Final Products

Front Cover 

Contents Page 

Double page spread

Evaluation

So now that I have finished the foundation portfolio here is my evaluation

1. How does your media product represent particular social groups?


My Media product uses the same conventions as a real media product as it uses similar layouts to existing magazines. 

My Magazine

Example of an existing magazine 

I used conventions such as a colour scheme running through my magazine,I have my contents page split up into sections and a main story and caption on my cover

It also has a contents page which is conventional in most if not all magazines. My magazine also has conventions such as a website, address and email address on the contents page like most magazines do.

However it challenges conventions of existing media products as my magazine cover only has one photo the cover which most do but some magazine covers have a number of images that relate to the stories. I like the idea of having only one picture on the front cover as it is simplistic yet effective.I also challenged conventions such as the way in which my contents page is set up. Instead of having a lot of pictures I only have 2. Again although it is simplistic I think it is also effective.

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

My magazine would be distributed in all shops,newsagents and by ‘Beatz & Vibez’ through their website using magazine subscriptions. My magazine would be widely available in shops  throughout the country so, anyone would be able to purchase it. It would also be accessible online for those who may not be able to go out and buy the magazine. This has become very popular with existing newspapers such as The Guardian and magazines such as Billboard, although this service is free. For Beatz & Vibez magazine however the viewer would have to buy it for a small fee in order to create enough revenue to carry n this service. If this service became popular then it viewers would be able to access it for free. 

Here is an example of a website where Billboard magazine is available to read online. 

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=4RQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&source=gbs_toc&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false

3. Who would be the audience for your media product?



My media product would be for people that enjoy RnB and Hip-Hop music, this is shown as the name of the magazine 'Beatz & Vibez' reflects language used in these genres of music. Also the mise-en-scene used in the photos used in the magazine shows an urban environment which again reflects the genres of music.

Here is a voice recording of who the audience for my media product would be. 

Here is some music from the artists I mentioned on the voice recording.

Here the artist websites 


Kanye West :http://kanyewest.com/


Lupe Fiasco: http://www.lupefiasco.com/

Lil Wayne : http://www.lilwayne-online.com/















4.How did you attract/address your audience?

My answer to how I attracted my audience 

This video gives an idea of how I attracted my audience using examples of existing magazines and audience feedback. 

From audience feedback I was able to see how much people would purchase my magazine for and what sort of things they would like in the magazine. 

Here is the website I mentioned in my vlog:

http://www.vibe.com/

Here are some examples of Vibe magazine covers.

Cover of rapper Kanye West

Cover of rapper Nelly

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


From constructing this product I have learned how to use Adobe Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Before this task I had never used these programs, doing this task helped me to improve my skills on these programs especially 
Indesign as this is the program that I used to construct and make my magazine. I enjoyed using Indesign although it took some getting used to. I also learned how to to use a digital camera properly by using the right lighting and constructing the layout properly. All in all I have learnt that technologies are a big help in constructing and making a magazine and without them constructing a magazine would be very difficult. 

Adobe Indesign

Adobe Illustrator 

Adobe Photoshop

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


Looking back at my preliminary task I have learnt how to arrange and manage my time much more effectively, I also learnt how much work goes into making a music magazine. I have improved my skills in Adobe Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Also my skills in photography have also improved greatly. All in all I think the task has went well. Although if I could go back and change anything I would maybe spend more time constructing my actual magazine. 

My final vlog

Final Cover

Here is the build up and finished front cover 

Draft

The Finished Product 

Final Double Page Spread

Here is my final double page spread

Final Double Page Spread

Final Contents

 Here is the build up and final contents page

Draft 

Final product 

Photos of Artist

I based the images i took on the popular female rapper Nicki Minaj.
Here are some shots that are similar to the ones i took.
All the images were taken using a 10 megapixel camera. Most of the pictures I have taken are mainly close up shots, although the artist is wearing sunglasses she still has that connection with the reader. This maybe making the reader want to see what is under the sunglasses.
The mise-en-scene I used for my photos fits with the genre of RnB and Hip-Hop as it gives an urban feel. For example the brick wall background shows an urban environment, and the artist wearing sunglasses and a leather coat also fits in with the mise-en-scene as it gives the artist and cool look.

close up

close up

Long shot 

long shot

close up

  

close up

long shot 

Long shot 

Computerized Front Cover Drafts

I was able to use Indesign to test out some of drafts to see what they may look like. Here are three examples:

This first draft uses a tester shot i took of my artist.

I think the first draft best shows what I intend for my magazine cover to look like. However, I do like the background of the second draft but I don't think it will be suitable as it is too dark.

