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

In my preliminary I believe that I made a number of mistakes including a flawed fundamental understanding of the conventions of a media magazine. I rectified that by carrying out in-depth analysis and research into the conventions of magazines and why these conventions have become standard. From this research I feel that I now possess a better fundamental understanding of the conventions of a magazine. I have used that to produce work of a much higher quality than that of my preliminary for my final piece. The production of which was aided by my improved skills on the software that we used to construct the products.

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

During the process of constructing my media product I learn about and developed a number of skills on software that is both new to me and software that I am accustom to. At the beginning of this topic I only had limited knowledge of the software that we were to use which was Adobe InDesign. This knowledge came from the preliminary task that I had completed previously. I had to refresh this knowledge at the beginning, however as I progressed thought the production process I learnt more about the programme thought experimenting by myself and drawing on the knowledge of others. My education on the software was aided my skills I had learnt and developed on another product produced by Adobe which was Photoshop.  I had a more extensive knowledge of this programme due to using it, to complete previous projects in past years. I was able to use these programs in harmony together, using Photoshop to manipulate my images for my produce and using InDesign to construct the product its self as well as to complete the text for my product.
I also learnt more about a piece of on-line software called Prezi which enabled me to display my work in a new and exciting method other than PowerPoint presentations.  It had a simple interface which enables for easy control and allows a person to get the correct look to their work.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience by using the conventions of magazines which I highlighted during my research at the beginning of the project. These include the mast head featuring big bold lettering, the largest font on the front cover followed by the sub heading and cover lines. I made sure that the key image was clearly visible, this draws the reader’s attention to the image, the image itself  shows one of the band members pointing towards the camera, this gives the illusion that he is in fact pointing directly at the audience and staring at them. The illusion works at a distance and is effect at a number of angles other than just straight ahead. This makes the front cover eye catching

To address my audience I used an informal tone, along with colloquial language making my product ease to relate to. It also makes it seem as if the articles are taking to the reader rather than at the reader. My product also recaps on topics when covering latest developments. This gives the magazine friendly, this can allow new readers to pick up my product without being intimidated or feeling excluded due to in house joke

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

 The  social group that my media product represents are fans of music and in particular fans of the metal-core genre.   As with any genre of music there is a stereotype associated with that genre, sometimes these are very negative. The average social stereotype of metal/metal-core fans is that of hostile rebellious teenagers, who are a problem to society. Other stereotype of the genre involves the usage of illicit substances for example drugs as well as alcohol abuse. This is a rather adverse social stereotype and like many social stereotypes hold little truth. Whilst some of the actions may be carried out by some fans it is also carried out by other members in society in other social groups and is as case of a few ruining it for the majority.

Within my magazine I have avoided the negative stereotypes, which have been formulated from an outsiders view of the genre and I have instead opted to represent metal-core fans in a fairer way thought the eyes of the majority who enjoy the genre. The fans of the genre are represented as party goers who have a good time and enjoy them self’s and whilst unacceptable behaviour may happen it is condemned by the majority.

Another way that I have represented the fans of the metal core genre is by choosing the attire that was worn by my models for the photo shoots.  The first shoot that I did I had the models wear shirts and semi smart wear, yet I had them rough it up to make it look as if they were breaking social normalities in the way the genre of music is considered to no follow the normality of society as a whole. Whilst I believed this to be a good concept and have potential to work, it subverted the conventions of a metal core magazine in a way that it no longer fitted the genre. I was forced to reshoot with the models wearing more iconic clothing that was representing of the genre.

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

My media print product “Iron core” is a music magazine containing the genre of metal core. It conforms to many conventions of magazines in general and more specifically the conventions of a music magazine which I highlighted in my research before undertaking the production of my product. It conforms to the conventions relating to the structure and layout of the front cover, the contents page as well as a double page spread.  These conventions state the position of key items such as the mast head, the sub-heading and the key image.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for my media product which is a music magazine specialising in the metal-core genre, would me fans of metal-core and metal. The genre of metal-core was born in the late ninety’s and by 2000 was its own genre. This means that the main body audience for the metal core genre ranges from teenagers to people in their late 30’s and early 40’s.  Whilst aspects of my magazine will appeal to all fans of metal-core I feel that my main target audience is fans in there late teens and in there twenty’s. This is because of some of the content I cover such as festivals. People in that age bracket are over the age of 18 and able to go to many gigs and festivals, whilst being able to afford it them self’s.

Post production

Now that I have finished my production I will begin on the evaluation of my work. The questions that I must answer in my evaluation are:

• 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
  
• 2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
  
• 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
  
• 4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

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

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

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

I intend to answer these questions over a series of posts and hope to use a variety of multimedia within my answers. 

Final Products.

 Using my drafts I was able to create my final products. Including a magazine front cover, contents page and a double page spread.

Contents page revised.

After peer review on my drafts I have decided to change my Contents draft and details of it can be found in this prezi presentation.

Contents page revised

Drafts

I have been able to use the conventions that I picked out on the Magazine products to create drafts from which I will be able to model my final products. I indented to get feed back on my drafts to see what people make of them and to see if they think that they fit the genre of Metal-core.

