Friday, 4 November 2011
Main Task: Post Production Feedback
Following on from my planning and research, where I approached my audience and found out what they would like to see on my magazine, I am now able to address them again to find out what the strengths and the weaknesses of my final products are.
Front Cover
Strengths:-
- "Graffiti art is good because it is attractive to a contemporary audience."
- "Black shapes over text creates a 'punk aesthetic'."
- "Like the layout - not packed with info."
Weaknesses:-
- "Perhaps not the right content for the genre? Coldplay - not indie enough."
- "Black/white colour scheme is a bit boring."
- "More images would have made it more interesting."
Contents Page
Strengths:-
- "Professional layout - clear but not too detailed, doesn't give too much away."
- "Font is modern which is fun and appeals to a young audience."
- "The shortened masthead shows professionalism."
Weaknesses:-
- "Editor's note is quite small and this could mean it is difficult to read."
- "Black-on-white text could also be hard to read."
- "Editor's note could be justified and more lined up."
Double Page Spread
Strengths:-
- "I like the picture because it makes the band look quite fun."
- "The text advertising the album makes it look more conventional."
- "The same colour scheme is used and that's something a professional mag would do."
Weaknesses:-
- "The gap in the grey text box could have been filled."
- "'We Love' and 'The Bandits' doesn't look connected enough - could have used an elipsis on 'We Love'."
- "The quote could have been bigger as it looks a bit dull."
I got the above research by asking for my friend's opinions on my final product. I did this because my friends would be part of the target audience for my publication and I wanted to find out what I could have done differently and what I have done well. Although the feedback I've been given has told me that my magazine is mostly professional-looking and authentic, I would have perfected it if I were to do it again. One of the points from the feedback I was given was that there were not enough images and my magazine would have benefited if there were more thumbnail images on the front cover especially. The person I interviewed said that this would have made the front cover more interesting and if I could have done this again, I would add more images to give my readers more variety to different artists rather than focus on one band/subject. Another thing I would have ensured is that all my margins (especially those in which I wrote my editor's note) were straight, making the contents page look a lot more neat as this was another weakness. Although I was told that the colour scheme was dull, I would not change this if I were to do the magazine again as if my text was any other colour rather than black/white or grey, it could have clashed with the background which would harm the appearance of the magazine.
Main Task: Case Study of a Publishing House
Conde Nast Publications is a leading and major publishing company in the US, based in New York City. The company have produced 18 major magazines, 4 business publications and over 50 different applications for smart phones. Conde Nast is an example of a popular publishing company and although it is not based in the UK, I feel that it would be an appropriate publishing company for my magazine.
A few of the most popular publications from this company include magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. The company currently focuses on Lifestyle publications however it covers a range of interests including travel, fashion and culture. I feel that my music magazine will not be a large stretch for them as music is not new in their publications. Their magazine 'Vanity Fair' includes music news and pop culture. I believe that by publishing my magazine - one that focuses only on indie music - they will attract a larger range of people as readers and subscribers and this will be beneficial to them as they are known to focus on a particular class and age group. By introducing a magazine that revolves around alternative, new music - that is mainly from the UK - Conde Nast will be the first company to introduce this unique kind of magazine to the US.
Although they have magazines that will mainly attract females rather than men, their publications are generally suitable for both sexes and all magazines feature images of both men and women in them. The age range that their publications appeal to is wide as their magazines focus on many different things. Magazines that have something to do with fashion and current trends - such as GQ, Vogue, Teen Vogue and Vanity Fair - will attract young adults or teenagers while magazines such as the New Yorker will appeal to adults and business men and women. On the other hand - while it may seem like they have a very large audience and a variety of different readers - they are known to focus on a particular class and age group instead of targetting the largest readership. My magazine may appeal to their younger readers - particularly those who are interested in fashion, as there are many aspects of fashion within the indie style - while also attracting a whole new audience and readership in addition to their current readers. The company choose to appeal to different age groups, sexes and people to get more money and so by publishing my magazine, they can do so.
Conde Nast's other magazines include 'The New Yorker', a famous magazine that has been published since 1925. The average reader's age is 47, and so it is not likely to appeal to my audience. The magazine itself is based around popular culture and literature, whereas mine focuses on something very different; music. Another very different publication is 'Architectural Digest', a magazine that concentrates on interior design and is aimed at "style-conscious" members of society. This could appeal to the same audience as my magazine however it is also very different. 'Bon Appetit', which again targets a different audience, is based around the culinary arts and informs readers about trends in food and cooking. Their audience will mainly be adults who are interested in cuisine, and thus it is unlikely to appeal to the same audience as my magazine. Another one of Conde Nast's magazines is 'Vogue', a popular magazine that focuses on fashion and lifestyle. It may appeal to the same age audience as my magazine as it most likely interests young people and adults who are interested in trends and celebrities and are "style-conscious", much like the readers of 'Architectural Digest'.
