Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media Evaluation

Rhiya Heir6657St.Paul’s catholic college64770

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

I replicated the codes and conventions from VIBE magazine into my own magazine which is called BEATZ. For example across all 4- pages which are my front cover, contents page and double page spread I have continuously used the same colour scheme for the colour of the text which is black this is because I'm sticking to the theme for my own magazine. When I id my secondary research I looked at various types of VIBE magazine to see what they do and to see what they change, I was amazed by the colour scheme therefore I wanted to replicate the same thing.

I included the main features:1. Bar code2. Date/price3. Headline 4. Main image5. cover lines

I represented different types of social media on my front cover, straight away that targets my target audience, for example social networks like Instagram, twitter and Facebook.

My double page was conventional I stuck to the same layout that VIBE uses. When it came to my interview I used different types of font so that the reader could easily notice the difference between the interviewer and Beyoncé.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine mainly represents the younger generation, female or male who are deeply interested into their R&B music. I decided to use Beyoncé as my star appeal purely because she is known as ‘Queen B’ and she has played a big party in the R&B industry therefore this would appeal to my target audience.Teenagers hat range between 18 up to 25 have jobs, my magazine could act as a diversion (Katz) from their normal day life this allows them to focus on something else rather then their own work and daily lifestyle. Students and teenagers will buy my magazine because as said, before these ‘street kids’ will often look for R&B music, because it is very modern and will help them become ‘social climbers’ (Maslow) in the metaphorical ladder that is popularity. . In addition it gives the readers a ‘Window in to the World’ (Wendy Helsby) to what ‘stars’(Richard Dyer) the magazine offers interviews that allow the reader to perhaps personally identify with them, is the ‘star’ (Dyer) is like them e.g. ;the reader can seen a pretty girl with the make-up, shoes, etc. and this could be something that the readers may like to replicate because she would become the perfect role model, who is in the spotlight.My female celebrity will be portrayed is a positive light, I did’t use colours to show this for example I used dark greyish colours this was so that it created the ‘calm’ atmosphere. I also used the colour red and black which is are bold colours. My female that varies on my pages has pose differently each time it represents the female as sexy and strong. There's a range of R&B music. You have the original R&B music which are the 70’s music which is soulful, love making music, smooth soulful which sounds smooth and includes sexy voices, its also low and sultry and can be seductive. However you have todays hip hop and R&B music which is more edgy and has a street sound its not too romantic. You have a more harder beat to the music which destroys the romantic mood. However this isn't the case with all songs. For example you have Beyoncé who would sing soulfully and make people feel her emotion when she's sing or weather you listen to her music, on the other hand you have drake who is most likely to rap his song, drake would make his music have a hard beat this would influence and encourage boys to listen to his music. This is good as you have a different range of R&B music that would target a wide range audience. I was not able to convey this within my magazine as I chose to focus of Beyoncé which would more likely target more females than male audience.

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

http://www.thisisrnb.com/

This website includes a different range of social network that would appeal to the younger generation. They also create ‘personal relationships’ (Katz) wit their readers and I believe my magazine does that especially with my editorial.

This website post the latest news on all R&B stars, not only do they focus on one range of R&B style of music, for example they explore teen, soul, grown & sexy therefore this would appeal to a different target audience. The similarities of my magazine to ‘VIBE ’(such as the way in which the colour schemes are displayed) also ‘signifies’ (De Saussure) that VIBE may think about distributing my magazine because with similar codes and conventions that sell BEATZ displayed for a different music sub-genre may be something of interest to the publishing group.

Who would be the audience for your media product and why?

According to Hartley the target audience for my magazine varies from the ages of 15 up to 25, especially females (Hartley) since my Double page spread is based on Beyoncé, so would have a female based audience.According to Kat’z and gratification theory females would find it more easier to create a ‘personal relationship’ with them, however it till may appeal to a male audience (Hartley) gender as the images of the females could act as an attractant as females are often objectified for the pleasure of the male audience (Male Gaze- Laura Mulvey). In the 21st century the younger generation are becoming more familiarized with rappers and song writers such as drake and Nicki Minaj, the two most famous singers and rappers who are both apart of ‘Young money cash money billionaire’, the founder is Dwayne Michael Carter, JR, also knows as Lil Wayne by his rapper name. The R&B music can relate to the older teenager life due to the meanings of the songs, for example Drake is famously known for his love songs therefore the older generation can relate to this therefore it builds a personal relationship with the reader to the artist, but also the readers will connect with the magazine due to what is being published.I would say the magazine I have created mainly targets young girls and women (Hartley), as I have used Beyoncé as my star appeal (Richard Dyer). My interview with Beyoncé focuses on her new song which females and males do listen to, boys could also be interested in my magazine. Males would be attracted to the images that are shown on the front cover of my magazine and the ones on my double page spread. Women are normally objectified and are portrayed as being seductive this is a pleasure for the male audience (Male Gaze- Laura Mulvey) however I also focus on the topic of how females should be confident and happy with themselves therefore it s mainly aimed at females of the 2st century.

