Final Product Magazine (Front, Contents and Double)

Evaluation Question Seven

Evaluation Question Six

Evaluation Question Five

Evaluation Question Four

Evaluation Question Three

Question Two- Evaluation

How does your media product present particular social groups?

The genre of my music magazine is indie rock. In order for my magazine to be successful, the magazine would have to appeal to the target audience. The target audience is typically white British, aimed between 16 years to 25 years of age.

The male gaze is discussed by Laura Mulvey, this is used to describe how the audience is placed in to perspective of a heterosexual man. For example female characters are usually shown wearing hardly any clothing therefore they can be sexualised within the media. Alternatively males are shown on front covers as other males inspire to be like the successful males shown, as they believe they will become cool, get girls and rich. Therefore males buy the magazine to find more information on the artist, to become like them. They believe my conforming to the artist, as an example gelling their hair back and dressing the same as the star image, they will become successful as they get older like artists such as Alex Turner. The audiences of younger teenagers such as 16 year old boys are interested in getting with girls and the idea of being cool, therefore they will buy the magazine to conform to the genre, believing in a couple of years they will become this successful artist.

As an example Alex Turner conforms to the genre expectations as he typically represents himself as the star image as he dresses in white t-shirt and skinny jeans. Alex Turner conforms to look like artists such as Elvis Presley. Alex Turner is successful as he represents himself to look and be cool and fits within the target audience, white British. 

My artist represents these particular social groups as he conforms to the genre expectations of indie rock. I ensured that my artist is compared to Alex Turner, as they are stereotypically dressed the same, in black skinny jeans and a white t-shirt. My artist also conforms to this representation as he has product in his hair and is styled back, typically like artists such as Alex Turners. My artist is represented as cool by the pose he using, jacket slung behind his back and engaging in eye contact and uses the serious pose. These represent social groups as younger, target audience will inspire to be like this successful artist by buying the magazine and conforming to these genre expectations.

Question One- Evaluation

Final Magazine

Contents Page Change

I decided I disliked my first contents page and decided to change this by starting another contents page. I first started by making the paper to an international paper of A4 and starting the band index. After this, I followed the theme and conventions of my music magazine and placed the title in the left hand corner, by print screening the font of the website 'da font' and pasting from paint. I then created a shape on photo shop the match the size of the title and fitted at the top of the page. I then placed the band index at the left side of the page under the title to created a clear layout, therefore everything would be structured on my contents page, following the conventions of a music magazine.

I then placed a shape which was the colour black above the band index content. I placed font of 'da font' named bebas neue, as this looked successful on the magazine as it looked like a typical font used and rock type. I then coloured in the shape which was for the contents title and the title the same shade of red, as this made the theme of red, black, white and green consistent throughout my magazine. After this, I positioned the pictures to the right of the band index, to look more structured and fit together. I edited the title to have a drop shadow and embossed the title, also giving the title a stroke effect which gave the title a background of white to stand out more, this followed the layout of nme magazine as they give their title a stroke effect of a different colour.  Then I continued to do the different sections of each articles, features, news, radar, etc. Each section had a black shape the same width and length as others above the text, each using bebas neue as the font. For each section the title of each article was larger than the content of the text and made bold, the font used was Tiresias PC font at 14pt, then the content of each text was smaller and regular. At the bottom of the page, I used text from photo shop to include the contact of the magazine, to make the magazine seem more realistic and enables the buyers to interact with the readers, by also using images of logos from twitter and instagram. From following the conventions of nme, I made a small article of an insight of what the article would be about of Sami and highlighted the title, and used typical rock text. Beside, I included the editors letter as this if a typical convention of a music magazine, by placing a shape over the text coloured grey but changing the opacity to ensure the text is clear to see. This contents page is more successful than my other one which I first created, as it is more structured and looks more like a typical, successful indie rock music magazine. 

Front Cover

When making my front cover, I first started by making the page A4 on international paper as this is the size of a music magazine. I then placed a title on the same shade of red to follow a theme of same colours throughout my magazine, I gave the same effect as my contents page title to make a consistent theme on my music magazine and on typical indie rock music magazines, by giving a drop and the effect of a stroke with white colour. 