Main Task: Audience Research
In our Audience Research, my task was to question potential readers about what they would like to see in an indie styled music magazine. I asked a small handful of people - all fans of the genre - various and basic questions and their answers were helpful and enabled me to decide things that I was unsure of. (i.e font, layout, colours and content). However, I feel like I could have gotten more views and answers from a larger scale of people if I had given myself more time.
Main Task: Profiling Audience
Our reader: Ben O
Age: 16
Interests: Music, fashion, going to gigsOccupation: Student
Favourite artists: Paper Route, The White Stripes, White Lies, Ben Howard.
Ben doesn't leave his house without his iPhone. On it, there are over 200 artists - many of whom are unheard of or small, local musicians who have only just started their career. As well as these artists, Ben has a significant amount of old-school rock music such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters. This combination of genres have influenced him into producing music in indie rock style. Ben aspires to become a musician or band member in the near future and feels the only way to do so is through learning the theory behind music. He believes that many mainstream artists neglect to do this and therefore the history of music is becoming less important. Ben does not wish to become mainstream but to produce music that he listens to. Other than alternative music, Ben is also interested in the alternative indie look in terms of fashion and pays attention to the vintage trends. He believes that our magazine can help him go about his
career and says that it informs him of many new artists and news about bands that less people pay attention to. He also believes that the magazine keeps him in style - through artist's images - and interests young adults and teens who are into obscure fashion, music or the mainstream indie/indie-rock/rock genres and performs all the correct functions of a music magazine.
Main Task: Double Page Spread Textual Analysis
Colour SchemeIn this double page spread, there is a definite theme in terms of colours used and chosen. In this case, the colours orange, white, black and brown are used. These colours could be used deliberately to represent the character of Pete Doherty - the subject of the article. The black and browns used are dark colours that could symbolise Pete's negative experiences and qualities - such as being a heavy drinker and such. In contrast, the colour white is usually used as a sign of purity which could connote to us that Pete is now sober or starting over. The colour orange is the only bright colour and it is used on the word 'good' to make this word stand out. This colour also attracts the reader and does not clash with the other colours used.
Image
The left side of the page is taken up by the image of Pete Doherty. The musician has been photographed in front of a grungy looking brick wall and was taken outside at night. This could connote to us that he has a dark side to him or enjoys the nightlife. He is posing in direct address to the camera - and therefore the reader - making eye contact. His non-verbal communication is ambiguous which suggests that he is not happy nor sad. His blank expression could also connote carelessness or dissatisfaction. Another sign of carelessness is his appearance. His fingernails are dirty and he is dressed in a dull, brown top. His hair appears to be greasy or wet - from sweat, perhaps - and overall this presents him unpleasantly to the reader. His only props are two alcoholic drinks. This could support the genre of rock as it is sometimes associated with alcohol and drinking however, more importantly, it is telling us what the article is about. Another image is almost unnoticeable on the bottom right corner of the right page. It is a picture of Pete and his band performing however the small size in comparison to the larger image connotes that Pete feels that his alcoholic/druggy lifestyle is perhaps more important to him than the music.
Subject Name
The name Peter Doherty is not highlighted clearly on the DPS although his first name (and nickname) 'Pete' is used and his band's name 'Babyshambles' is also used.
Quotes
A quote from Peter: "People say, 'Oh, Peter used to be your singer'. I'm like, 'What are you talking about? Used to be?!" is placed in the middle of the page on the right and is important as it presents Pete's current reputation in the music business.
Drop Capital
There is a large drop capital used at the start of the article in the top left hand corner of the right page, showing the reader where to start reading from. There is another smaller drop capital mid-way through the article on an 'F', showing the reader where to continue reading.
Headline
The headline is positioned over the image on the left page and says 'In good health'. This can be seen as ironic as the image does not support this headline - grasping the reader's interest and attention further. The headline is in all capitals and it is bolder and larger than every piece of text - other than the drop capital.
