Evaluation

Coursework

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

The Cover Masthead – a typical feature of

magazines. It is positioned
horizontally across top of page
(see Kerrang!). The font
connotes edginess and rebellion
and mischievousness . The word
‘Shenanigans’ itself connotes
mischievousness which is
appropriate as rock bands can
be associated with mischief.

The use of coverlines is

conventional in
magazines , as is the
anchoring of the main
image with the main
coverline (see Q
magazine) .

The use of a strapline is conventional in magazines. The strapline itself connotes loud
noise and shouting which can be associated with ROCK MUSIC.
To follow the
conventions of music
magazines I included
one other image (not
including the poster
promotion) for
another feature in the
magazine. Usually,
however, a music
magazine will have
one than one image
other than the central
one (see Kerrang!).
Moreover, there would
usually be a preview
of more than one
poster, I have used
A central image is
only one.
conventional of a
music magazine,
usually of a band or
solo artist. The
central image is also
usually from the
main feature of the
magazine.
Typically, music magazines will have several cover lines, I have
used only two.
 I have included institutional
I have used lures details (in this case the
such as magazine’s website). It is
competitions and typical of magazines to have
posters to attract the institution’s website on the
readers. This is cover.
conventional of
magazines.

The competition
has been placed in I have used only two fonts on this
the ‘sweet spot’ of page. Conventionally, magazines
the page to will only have two or three fonts in
immediately attract order to avoid confusing the
the attention of the reader.
reader. Use of the
‘sweet spot’ is I have also used only three main
conventional in font sizes for the same reason.
magazines.
I included a barcode in a
conventional position with a price
and issue date.

I used a gutter to advertise the features inside the magazine to my target

audience. The is method commonly used on music magazines.
The Contents Page

The sections of the contents

are thematically grouped, as
is conventional of most
magazines.

All the images have been

anchored with page
numbers to make it easier
for readers to navigate the
magazine.

A montage of images
has been included to
give the reader a
preview of the features
within the magazine.
Many other magazines
do this too.
 Having an editorial on the
contents page to greet the
reader is conventional of
magazines. There would
normally, however, be a photo of
the editor as well.
I included institutional details on
the page, which is conventional of
magazines. I have however It is conventional to
developed on this with the have a main image,
unconventional location of the which I have done so
details (the rim on a drum for a here. The image would,
drum kit in the photo). however, usually be
positioned in the top half
of the page.

The vertical positioning of

the title of the page
‘Contents’ is
unconventional as most
magazines have it placed
horizontally along the top of
the page.

The repetition of the

masthead on the
contents page shows
continuity of design
and is conventional.
To follow the conventions of music magazines, I
used a colour scheme consisting of four colours
(black, purple, white and red). I developed on this
convention by carrying my colour scheme
through to even the double page spread.

As with the
cover page, the
contents page
has only two
main fonts and
three main font
sizes to avoid
confusion.
 The Double-Page Spread The feature has
A heading is used to title the multiple entry-
In the main image I have used
feature in a different font, font size points to make the
‘mise-en-scene’ of guitars and
and font colour. page more
an amp to connote that this
interesting for the
magazine is aimed at fans of
The interview is introduced briefly. reader. This is a
rock music.
conventional
method.

The article ends

with news in brief
I have included a by-
to offer essential
line; this is
information for
conventionally done
readers. I also
by magazines.
carried my
continuity of
A main image is design through
used on the page to the double
as well as several page spread by
others. replicating the
‘layered box’
None of the design from my
images are for the masthead.
male gaze and
most of the band
members are The use of photos
looking at the from a photobooth
camera. This connotes the fun
connotes side of rock stars
confidence to and shows the
attract the female The font colour of the answers is different from the that of the questions to confidence of the
audience. differentiate them. band in order to
attract the female
The font choice also connotes fun and femininity in order to attract the target audience.
audience and represent the group as a female rock band.
How does your media product represent particular social
groups?

My product represents several

ethnic groups including: Asian,
Caucasian and Black. I have
done this by including photos of
people from these different
groups.

While I have represented all

three of these groups, I have
included only one image of
someone from a Black ethnic
group. This means that this
group is represented to a lesser
extent than the others and so
may not feel like they are the
target audience.
The middle class social group is
represented by my product. The
clothing and jewellery worn by the
individuals in the photos suggest
middle class finances. In all of the
photos the hairstyles of each of the
people are quite toned down and
aren’t extravagant – this is typical
of middle class girls.
On the double page spread, the
main image has a school-like
setting which also suggests middle
class.
The musical instruments also
suggest that the individuals have a
higher budget than those from,
say, the working class.
 With the exception of one photo, all of the
individuals photographed in my product are
female. By doing this, I have represented the
females of the target audience.
Moreover, they are all presented in a positive
light. The girl on the poster has her hand on
her waist and is looking at the camera,
connoting confidence. In the main image of
the cover, the middle band member is
looking straight at the camera, also
connoting confidence. On the double page
spread almost all the band members are
looking into the camera and seem to be
having fun in the photobooth photos. This
connotes confidence.
I have also done this by using a purple that is
quite close to pink; this colour is
stereotypically feminine and therefore
represents the female gender.
 What kind of media institution might distribute your
media product and why?