Double Page Spread Drafts

Looking at the three double page speads that I researched from my three chosen magazine gave me an idea of what a double page spead layout should look like. From this I was able to draw some drafts for what i potentially want my magazine to look like.

Out of all the drafts i like the third draft as the picture doesn't take over the and entire page.

Contents Page Drafts

Here are my three drafts for my magazine contents page, again I stuck to using two colours for the font. All of the drafts are also labelled.

Of all the drafts I like the second one best as it shows an equal amout of images and text.

Magazine Cover Drafts

After deciding on the name for my magazine I began drawing drafts for my front cover.
Here are my hand drawn and labelled front cover drafts, I stuck to using two colours for the font to start, although I may change them later.

Magazine Name Brainstorm

I decided to brainstorm some names for my music magazine, I thought of names that related to my chosen genre of RnB and hip-hop

In the end i decided to go with the name Beatz & Vibez as my magazine name.

Plan

•I also brainstormed some names for my magazine.

•I have again made hand drawn plans for my magazine to give myself an idea of what I want my magazine to look like and also to try out different layouts.

•I have done 3 hand drawn plans each for my front cover, contents page , and double page spread. I also made some of my drafts on the computer.

Research

•My magazine represents young people this is shown through the type of images I have used. It is also shown through the mode of address, it is not at all formal.

•My magazine also talks about thing that young people enjoy such as fashion, reviews of the latest music and what musicians are doing.


My chosen genre is RnB and Hip-Hop, throughout history in RnB women have had equal status.  Whereas in Hip-Hop males have been very dominant. Only recently have females began to break through and become equal to men in this genre. Female rappers such as Nicki Minaj and Lil Kim have paved the way for up and coming female rappers.  Typically in this genre females are represented as being eye candy for the males for example wearing skimpy outfits, the lyrics used by male rappers and being stared at by men, Gaze Theory is often used to represent this. Whereas males are represented being dominant, rich and powerful this is often represented by them having a lot of money , driving nice cars , being followed by a huge entourage and having a lot of tattoos. 


Hip-Hop appeals to a particular kind of audience as some young males want to emulate rappers for their status. This also appeals to some young females as they wouldn't mind being the girlfriend of a rapper.  However both males and females enjoy the lyric used by rappers.
Where as RnB appeals to a wider audience 


Over the years  the lyrics used in Hip-Hop have become very controversial, even being accused of  glorifying gang culture and violence. 

50 Cent rapper 

Nicki Minaj female rapper 

Day 26 Male RnB group

Destiny's Child Female RnB group 

Research

•My media product would be for people that enjoy RnB and Hip-Hop/Rap music, this is shown as the name of my magazine ‘Beatz & Vibez’ reflects language used in these genres of music. My magazine also represents these genres by the sort of artist mentioned such as ‘Lil Wayne’, ‘Lupe Fiasco’ and ‘Kanye West’

•My magazine would be distributed in all shops,newsagents and by ‘Beatz & Vibez’ through their website using magazine subscriptions.

Conclusion

•From the research I have done about music magazines I have learnt that there are many common conventions such as a constant colour scheme on the front cover, also the fact that the masthead is always one of the biggest elements on the cover.

•I have also learnt that contents pages are split up in to sections such as ‘ features, fashion and reviews’.

•However from my research I have also discovered that layouts of magazines are very different for example the layout of contents pages and also front covers.

Music Magazine Research Information About Q Magazine

•http://www.qthemusic.com/

•Q is a music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom, with a circulation of 130,179 as of June 2007.

•Q magazine was founded in October 1986 by Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth.

•Q magazine features reviews of new releases (music), radio, television, film and live concerts.

Music Magazine Research Information About Vibe Magazine

•http://www.vibe.com/

•

Vibe Magazine was founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones in partnership with Time Inc.

•It has featured artists on the cover such as Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Lil Wayne. In total Vibe Magazine has sold over 50 million copies before it stopped production in 2009.

•

Vibe magazine features RnB, Rap and Hip-Hop music.

Music Magazine Research Information About Billboard Magazine

•http://www.billboard.com/#/

•

Billboard Magazine was first founded in the 1920s by William H. Donaldson and James H. Hennegan.

•

Billboard Magazine is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, it is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world and has sold over 80 million copies since it was created.

•

Billboard magazine talks about most genres of music including  pop, hip-hop, RnB and Indie.

Music Magazine Research

Here are the codes and convention of double page spreads of existing music magazines.

Music Magazine Research

Here are the codes and convention of  existing music magazine contents pages.

Music Magazine Research

I researched codes and conventions of existing popular magazines such a BillBoard , Vibe and Q. My main focus was Vibe Magazine as it focused on my chosen genre which is RnB and Rap.  First i researched magazine covers.