Laura Danson's media evaluation

AS media evaluation

Laura Danson

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? (i.e. of music magazines)

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product represents a young, outgoing social group. Trance music is often advertised by events; therefore it is stereotypical that people that listen to trance music are very sociable, outgoing and young. I used a picture of Dj Lisa lashes to frame my image.i used the same pose bt dressed my model different and used different features. I used a very similar pose as i thought it worked well in showing her personality as well as her proffession. Lisa wears a colourful t-shirt which gave me the idea to included colour on my image. I chose to have my model in no costumes as many models used for dance music are advertised wearing little clothing, as we associate dance music with raves and events. Where we tend to get hot and sweaty, also many hot countries hold dance events.Both the females are very pretty and are pleasing to look at. This obviously attracts more readers. Both their heads are also turned away, which again takes away direct audience address.

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

A music publishing company is a firm that ensures that musicians are paid royalty payments for their work. They also promote the musicians' work to maximize the earnings potential of their music.

A dance organisation is the most likely institution to distribute my magazine as dance is a very large genre of music, and advertises all sorts of niche genres, for example trance. Emap is a publishing company that is likely to distribute my magazine, as they publish dance magazines such as Mixmag.

EMAP

• originated in 1947
• Emap was the second largest magazine publisher in UK in 2008.

the business-to-business magazines were sold to Guardian Media Group and private equity firm Apax - which owns Incisive - for £1bn. The new company is to be called Incisive-Emap.

• it bought FHM in 1994 (then selling 60,000 copies)

The money to fund this magazine when it first took off would have most likely

have come from a business loan, which would cover the firms costs for the first

year or so. The magazine wouldn't really take off in profit wise until the third year. This is because its new on the market and funding will cover alot of the money that is consumed.

resident advisor

MIXMAG

DANCE CLUB

DJ MAG

DANCE SPIRIT

VMM

Who would be the audience for your media product?

She would buy this magazine

to find out about upcoming

events and to become aware

of different DJs and songs.

She may also read this

if there is an article on one

of her favourite DJs

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

Google has been a key computer program

as i have used google to do all my research

and planning.

i have learnt how to use different computer

programs such as tubechop to make my blog

look more creative. Using scribd and other

programs enabled me to show the work i had

done in class to the exam board and other people

on my blog.

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

Since my preliminary i have learnt how to

use photoshop effectively and creatively.

At the begininng i didn't know how to use

anything, i just knew how to insert a picture

and text. I have now learnt how to enhance

photos, how to use the magic wand to do the

colouring on my eyes. Also how to outline text

in different colours and make them look more

effectively. All my magazine has been produced

myself, and all my research was conducted

myself.

When capturing my image i used

minimal props to make the picture

look simple. I could then edit it to

make it look more effective. I took my

magazine photos in a good lighting

area so that it would show the detail on

my models face. Originally i had a different

photo which was going to be used as my

front image. However i wasn't allowed to

use it as it was seen as unsuitable. I then

had to re-think my idea.

My magazine title was up. This links to the genre of my music as you raise your hands when dancing, also dance music is known for making you feel good, and your mood goes ‘up’.

My magazine follows a similar page layout to others and uses similar graphology. The layout is comparable to the magazine i analysed befpre, it features a large picture, a plain background, a bold title and small cover titles.

I chose to use a close up shot as my front image as I think its more eye grabbing. It also enabled me to highlight her features more noticeably, for example the colouring on her eyes. I sometimes find that using a long shot doesn’t grab the attention as its not detailed enough. My magazine suggests it is a dance magazine as the use of props and terminology used advertises this. ‘Deck the dance halls’ obviously links DJ decks and a dance hall together which suggests it is to do with Dj’ing. Also The pictures featured on the contents, e.g. the DJ set advertises the genre of music.

I chose to use headphones on my model as it relates to my genre and personally I think it makes the picture more interesting. My model isn’t wearing any costume as dance/trance music is usually advertised with models wearing little clothing as the aim is to look sexy and provocative. Also because we associate dance music with Ibiza and Goa etc, they are warm countries wear beach wear is common.I chose to represent my artist as being very young, and provocative. This obviously highlights Laura Mulvey’s Male gaze theory as she is seen wearing very little, and looking sexy. However I purposely had my model looking down so she doesn’t capture eye contact with the audience which could make the magazine look as if its aimed at men.

MAST HEAD

(big and bold)

VARIETY OF COLOURS

(follows a colour scheme)

I chose to use a simple colour scheme as I felt it looked more effective. I combined the colours used in the editing of the eye, with the colours used on the font. As the eye is the original version of my front cover image I had to use that colour scheme, unless I was to edit it. However I found it worked well as it was vibrant and colourful. I used basic, simple fonts as they then enable the attention to be taken to the picture which is more aesthetically pleasing.

Similar magazines

COVER LINES

(Gives the reader information

and highlights key features)

EYE CAPTURING IMAGE

(catches readers attention)

TEMPTING COVER LINES

(e.g. free)

DATE AND PRICE

i have learnt how to use

photoshop in a lot more detail.

Also how to make a product look

more effective and creative.