Magazine deconstruction

Media interpretation

The X factor have tried to represent indie folk when one of their contestants sang a version of Mumford and Sons - I Will Wait. The stage directors used dull lighting that creates a warm glow that is often seen in indie folk mise-on-scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwCVW6DnbBs&list=PLEmMTaMORGO9N9ynGhLxdA0aoqnUWY5qd

In this screenshot the TV show has tried to represented the naturalistic scenes of indie folk music by screening a sun set and making the contestant sit in a boat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4VRUgTkDQ0&list=PLEmMTaMORGO9N9ynGhLxdA0aoqnUWY5qd

The way this singer normally dresses is representative of indie folk and alternative clothing as well.



Audience feedback on my front cover

 

 

In lesson, we projected everyones front covers on the board and deconstructed them.

This is the feedback I received and will act on any improvements that were suggested that I could make in order to improve my work and increase my final grade.

Potential front cover photos

Front cover image

This is the photo I will use as my front cover main image, after asking the potential audience their preference on a variety of photos, and them all choosing this one.

Feedback shows that this image is of better quality due to the way the lighting falls on my model, yet I should tone this down a little bit in photoshop. Also it was commented that it was a more engaging photo as the model is looking directly at the camera/audience and is smiling, as if she's inviting the audience to read the magazine.

I would crop the photo, reducing the background 'noise' of trees etc, so more focus is on my model and the audiences eyes are not diverted elsewhere. A mid close-up photo would be more enhancing and engaging.

Flat plans

The main image will go in the centre of the front cover page and bleed out to cover the whole page. The image(s) for the contents page will be shown on the left hand side of the page.

 I came up with these layout by looking at various magazines. The majority of magazines print the puff and main cover line on the left hand side of the front cover, as that is the side of the page that is on show when shelved in stores. I decided to place the date, price and issue number etc on the top right corner of the page, as it is more out of the way and will cover less of my main image.

I have place all the articles and stories included in the magazine on the right hand side of the contents page, as this is the first page and side of the page you see when you open the page. The sub-lines will have a page number next to them, to indicate the reader to where they can read it. It is a very simple layout, but I don't want to overwhelm the reader, so I may change fonts and colours to make it look more interesting.

I choose to have my main image on my double page spread on the left page and have my model in the photo looking towards the article the title will be on the top of the right page above the article. I may include some quotes on the main image to make the photo seem more alive.

Risk assessment

Possible risk	Prevention of risk
Flash on the camera may hurt model’s eyes.	Check the flash is turned off or ask if they’re okay with the flash when taking close up photos.
When using makeup on the model they may have an allergic reaction.	Test a small amount of makeup on the skin first. Remove immediately if a reaction occurs. Check information on the makeup packaging.
Bad weather such as rain may damage equipment (if shoot is outside).	Check weather forecast beforehand. Bring umbrellas or sheets to cover camera etc.
If the shoot is outside, the model could trip/sit on something hazardous.	Check route or area where model is walking/sitting to make sure it is hazard free.

Magazine deconstruction

The masthead 'Rolling Stone' is partially covered by the main image of Rihanna; the magazine can afford to do this as they are well known and established, so the public will automatically recognise the magazine in the shops.
The date, price, issue number and website url is printed above the masthead; this allows customers/audience to find the magazine online, or buy at the shops, maybe at a later date to when it was published.
The main image is of Rihanna in a mid close-up shot, so she fills 2/3 of the page. She is staring straight out to the audience, pulling them in, wanting them to read the magazine. The short denim shorts that Rihanna is wearing, alongside her seductive facial expression, connote sexuality, and is used to aim for an audience that is more male dominated. Her bright red hair could connote fire, that she is quite fiery/feisty, which then links back into the sexuality.
The cover line or main story is dominated by Rihanna's life of sexting, bad boys and attraction to the darkside, connoting sexuality and a dangerous lifestyle.
Four sub-lines/cover lines are shown on the left hand side of the page, which is the side that is usually on view on shop shelves. This allows the audience to see what is included inside the magazine, and inform them on what the article is on.
The black font stands out against the creams in the background, catching the audiences eye, making them pick it up and read it. The red font of the masthead is typical of the Rolling Stone magazine, as it is part of their magazine's housestyle, which makes the magazine recognisable.

Mise-en-Scene research

The mise-en-scene of Indie Folk photo shoots often occur in naturalistic environment like the album cover shown above. Natural light is used to illuminate the scene from the background to prevent the subjects from squinting. Their acoustic instruments are included to authenticate the 'folk' part of the genre and bring it more into life. The outfits chosen suggest a vintage, rustic vibe with the brown colours, denims and bowler hats. The whole band is included with no certain main focus on any the musicians.

I can apply all of this to my own photo shoot by taking my potential front cover photos out in nature, maybe near a woods or a river. I would also dress my model in a similar dress code, with denim and natural colours such as blue, green, creams and brown. I would try to pick a day to take the photo on a day where there is a lot of natural sunlight, maybe on a bright winters day, so it would not be as bright and it would create a glow within the photo. I would also include instruments such as guitars, again to authenticate and make the genre clear

Audience profile

This is Sam.