Then I created a shape at the top of the music magazine by using the rectangle tool on photo shop, using the same shade of red to make this consistent. I added text from photo shop on the shape as following inspiration from nme, they include a cover line on top of the music magazine, I also included famous artists as this would attract more buyers and interest the audience. I also used text from photo shop under neath the title to present what the title stands for 'Indie Rock Music' and issue number. 

I then started to include cover lines on the front cover of the music magazine, by following the conventions, I used black and red text for each of the content and title of each cover line. The title font is Myriad Pro and the content of the text in black is the same as the contents page as I followed a structure and tried to use the same text within my music magazine, as the font is Tiresias PC font at regular and the same sizes throughout the magazine. Then I created a black shape circle on photo shop by using the ellipse tool and included text of other famous artists. The tone of the magazine is informal and colloquial, for example 'pretty odd, pretty ace?' 

Then after I had finished the cover lines, I placed a grey shape over the text using the rectangle tool on photo shop and changing the opacity, so the the text is clear to see and makes the cover lines stand out more. 

Once, I had added the main story line and added the date, bar code and price to the magazine, by using da font for the title and the bar code. This was my final front cover, which I believe to be successful from following inspiration such as nme music magazine and the plan of my layout and ideas.

Front Cover Plan

This was my front cover plan which I followed when creating my music magazine. This helped me follow a clear structure, by making my front cover successful. This plan is useful as it allows me to follow the conventions of a music magazine and so I can follow an order when making my front cover. 

Inspiration For Double Page Spread

This was my inspiration which I used when creating my double page spread, as this gave me an intial idea to follow when planning and creating my music magazine. I used this example as I thought this was successful as the writing, looks eroded which relates to rock as rock is aged (eroded text), which I also used within my double page spread. I thought the idea of two pull quotes was a good idea, as this gave more an insight and would interest the readers more. The use of a colour scheme with four colours is also successful, as this what I included within my music magazine. This example was used for as examples of music magazines and was one of the best, I believe and related to my genre of indie rock.

Double Page Spread Plan

This was the plan which I followed when creating my double page spread to ensure this followed a clear structure and was successful when creating and finishing my double page spread. This enabled me to follow the conventions of a music magazines and allowed me to make sure my magazine was clear and how I wanted it to look as I planned.

Double Page Spread

I recently started my double page spread which was the size of an international paper of A4 but doubled within width, I placed the image I took of Sami as a background as this looked good as he was to the side, which is used in music magazines and will attract more audience as when looking through the magazine they will see the artist. I started my placing the title of my music magazine in the corner, making the font red to stand out and following the theme of my magazine red, black and white. I made a pull quote after, which font is used from the website of da font, which quoted the interview by saying "We trashed the room and booted the doors down!" which is interesting to readers and will attract more audience more as this makes readers think what happened and this a typical indie rock quote which follows the conventions of music magazines. Then I placed the information about the artist, which is typically used in music magazines and this makes the double page more successful as if a person is unaware of the artist featured, they can read about them to recognise or be informed about the artist.  After, I made a line with the line tool on photo shop and text in white and bold of the artist name to make the artist stand out against the black ground. 

 Then, I started the interview with using white text from photo shop and making the questions of the interview bold and larger than the other font as this is typically used in music magazine interviews and this also makes the text stand out so it is clear to the readers. I placed the text around the artist, so the image looked more important and stood out on the double page spread. Once, I had finished the interview, I choose a pull quote again, placed under neath the artist as a inspiration quote. This was also font used on photo shop. When researching indie rock music magazines, I found that the people who done the words and took the pictures are mentioned within the magazine, therefore I included this as well, as this follows the conventions of a music magazine. I placed certain, small fonts in a dark green colour to match the guitar and to use another colour, which I found had to be included, as this makes the magazine more successful than just using three theme colours. 

I also edited the double page spread, for the artist to stand out more by changing the size of the background image, making the artist larger, to emphasise the importance of the artist. I also changed the brightness of the double page spread to make the article easier and clearer to view.

Inspiration For Contents Page

This was the contents page I followed as it was the same genre I am doing, Indie Rock music, which helped with ideas and structure of the magazine. By using this contents page from NME, helped me with certain things to include, such as a band index which was an idea I used. This enabled my music magazine to look professional and suit the genre I was doing for my magazine. By following this structure of this magazine for inspiration, this ensured my music magazine to be successful and look attractive to readers. I followed this contents page, as I thought it to be successful and the use of the same colours makes the magazine more successful as by using the same theme makes it stand out to readers what magazine it is to usual buyers and it makes this magazine more realistic. The use of band index is a good idea as shows effort has gone into the magazine and makes it easier and clearer for readers to find their favourite artist or band, instead of searching. I also liked the use of the blocks with titles of different articles, which I used in my own music magazine. The picture looks professional, making the magazine successful. Although, It would have been more successful if more pictures were included, which is what I ensured my magazine done as I included four pictures and the use of an editors letter would be more successful as this engages with the readers, which I included within my music magazine. 

