handed them leaflets outside of concerts which they would attend quite regularly, maybe once a month. Spare time would be spent hanging out with friends or at concerts. Most of their money would be spent on gig tickets therefore they would buy clothes from cheaper alternatives such as Primark and Matalan.

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

I think that IPC Media would be appropriate to distribute my magazine because even though they already distribute well established magazines "NME" and "Uncut"they have a different target audience to my magazine. "NME" is focused on the 'indie' genre of people aged mid-twenties whilst "Uncut" is focused on the genre of "rock" which is the same as my genre however "Uncut" is aimed at middle aged men whilst "Vengeance" is aimed at the younger generation of rockers. This makes it ideal to distribute my magazine as there is a niche in their markets. Also with already having well established magazines they will have the knowledge to be able to target the right audience in a way that will attract people to buy the magazine.

I did consider using Bauer Media however they already have established magazines such as "Kerrang!", "Mojo" and "Q". Even though "Mojo" and "Q" aren't aimed at the same audience as my magazine, however "Kerrang!" is. This may cause conflict as they are not likely to create competition for one of their already successful and influencing magazines.

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

 I have chosen to compare my front cover with one of "Big Cheese" that features the band "Bring Me The Horizon".

The image I have taken uses the forms and conventions of real rock magazines because "Andrew" and the central guy, "Oliver Sykes" from "Big Cheese" who have very similar expressions. They have the same facial expressions which is aggressive in style which looks like they are screaming. Also they both have the same styled hair where their fringe is long enough to almost cover their eyes. In addition to this they are wearing very similar clothing the only difference being "Andrew's" shirt has a lower cut to it. Both of these images were taken in a studio, however "Big Cheese" has chosen to edited the background and add a flame effect to the central guy.
Overall I think these images represent a young stereotypical social group that you would find linked to real rock magazines. They are average looking males who don't have a outlandish appearance.

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

a.) The title of the magazine:-
For the masthead I used "Viner Hand ICT" for the font that I used to create "Vengeance". I choose black and red for the colours of my title because I felt they stood out more against the magazine. Also it give the title an edgy style which helps reflect the rock genre of my magazine.

I think my title follows some codes and conventions of real rock magazines. For example "Kerrang!" also has a rough edge to the writing and "Big Cheese" have included a border on their title to separate it from the background. However it also challenges the conventions of real rock magazines because I have added a drop shadow and a slight inner shadow to the writing so it looks more 3D. This also helps it to stand out from the rest of my front cover.


b.) Mise-en-scene of images:-
The mise-en-scene of the images I have used in my magazine uses the forms and conventions of real rock magazines such as "Big Cheese" because of the posture of the people included and also the raw edginess that the artists have themselves.

However I also think my images challenge the conventions of real rock magazines because of the anger and aggression that is portrayed in my images is not commonly used in real rock magazines as they generally tend to go for a more serious and moody expression to their images.

c.) Costumes and props:-

The costumes and props I have used throughout "Vengeance" use the conventions of real rock magazines because of the black top and skinny jeans combination. This is often the clothing of bands that are in real rock magazines. However I think the props that I have used develop the forms and conventions of real rock magazines because I used a microphone in my images. Usually you would find the band posing on their own or if it was featuring the guitarist they would include a guitar or drum sticks if they focused on the drummers. Which is why my props develop the conventions because the vocalist is only ever posed on their own. By me adding a microphone into the image I have created a unique image that I couldn't find an example of in any real rock magazines.


d.) People:-

The people in "Vengeance" use the conventions by the style of their clothing. However they also challenge the conventions because they aren't as obscure in their dress code as some of the people you would find in real rock magazines. In addition to this I haven't included a band picture which is very unusual as a picture of the band, normally a group of 4-5 males aged from 18 and above, would typically feature in a real rock magazine.


e.) Title font and style:-
I created the title "The crowd was insane!" using "Popular Std" on Photoshop. I edited it to add an outer glow and to also change the transparency of the text so that you could see the image behind it through the writing. By placing the text at an angle I have challenged the forms of real rock magazines as they tend to keep their titles in a straight line. However it also follows the forms because it is the largest font in my magazine except from the masthead. It is also in bold which makes it stand out against the rest of the page.

f.) Written content:-
The written content that I have included in "Vengeance" uses the forms and conventions of real rock magazines because I asked similar questions to what you would expect to find in rock magazines such as "Big Cheese". This is because I asked about touring, the band and their background. In addition to this, the editors note is friendly and laid back which can be linked to most real rock magazines as they feel addressing the reader as a friend makes them feel more welcome towards the magazine.

g.) Music genre and how your magazine suggests it:-

The genre of my magazine, "Vengeance" is rock with both punk and metal influences which is portrayed by the bands listed on the contents page. In addition to this the mise-en-scene of the images I have included all suggest a rock genre because of the attitude reflected in them. Also the colours; red, black and purple are all considered as classic rock colours. All in all they follow the forms and conventions of real rock magazines when suggesting that "Vengeance" is a rock magazine. Even the name on it's own sounds like it belongs to the rock genre which develops the conventions of real rock magazines because for example "Big Cheese" doesn't sound like a rock magazine when compared to something such as "Rocksound".

h.) Layout:-

The layout of my magazine typically follows the conventions of real rock magazines. Shown by the double spread page which is similar to "Kerrang!" with a large picture taking up 3/4 of the whole page and then the interview down one side. By including a quote in large writing across the page at a slight angle follows some conventions of real rock magazines, however as I have tilted the text I have challenged the forms and conventions as real rock magazines tend to keep their text in straight lines. On my front cover I have also challenged the conventions as the sub-heading text is also on a slant instead of a straight line. This looks dynamic and portrays an attitude of anti-authority.

 

i.) Contents page:-
My contents page challenges the conventions of real rock magazines because I have split the listings up into two separate ones almost as if they are in boxes. This is unconventional because when compared to real rock magazines for example "Big Cheese" list their contents in long columns rather then splitting them up like I have. By splitting mine apart and further separating them by placing images of bands between them I haven't used the forms and conventions of keeping the listings as one. Although my editors note with hand written signature, which I wrote and scanned into the computer, uses the conventions of real rock magazines because they all include a editors note with signature on the contents page. The signature adding a personal touch to the magazine so that the magazine isn't formal as it should be friendly towards its reader.