How did you attract/ address your audience?

• In order to attract the intended audience I decided to include a lot of institutions, and also promote different ‘star appeals’ (Richard Dyer) this would attract the audience, for example an R&B audience are highly attracted to the stars that are portrayed in the magazine, they want to be reading the latest news on the latest stars. I also promoted “on the run tour”, an audience will always be looking for a concert to go to so they can experience live music. The price is also an important feature to publish on the front of the magazine the price indicates and allows the audience to know straight away weather they can purchase this magazine or not.

Institutions.

Star AppealStar Appeal

Price

Promoting concert

• The inclusion of codes and contentions such as having an editorial in the contents page helped to appeal to the target audience because, with using personal pronouns such as “I” and “you” makes the reader feel included and makes them feel that they are apart of something, this can develop a personal relationship with the editors since the writing is very personal. The audience can also feel that they have something in common with the editor.

How did you attract/ address your audience?

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

The text box I used quite frequently across the three pages. This was because I had to include also of text, and include things such as cover lines. And also when it came to my interview I had to insert my text using the text box tool.

The quick selection tool helps you to crop out any excess of an image you don’t want, for example for my main image on my front cover I had a back round which I erased by using the quick selection. It was easy and simple to use.

The filter tool which allowed me to access different colours, I used this when choosing the grey colour for my background I carried this out across the three pages.

Analysing my Front cover strapline

Institutions & website

Star Appeal – Cover line

Star Appeal – Cover line

Masthead

Promotion/ Advertisement

Issue date & price

Barcode

Main story

Improved version of Front page

Masthead

Cover line

Cover line

Puff promotion

institutions

website

Central image

Barcode

Issue date and price

Strapline

Analysis – Front page

• From my audience feedback I noted that my front cover didn't’t signify an R&B magazine, for example the original copy had too many blank spaces and didn't’t include enough cover lines therefore it came across as boring, also the structure of the original front cover didn't’t flow therefore it wasn’t appealing. I took this into consideration and made changes. I took new pictures to fit the genre better. I included various colours that fits the R&B genre, so I included deep colours- red, black this created a more positive atmosphere. I then structured it all differently ad made the cover lines fit around the image, this appeared more neater therefore became appealing. I also added a puff promotion to fill space.

Anaylsing my contents page

Editorial

Website

Contact details

Improved version of contents page

Editorial

Institutions

Contact details

Website

Page details

Analysis – Contents page

• The feedback I got from my peers and my teacher were very positive. My contents page was the best page out of all 3 due to the quality of it. I have stuck to a colour scheme that fits the genre of my magazine. However I still made changes to improve it. One half of the page I changed the colour that was included on my front cover I was being consistent throughout.

Analysing my Double page spreadMain image

Institutions

Website

Updated version of double page spread

Analysis – Double Page Spread

• From my feedback my interview was completed at a very high standard. However I let myself down when it came to the image, it didn't’t fit my genre of my magazine, and it didn't’t show my capability and it didn't’t present me as a person. I went away ad took new pictures for my magazine I was much happier with the new pictures I had taken because I felt like it represented my R&B magazine much better. Including this new image changed the whole viewing of my double page spread it looked much more appealing.

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

• Having completed the preliminary task it has made me aware of how to use Photoshop effectively.

• One thing I've learnt is how to use my time efficiently and to always make sure your one step ahead. I found myself working at a slower paste but this is because I wanted to make sure my work as up to a high quality however I would've liked to had more time.

• I have also learnt how to be original, its opened up my creativity. As this process was going on I was getting a lot of feedback from my peers and my teacher this helped me as I was able to make quick improvements and make my magazine better.