Contents Page Plan

This was the guide I used when creating my contents page so it would be clear and therefore following a structure. This guide to plan out my contents page enabled me to follow this layout to ensure my contents page was successful in being clear and well presented. This also ensured me to make sure everything was in order and in a set layout. This let my contents look professional and planned. 

Contents Page Printscreen

This is my contents page which was completed today. I finished the contents page by finishing features and mentioning contact, which I created on social media as an instagram and twitter.I also included an editors letter, and used a picture of Sacha Relf, who is also an a level media student. I included the use of an curved arrow, which included text of the gig guide on certain page numbers. Most of my time went on correcting the page numbers, making sure they were in order and all related to the pages I designated each article to. The majority of these features follow the typical conventions of an indie rock music magazine, for example the use of a band index. 

Contents Page Editing

Recently, I have been working on my contents page, I started this first as I believed this to be the most difficult as this has to include various content. I started with creating shapes to put titles such as 'IRM CONTENTS', 'NEWS', 'BAND INDEX' and 'RADAR'. Then continued to start the band index using numerous amount of popular artists and bands which are the genre of indie rock or alternative music. I used text within photo shop for the names in the band index and for the cover stories under the feature articles. Then, I created text on 'da font' website named harabara to create numbers for each page within the magazine. The text I used on da font for the titles of each article was bebas. Secondly, I positioned the different pictures on the magazine, after adding all the text, to each line up together. Today, I have been writing the cover stories under each article, from using inspiration of other indie rock music magazines and used original ideas to include for stories on my contents page.

 For the text I have used effects such as an bevel and emboss and putting and drop shadow on the text, for the writing to be clearer to read and stand out to the audience. In order to position everything correctly and symmetrical, I placed rulers on the page. 

Features, News, Radar and Reviews

For research I searched for the definitions of each of the sections of articles you have to include within the magazine on the contents page. Firstly, I searched features which gave the definition:

1. 'A feature story is a special human interest story article that is not closely tied to a recent news event. It focuses on particular people, places, and events, and it goes into great detail regarding concepts and ideas of specific market interest.'

This is to be used for double page spreads and special events/ features within the magazine.

The radar article is to be used for new bands, albums or exclusive news which is featured within the magazine.
The news article is new information about artists, bands, albums or gigs.
The reviews article is for critiques of albums or gigs.

1. 
   
2. 
   

Indie Rock Artists

For planning, I researched the most popular and greatest indie rock artists to include within my contents page on the band index. Therefore, this will make my contents more successful as by using the most popular artists and bands, this will make the magazine attractive to the audiences as more known names will be included and more readers will want to buy the magazine. The more popular music included, the most buyers as there will be more fans of the artists. This is a typical convention used within music magazines, as they use the most popular artists or bands and the most interesting story lines, as this is attractive to buyers.

Instagram Account

I created an instagram account for my media magazine, which will also be included within the contents page as a contact. The instagram username is @irmmagazine also, the same as the twitter account username which I created. The more contact included will make my magazine more successful as it will attract more audience as it will look more professional and interesting as numerous amount of effort has been used in order to create this indie rock music magazine.

Twitter Account

I created an account for twitter, with a username of @irmmagazine which will be used on my magazine on the contents page as a contact, so the audience can keep up to date with the latest issues and news of music included within my indie rock magazine. This account will make my magazine more successful as it will look more professional.

Arctic Monkeys Contents Page

This is the one of the photographs, I took whilst at Arctic monkeys, which is the most successful one as the mise on scene on the stage is positioned well, for example the lighting, cameras and equipment such as microphones and guitars. This photo is also successful as the logo of Arctic monkeys is in the background and the image is clear and Alex turner is facing the camera, which makes the image more successful and attractive to buyers. This photo will also be useful within my magazine as this is an image which is typically used within the genre of my magazine, photos from concerts and gigs are used on the contents page of indie rock music magazines. The fact that Arctic monkeys are a popular band, will also make the magazine more attractive to buy and interest readers.