There are two media institutions that would

be ideal for the distribution of my
magazine:
• Bauer Media Group
OR
• IPC Media

• Bauer Media distributes a wide variety of magazines for a diverse range of target
audiences. The company already distributes music magazines such as Q and Kerrang!

• Bauer Media is a multinational company and has the funding to support a magazine
such as ‘Shenanigans’. And independent company would struggle to fund such a high
maintenance magazine.

• Bauer already distributes Kerrang!, which covers the same genre of music. Kerrang!
Targets a male audience so there would be a gap in the market for a magazine to target
a female audience. One disadvantage of Bauer, however, is that the ratio of
male:female readers for Kerrang! is 60:40 which would make IPC a better choice.
 The alternative option is IPC Media.

• Much like Bauer Media, IPC Media is a multinational company that distributes
a wide variety of magazines.

• IPC media will have the funding to successfully distribute my product.

• The company already has experience in distributing music magazines. IPC

Media already distributes NME which is a magazine targeting male fans of rock
and alternative music. My product targets female fans of the genre and so will
offer a suitable parallel for the magazine to fill a gap in the market.
 Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience:

• Those within the age group of 16 – 20 years.
• Those of Asian, Caucasian or Black ethnic groups.
• Those at middle class level.
• The female gender.
• Fans of rock and alternative music.
 How did you attract/address your
• The strapline connotes audience?
rebellion and loud music

• The lures ( i.e. the

competition and posters)
will attract readers.
• The font used for the masthead
• The purple colour used connotes rebellion, edginess and
stereotypically connotes the mischievousness associated
femininity and so will attract with performers in the rock genre.
a female audience.
• The use of the pronoun ‘you’ and
• The main image contains the imperative creates interactivity
a guitar to represent the with the audience.
genre of music.
• The photos used are all of females
• The individuals in the and will therefore attract a large
images are in poses that female audience.
connote confidence and
femininity and so will attract • The clothing and jewellery worn by
a female audience. the individuals in the photos
suggest middle class finances. In all
•The girl on the poster has of the photos the hairstyles of each
her hand on her waist and of the people are quite toned down
is looking at the camera, and aren’t extravagant – this is
connoting confidence. typical of middle class girls.
Therefore the product will attract
•In the main image of the those of middle class.
cover, the middle band
member is looking straight
at the camera, also
connoting confidence.
•The mode of address in
informal and so will attract an
• The majority of images are
audience of youths.
of female artists. The smaller
• Once again the colour image of a female artisit has
the artist looking at the
scheme will attract a female
camera and yelling which
audience.
connotes confidence and will
• The ‘mise –en-scene’ of the attract a female audience.
drums will attract fans of the
• The ‘Features’ text
genre.
resembles a scream and so
• The colour red connotes connotes yelling and loud
music to attract fans of the
passion and danger and so
genre. It also connotes
represents the atmosphere of
originality which is
the music genre.
associated with the genre.
•The mode of address in
informal and so will attract an
audience of youths.

• Once again the colour

scheme will attract a female
audience.

• The ‘mise -en-scene’ of the

guitars and amplifier will
attract fans of the genre.

• The colour red connotes

passion and danger and so
represents the atmosphere of
the music genre.

• The font used for the

answers connotes energy
and femininity and so will
attract a female audience As
well as fans of the music
genre.
The poses in the images connote confidence and therefore
represent women in a positive light. For instance, almost all the
band members are looking into the camera This connotes
confidence and will therefore attract a female audience. The
photobooth photos connote fun and energy and will attract fans
of the music genre.
 What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
• I have learnt more efficient ways of using the technology (Photoshop). For instance: using the layer
masking tool to hide unnecessary parts of an image and using layer styles to improve the text.
• I have learnt that the colour displayed onscreen does not always match the colour that prints and
how to compensate for this.
• I have had issues with resizing some images without distorting them.
• I learnt that it is easier for me, personally, to use a PC as opposed to a MAC.

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• I briefly experimented with an alternative program, Quark, and have found that I work better in
Photoshop.

• I have had issues with different versions of Photoshop and the harmonisation between them. For
instance, the Photoshop in school did not crop the same way as my own version does which made
changing images in school difficult.
• I developed my skills in using an online blog to document my work progress.
• After using a digital camera, I sometimes had problems when resizing images as the quality of the
image would decrease.
 Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

• I have gained a better understanding of audiences and how to attract them. My target audience is more specific
this time and my product is more representative of those I wish to address.

• Features I had used for my preliminary task were developed more in this product. For instance, the masthead
was more conventional as it was more than just a ‘title’ or ‘headline’.

• My design was more creative and targeted towards the audience this time.

• I used a less ‘busy’ background for the cover to avoid confusing readers
• I used less conventional positions for certain features (for instance the title ‘Contents’ and
the institutional details) to make the page more interesting

• I have more sections to divide the features

• I made sure not to only feature one ethnic group in the images so that I would actually
address all of my target audience

• I improved my manipulation of photos – the main image on the page is an example.