Sam is 18 and enjoys riding his motorbike and mechanics. In his spare time Sam also enjoys going to fancy dress parties and playing GTA. He is a big fan of Mumford and Sons and enjoys relaxing to their music and other Indie Folk bands/artists such as Ben Howard. He will often play the Mumford and Sons album 'Babel' when he is fixing his motorbike or working. He is also a fan of many other genres of music such as alternative/indie rock.

Potential titles for my music magazine

'BeIndie'

This possible title make the genre of my magazine noticeable as Indie, yet it doesn't make it clear it is Indie Folk though. It is also telling the potential audience of my music magazine that Indie is the best genre and that they should become or 'Be' Indie.

I would have to make the genre of my magazine clear through the title as my magazine will not be well established enough for people to recognise at easily as Indie Folk, whereas magazines such as Kerrang are well established and can get away with an unrelated title.

Genre mood board

My mood board is about the genre Indie Folk, and the main codes and conventions around it. 

I have named a few major artists concerned with the genre such as Ben Howard and Mumford and Sons. The pictures of these artists that I have collected, are ones that could potentially be used as album front covers. They show the mise-en-scene that is usually used within this genre and how the pictures are taken mid-close up, with the main singer as the focus.

Indie Folk is a very naturalistic genre, which I have tried to get across with the pastel colour palette of blues and peaches. I have also incorporated flowers and beaded bracelets to give a more natural rustic feel to it.

The lyrics I have written on the mood board are mainly about love and relationships; lyrics like these are popular within Indie Folk songs.

Audience research methods

To gather research from my potential audience of my magazine, I can use primary and secondary research.

Primary research is information that I gather myself through techniques such as interviews and surveys (survey monkey). From this I can collate quantitative and qualitative data. I can use closed questions (yes or no questions) to gather quantitative data that I can then convert into percentages and graphs, to see how successful magazine will be. To gather qualitative data I can ask the potential audience what their opinions are on my ideas, such as colour scheme and title. The negative for using primary research is that the data takes a long time to collate and process.

Secondary research is analysing already existing informative material, such as on the internet or in books. This can also give me quantitative and qualitative data, as long as I'm specific on the topic I am researching into. Positives to using secondary research is that it is quick to do and there is a wide range of resources and sources to use. However you will be relying on the existing information to be accurate, so there can be an element of doubt.

However, any research that I conduct must fit the demographic of the potential audience; whether that be their age, gender or race.

I am considering doing a vox pop to collate primary data, as I can ask a variety of people 1 closed question to gather numerical data to calculate how successful my music magazine will be. A vox pop will also give me an opportunity to hear peoples opinions on my idea's, what's good and what's bad.

Main task brief

Create a front page, contents and a double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by the candidate, minimum of four images

Genre brainstorm

Genre research - indie folk

I can apply this research to my own music magazine by using the codes and conventions of the Indie Folk genre. For instance I could the photo for my main front cover image outside in the natural environment, which could follow a narrative of many Indie Folk lyrics. I could also include some of the instruments associated with this genre, such as an acoustic guitar, into my main image; this might make the genre of the magazine more apparent to the potential audience.

Music magazine front cover, contents & double page spread

Preliminary task

Introduction:

For my preliminary task of creating a magazine front cover and contents page for a school magazine, I used the software Adobe Photoshop to manipulate and transform the images I had taken to create a product of media text. My magazine had a genre based around sport at The Kings School, and the target audience was for the students (and parents), and teachers of the school to keep them updated on recent and upcoming events.

Front cover:

The mise-en-scene of the front cover largely consists of a main image of a female dancer performing a jump. I took this photo for the front cover using the burst shot application of the camera; the picture however, has come out slightly blurred around the edges. To improve in this I would use a quicker shutter speed on the camera to reduce the blurriness. Alongside this the photo is slightly too small for the mid-close up criteria, so if I were to take the photo again I would either zoom in through the lens or move closer to the object I am photographing. The background colour in my main image needs to be plainer and not have varying colours, as it distracts our attention away from the dancer.

The masthead of my magazine stands out and catches the eye of my audience as the black font of the title contrasts strongly against the pink background strip, and also informs the audience of the genre of the magazine. However to make the masthead look more professional I would lower the gradient of the pink to make it blend in more with the main image.

The puff shown on the front cover stands out to the audience as it does not follow the black and pink colour scheme, as it is yellow and in a blue font contains a buzz word “win!”. This will attract my audience to purchase the magazine in the hope they’ll be able to win a prize. The font describing what the winning prize is, could be changed to a font that easier for the audience to read.

I have included a cover line and sub-lines, but it is difficult to distinguish the difference from the main cover line. To make it clearer I could change the font and increase the size of the text and bold the letters out. I would also include a strap line for magazine if I did it again, to make a familiar motto that the readers would recognise in a shop, done by making a house style for my magazine.