Arctic Monkeys (2)

This is another video, taken on my phone of Arctic monkeys performing 'I wana be yours'.

Arctic Monkeys

This video was recorded my phone, whilst Arctic monkeys was performing at Finsbury park, which I also took pictures which I am going to use for another image on my contents page, as this pictures would look successful and professional on the contents page, as pictures from gigs are typically used within this genre of music magazines.

Photo shoot Equipment

 The model dressed in a black stussy dress with stussy writing on the back and smaller on the front, with a striply black and white top underneath the dress, which is a typically worn by indie rock/pop artists, which are girls. The model was also wearing black leggings and black visible socks with a doc martin look-a-like shoes, which were designed with a patterned. These clothes were successful for the model as this denotes the model is dressed indie and suits the genre of my magazine. The props used were an burgundy ausoutic guitar, which is a typical instrument used by indie artists. The model was postioned against a brick wall and a stone floor, which is successful as this looks relaxed and would go well on the contents page.

Contents Page Picture

I have decided I am going to use the photograph below to use on my contents page of the magazine, as the model is postioned with an eye contact match to the camera, connoting the model or 'artist' is looking at the auidence, making the reader more involved within the magazine and artist, attracting more buyers. This photo I also believe to be successful as the background and pose, with the guitar, follows the conventions of an indie rock music magazine as this is typically used within this genre of magazines.

Photoshoot Of Millie

This is an over all presentation of Millie Sharrat, an a level student also taking media as an a level. These photos are going to be used for my contents page, as she is presented outside against a brick wall and stone floor, typically a indie background used in indie rock music magazine, posing with a guitar.

Twitter Opinions

I was undecided on which of the two pictures to use for either the contents page or the double page spread, as I believed both images were as successful and was pleased with both pictures, therefore unsure on which pictures to use. I tweeted 'I am creating an indie rock magazine and need opinions for which would best suit my double page spread and contents' and recieved sereval replies with various answers. The majority of replies directed me to use the bottom image, on the model on stage for the double page spread and the other image for the contents page. Therefore, I am going to use the image of the model on stage for the double page spread, as the photo looks professional and will attract the auidence when looking through the magazine, as the model is postioned on the right so will be emphaised, when looking through the magazine. The image for the contents page will be successful as it is more relaxed but still professional.

Lighting

I believe this images would have been more successful if the light was postioned in a different place, rather than postioned at the right of the background. However, the light when postioned in the middle, on the model, the picture did not look as successful and the model was squinting, therefore making the image not as attractive. This concludes why I edited the pictures to look brighter, as the lighting has created a shadow, why makes the image not as successful.

Photo Editing

The photo below was successful as it was more relaxed and positioned within a typical indie rock pose, holding/playing a guitar, sitting down with leg positioned over a leg, showing the shoes and jeans and the model is had made an eye line contact with the camera, as if the 'artist' is making eye contact with the readers, making the magazine more interesting to buy. The clothes were successful also as these clothes as an example are stereotypically worn by indie rock artists. However, this image was not as successful as they were objects such as pipes and a stage in the background and the background was once again not light enough to use. Therefore, I edited this photo on photo shop by using the smudge tool to smudge the background to erase the pipes and bottom of the also. The patch selection tool on photo shop was also used, by selecting and dis-selecting parts of the background, which had no objects, by drawing around them with a line and moving the selected part to the pipes and bottom blue skirting, erasing both the mistakes I did not want included on my image. Also, I adjusted the brightness, making the photograph lighter and whiter and cropped out unwanted parts of the photo, for example the stage and the bottom of the photo, making the image more successful.

Before:

 After:

Front Cover Editing

The image which I am currently using to create the front cover of my music magazine, however I believed could be possibly more successful. The criticisms of this image was the image was too dark, including the background, which I wished to be white. Also, within the image there was objects in the back of the picture, which I believed when erased would be more of a successful image.

This was the image I was using for my front cover, which I believed needed editing. Therefore, on photo shop, I edited the brightness of the image and cropped out the objects I did not want on the image. As a result, I ended up with the following image, which I am much more content with and will be using for the front cover of my magazine. This image is more successful also, as the background is more lighter/ whiter and the model looks more pale, which is a typical image of indie rock artists.