The By-Line, Strap-line, and Stand-first positions are not clear as many magazines do not follow the exact same structure. However, the journalist and photographer's names are both visable. There is a short introduction that anticipates the article positioned on the image underneath the headline and the article is written in the form of three narrow columns. It is also written informally - a general characteristic for music magazines.
Main Task: Front Cover Textual Analysis
Denotation & Connotation
In the main image we are shown four men, members of the band 'Manchester Orchestra' who are the main subjects of this issue of 'Alternative Press'. The image connotes to us that this band is made up of normal people - they are not glamorised or styled in an exaggerated way like you may see with other artists such as Lady Gaga. One of the men is holding a cigarette which could connote a certain sense of rebellion and edge within the band and this adds to the alternative style of music that Manchester Orchestra creates. It is less common for classic rock bands to be associated or photographed with a cigarette so it suggests an old-school style.
Costume: The costume they are wearing consist of warm, winter clothes and they are standing outside on what seems to be a cold day. The connotation of this could be that the music they produce is a 'warm' kind of music that could fit in with this kind of dreary winter/autumn season.
N.V.C: The men in the picture are not posing or presenting themselves in a significant way. They are merely standing still and naturally. They're facial expressions are mainly neutral; they are neither happy or sad. Each of the men are making full on eye contact with the camera and this engages and attracts the reader into buying the magazine.
Lighting: The lighting used is high key as the image has been taken outside in pure daylight.
Setting: The setting behind the subject of the image basically consists of a part of a building and trees. It is not in focus like the picture, and blurred, suggesting that the band is what we should be concentrating on.
Anchorage
The magazine front cover only uses sans serif fonts. This font is modern and new, which tells us that the magazine is focused on recent bands and music that is newly released. It also uses a definite colour scheme of green, yellow and red. These bright colours draw the reader and ensure that the magazine is easy to read. All these colours are unisex, communicating that the magazine is made for both boys and girls and the music will be suitable for all. The masthead is yellow and green, and has a transparent effect. It uses the 'A' and 'P' from the name 'Alternative Press' in order to create a more recognisable logo that is easy for customers to remember.
Magazine Conventions
Overall, the magazine covers all conventions clearly. The masthead is large and recognisable, and cover-lines are shown at the very top, the very bottom while the main cover-line has been placed at the bottom left so that it can be large and bright without interfering with the image. There is no selling line - which tells us that this magazine is alternative, much like it's genre - in the way that it does not promote itself or take itself too seriously. However, it does have the number '25' placed in it's masthead showing the readers that it has been selling for 25 years, which will help sell the magazine. A barcode, website link and dateline has also been used appropriately on the cover and the creators of the cover have made sure that these are all minor parts of the magazine and do not take up too much space.
Cover-lines
The main cover-lines are related to the image. "Manchester Orchestra" is the name of the band - straight away this tells us that the article may be promoting them and is completely based around them as a band. "Fire in the soul" suggests passion within the band as well as an aspect of danger. The word 'soul' could connote a sense of realism. Perhaps the band see music as a way of expressing themselves and they are putting their soul and heart into it. This fits in with the genre as many alternative artists feel that unlike some popular and seemingly artificial artists, their music is more real and down-to-Earth. Then there is a quote that reads "you're never done paying your dues". This suggests a certain hardship within the band as they feel they have been struggling or working hard together for many years and have not yet been fully rewarded the way they wish to be. It fits in with the genre as alternative bands are usually underrated and have a smaller fan base than many other - more popular - genres. The other cover-lines are just names of artists and bands. This will give the customer an idea of who will be mentioned however the fact that it does not give a more elaborated description of what the articles will be about makes the reader curious.
Target Audience
I believe this magazine is aimed at older readers as the genre is usually associated with adults - or those in their late teen years. It is unisex and would attract those who are interested in alternative music. This audience's music interests are different and not mainstream which could suggest that they are particularly unique and different from most themselves.
Main Task: Introduction
My name is Isabel Caballero and I am a media studies student at Christ the King Sixth Form College, currently preparing for my main task. For 50% of my qualification, I plan to construct a front page, a double-page spread and a contents page of a music magazine. I will be focusing mainly on genres that I know reasonably well; indie and rock. To do this, I will have to complete tasks such as analysing other music magazines so that I become familiar with all the different layouts and conventions that I have to include in my three final pieces. I must also be informed about publishing companies and the type of audiences that I will be targeting. In order to achieve the highest possible grade, I will have to further my research and improve my photoshop and manipulation skills to ensure that I create this magazine professionally and accurately.
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