If I were to redo this front cover I would also include an issue number for the magazine, a price and the date it was published. I have included a QR barcode which is accessible through a phone app, to scan and buy. This might increase the sale of my magazine as it simplifies the purchase.

Contents page:

My contents page contains a main image of two netball players, yet the picture has been distorted to make it fit along the length of the page. To overcome this I could rearrange the layout of the page and fit the photo somewhere else where it could remain in proportion.

The page has a clear title, making it recognisable as a contents page. I have also included page numbers for the page each story is on, so readers are easily guided to the article they want to read.

The page layout has the main image on the left of the page and the writing flowing down the right hand side of the page. This looks very boring to a reader as it has been laid out very simply. To make it more interesting to the readers I could include photos that are related to each sub-line, to invite people to read the articles.

I think I have done the mode of address well, as I have written in language that is familiar to school students, as it is simple yet still formal.

Conclusion:

In order to complete this preliminary task to a higher standard if I were to redo it, I would spend more time beforehand getting used to working on a MacBook, and would definitely spend several lessons just purely using Photoshop to learn the basics of manipulating photos. Then after that I would go on to start the task over again. Yet I’m still proud of what I have accomplished as this was the first time I had ever used Photoshop; and I now know what I can do to improve the standard of my work when using this software to produce a media text.

I can build on these new skills that I have learnt, by spending more time playing with the software in order to know how everything works and what my own preferences are. This will then allow me to create my main task, music magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread, to a higher standard and quality than of this preliminary task.

Yay photos!

Photo 1:
Defines what summer means to me. It is a highly scenic photo taken with a vintage filter to give it a retro/hippy feel. The hippy feel of the photo is carried on with the clothing of the two girls in the centre of the mise-en-scene, that are wearing dungarees and flower headbands. The blue sky with the odd couple of white fluffy clouds letting the sunlight through gives warmth to the photo and illuminates the grass and white flowers protruding from the green blades. The hills the two girls are walking towards may connote a sense of adventure, that maybe they are travelling during their summer before going to university.
Photo 2:
Again this photo is very naturalistic and has a calm soothing effect to the audience, almost as if you can feel the bright blue water swirling around you and the warmth from the pale sunlight. The waterfall and forest/jungle in the background are a quiet piece of nature; and the feet in the foreground of the mise-en-scene can connote a hint of laziness as you just float in the water soaking in the atmosphere of the landscape. To me this is the ultimate type of photo to capture whilst travelling.
Photo 3:
The fish bowl camera setting that was used taking this photo really grasps the audiences eye as it focuses on the girl in the centre of the mise-en-scene and the bright tropical pool; this camera setting could also connote the way the fish that may be submerged in the water are seeing the settings of the landscape and girl. The way she holds her arm back looks as if she is leading us into the pool with her; she also brings a hippy vibe to the photo with the wrap around printed skirt and bracelets. The setting of the photo is very tropical, which could connote a jungle and the warmth of summer.
Photo 4:
The sunset in the background of the mise-en-scene is bright and connotes warmth of a summer/autumns evening, the silhouette of the trees create an image of a field bordered by a woods of forest. The fireworks are bright red and green, connote happiness, located in the top right of the photo, which is an example of the use of thirds as it draws the eye in to look at it. The fireworks connote that it is more of an autumn evening where you'd be wrapped up in a hoody and scarf and denim shorts (as it looks as if its quite a warm evening) sat in the long grass with your friends/boyfriend/girlfriend watching the fireworks.
Photo 5:
The vintage filter on top of the murky green water sets a natural, retro vibe to the photo. The main image of the girl and boy kissing underwater connotes love, romance, privacy and secrecy; as being underwater no-one can see them, and its like they have a private unknown relationship; yet the fish in the foreground seem to intruding on this perfect moment as they peacefully swim past. The skin of the boy and girl has been illuminated which would suggest it was a sunny day as the rays of sun were penetrating through the water. The dark background colours in the photo connote a feeling of peacefulness and calm, especially the dark green.

First post, back at school

A summers day:

I choose this picture as my first upload onto my blog because it defines what summer means to me. It is a highly scenic photo taken with a vintage filter to give it a retro/hippy feel. The hippy feel of the photo is carried on with the clothing of the two girls in the centre of the mise-en-scene, that are wearing dungarees and flower headbands. The blue sky with the odd couple of white fluffy clouds letting the sunlight through gives warmth to the photo and illuminates the grass and white flowers protruding from the green blades. The hills the two girls are walking towards may connote a sense of adventure, that maybe they are travelling during their summer before going to university.

The warm natural colours of this photo connote happiness, relaxation and warmth. It reminds you of previous summers that you have experienced, which in turn also produces a nostalgic feel to the whole photo. The tall flowers in the grass, connotes a feminine feel which links in with the two girls in the centre of the mise-en-scene. The vintage filter used on this photo connotes a old, rustic, natural expression to the photo; it produces a more earthly feel that could be experienced at the countryside, which is the location of this photo.