My draft  for the magazine front cover which includes a large mast head with the key image having depth to it. The sub-header which runs across the centre of the page is also present along with the cover lines below it. 

Using the conventions from the double pages spreads I looked at I created this draft. The key image takes up around 40% of the spread much like the examples I saw. It also contains text boxes that over lap along with multiple smaller images. There is also a panel which I will use for in-depth information.  

I used some of the conventions to create this draft. However I am not too keen with the lay out of this draft and depending on the feed back that I get on this draft it may be subject to change. 

Progress.

I have finished my research and collected and hi-lighted a number of conventions from the magazine front covers, contents pages and double page spreads. I intend to use these conventions to construct guild lines for be to create my draft work, from which I will base my final product off of. Once I have finished the drafts I will begin to mock them up in rough on In-design. I can then use this rough mock up to position the elements of my products.

Double page spread research.

Once I had completed my contents page research I began to research into the one piece of the product that I had not researched, that was the double page spread that would contain my main article. I looked out for the conventions featured with in double page spreads.

I found that all of the double page spreads I looked at had around 40% of the double page spread covered by a main image. The remainder of spread is used for the text which is divided into columns  The body of next is not limited to one box but can have boxes contain text around it. These extra boxes are used to display more in-depth information that may not be directly linked to the main article.  

Contents page research.

To follow up from my research into the conventions of magazine front covers, I decided to research the conventions of magazine contents pages. I paid attention and noted some of the different lay outs and why there were effective yet different.

The text with in the contents page used different colours and effects (e.g. bold) to separate out all the different elements to the contents page. The page numbering was a different colour to the article head line. The head line its self is in bold compared to the small sentence of descriptive text.    

Music magazine front cover research.

I decided to follow up my initial research of magazine front covers by looking further into them. This time I orientated my research around music magazine front covers, looking at genres of music that reflected that of my chosen genre of Metal-core.

From this research I have found out that magazines around the Metal-core genre conform to the standard conventions of lay out of the front cover. This includes the position of the mast head, as well as use of cover lines and subheading. The key image is also used similar. However these magazines also use a similar style of font. They seem to use fonts that look worn and used as well as rugged, this is to reflect the genre of Metal-core as it is rugged and loud.

Initial front cover research

To begin this unit of work I researched the conventions of magazine front covers, the content's pages and double page spreads. I looked at a selection of magazines from several genres for my initial research to pick out any general conventions that may run across genres.

This is my initial research into the general conventions of magazine front covers.

After analysing these three front covers a number key conventions relating to content and the placement of content on the front covers were identifiable. 

The key image on all of these magazines has been given a sense of depth and make to stand out by the use of layers. The key image will be behind some of the text of the front cover and yet in front of other pieces such as the mast head.in these cases. The mast head is always at the top of the page where the reader starts to read from conventionally, it also allows quick and easy identification of the magazine. The mast head is in a large font to make it stand out as the most important text. The subheading which can also be referred to as a splash, which tells the reader the main focus of the issue is positioned towards the middle of the magazine cover and towards the bottom. This allows space for the key image to be seen. Cover lines on the front covers are positioned towards the side of the magazine and can also be found at the bottom below the Splash line. Banners are also employed to display content, and they are positioned toward the top of the magazine by the mast head. They are placed there as it is the first place that the readers eyes are drawn to. There is also a circular box used to display special features or awards won by the magazine.

I will continue my research by looking at content pages as well as double page spreads. 

Brief for the music magazine production.

In this unit of work I will be producing a music magazine of a genre of my choice. I will have to produce a front cover, a contents page and a double page spread of an article which I must create. To produce work that fits in and conforms to the conventions’ of a music magazine I will first analyse magazines in general to pick out conventions across the print media of magazines. Then I shall look at music magazines to pick out more specific conventions that apply to the music magazine and in particular music magazines that specialise in my chosen genre of music. Using the conventions that I have identified in my research I will create a template on which I can base my products off. This will ensue that my products look more professional and more like actual music magazines that are sold today.

I have chosen Metal-core to be my music genre. It is considered a fusion genre of extreme metal and hardcore punk. I chose this genre as it is one that I am interested in and there are not many magazines that specialise in this genre. However there are many magazines that cover the broader spectrum of rock and metal.

Preliminary task final products.

These are my final products for the pliminary task of makeing a school magazine.

The Front page.

The contents page.

Whilst a number of magazine conventions are present in my work I believe that my execution of these conventions was not to the highest standard that I could have potential produced. This is due to my poor time management during the production process. This has highlighted the need for time management during the foundation production. This preliminary task has also given me a chance to use the software that I will be using in the foundation production giving me a chance to develop and enhance my skills.  I hope to use the lessons that I have learn from this production to aid me in the foundation production which is to create a music video of a genre of our choice.

Overview of preliminary task.

In my preliminary task I was asked to create the front cover and contents page of school magazine. This was to help us develop ideas for our foundation production as well as indentifying  the conventions of magazines and any conventions unique to  music magazines. I began with researching magazines that there produced by companies for the general public and comparing them with magazine published by schools. I identified the conventions and mocked up  some drafts before producing my production pieces. However this task highlighted the need for time management in the Foundation production as I believe if could have produced a product of higher quality if i had managed my time more thoroughly.