I have attempted to follow the RnB colour convention of white, red and black. I believe this will increase the popularity of the magazine. The colours also appeal to both genders and thus increases the potential target audience which can only be beneficial.
The pictures included were taken of a live performance and i believe this gives the viewers more value for the product rather than stationary poses. Even with the live performance pictures i have tried to relate back to traditonal RnB magazines with the dress sense, body language and facial expressions.
The extras included in the magazine include current celebrity singers which would attract to the younger audience mostly but at the same time including names that the older generation may recoggnise so the appeal for the audience increases and along with it, so does the popularity.
I attemted for my double-page spread to be the main attraction with the live performance pictures and interviews. I assume this is what would gain most approval.
My media product represents particular social groups as its genre is mainly popular with the younger generations. Their is a high demand for RnB music and i have included many main features that the potential buyers seek when looking for the most representative form. This is very important as if I do not include what the public want, i will not meet the demand and therefore my magazine will not be popular.
One magazine publisher that I would prefer to distribute with is IPC. This is because their particular marketing skills differ posotively from the competitors. Web 2.0 is going to be a huge factor, due to without the modern power of the internet, current magazines will not suceed. The cause of this is because the younger generations revolve around the internet and its resources.
The main audience for my media product would be the younger male generation. This is because they are able to relate with the magazine most posotively and would feel the have gained value for their money if they were to purchase it. Lastly, because of the genre, it links with the particular social groups and allows joint collaborations to influence eachother.
I would attract/address my audience mainly with the coulor scheme. As i stated before, I have attempted to create a uni-sex colour and background that will influence both males and females. This will lead to an increase in popularity and therefore through that it will gain more success. Nother factor would be the type of photo i have presented. With a full shot of a "group", this will allow for the younger generation to relate to it the most because of how they are dressed and body language. They can relate through personal experiences.
I have gained teh ability of using photoshop in teh correct and proper manner. Before i would use the essential tools that would make a minimum impact on the features of the photo, but through the understanding of it, i am now able to use more difficult tools which allow me to change the photo to whatever state i need to. This is i feel the most important aspect in media technology and is the main feature to producing the ultimate finished product that can attract and impress potential buyers. Lastly, i have learnt the correct techniques when it comes to using a professional camera. I now know the best shots that represent each phoptograph differently with the greatest impact.
Looking back from my preliminary task, I now now the correct conventions to use when i intend to attract the most posotive attention. Going from simple to energetic structures, I have given myself the oppertunity to progress in my own abilities to acheive the maximum grade.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Typefaces
Typeface Research
Typeface indicates the font or series of fonts used on, eg; a magazine or any sort of document. The type of font used can be determined by the genre of what it is intended to be used for. For example, a lively font would be more appropriate for a music magazine whilst a more tamed font for the newspaper. Gender also has a big impact. Big, bold fonts are generally used t attract the attention of males, whilst swirly fonts are used to attract the females attention.
Due to my music magazine being an RnB genre, my possible typeface is one that can attract both genders because RnB is popular to males and females. It has no specific target audience.
The typefaces below show a variety of fonts that can relate to both sex’s and thus help the overall popularity of the magazine:
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Double Page Spread Flat Plan 2
This is a unique layout for a double page spread. With many interviews and questions together on one side of the double page spread with a single shot of one of the members from the group, this takes a risk due to the individuality. However, due to the right hand side of the double page spread being a full image of the group with one quote, even though simple, this may attract the attention of the targeted audience.
Double Page Spread Flat Plan 1
For my first double page spread flat plan, i decided to do a simple layout, following traditional conventions of a RnB/ Hip-Hop magazines. The layout is simple yet varied, with different sized images along with quotes, followed up by various interviews and finishing off with a full image of the group. The layout should be the key factor that gains the popularity of the public.
Contents Page Flat Plan 2
For this particular flat plan, I decided to challenge the ordinary conventions that R&B/Hip-Hop magazines maintain by creating a surreal yet stylish feel. Again i have split the page into two halves. However on the left hand side, this time I have put the features and page numbers, which I usually place on the right hand side. The features will be placed in the sections I have labelled. This will make it straight forward for my target audience to follow. On top are the features/page numbers.
To the left side however of the magazine I have put two images. I have purposely slanted the images to give the contents page a decorative and stylish vibe, mainly to attract the targeted audience.
Contents Page Flat Plan 1
In this contents page, I mimicked the typical conventions of the R&B/Hip-Hop magazines. Here I have split the page up into two sections. On the left hand side of the page I have used a full length image to decorate the page. This one full shot image will be complimented by many smaller sized images placed around the right hand side of the page. The smaller images will be placed beside the features that will be mainly based on the current music indusrty. The date and page number will also be placed on the left hand side of the page to complete the typical convention of the magazine.
Front Cover Flat Plan 2
Contrasting to my first flat plan, I have made this front cover busier. This is not a typical convention of a R&B/Hip-hop magazines but I am attempting to do something different to make the cover a little more exciting towards my targeted audience. I have positioned the cover lines around the image in open space which will allow the public audience to see what that can expect to see inside the magazine. This will help promote the selling of the magazine and make it popular.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Front Cover Flat Plan 1
Above is the first flat plan that I have made. I attempted to make the layout seem very simple as this is the style most R&B/Hip-Hop magazines use. I also purposely made the layout simple to make it is easy to follow, thus indirectly creating a young target audience. I have only used one image to cover the whole front page as it is a regular convention which most R&B/Hip-Hop magazines follow.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Questionnaire: Hip-Hop / R&B magazine
1) What gender are you? Please circle.....
2) What is your age? Please circle.....
12-14 15-18 19-21 22-25
3) Are you a fan of Hip-Hop or R&B? Please circle.....
YES NO
4) Do you regularly buy any music magazine, if so, how many?
Please circle.....
YES NO
1 2-3 4-5 6 or more
5) Which magazine cover do you prefer? Please circle.....
6) What type of magazine cover do you prefer..... busy, simple or plain?
Please circle.....
BUSY SIMPLE PLAIN
7) Which font type do you prefer for the headline of the magazine cover?
Please circle.....
EXAMPLE EXAMPLE EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE EXAMPLE
8) What features attract you most on a music magazine?
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
9) What features repel you most on a music magazine?
..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
10) How much would you be willing to spend on a Hip-Hop / R&B magazine? Please circle.....
£1 or less £2-£3 £4-5£ £6 or more
Questionnaire Planning
I have started to think of the most appropriate set of questions to present in my questionnaire to gain a variety of answers that cover all aspects to help me with my final piece. Detailed answers will give me the understanding of my targeted audience. I will carry out a questionnaire due to it being very simple and straight forward. This is also an effective way of getting my audience research. Here are some possible questions I may include in my questionnaire:
- Do you regularly buy any music magazine, if so, how many?
- What is your age?
- What gender are you?
- Do you prefer Hip-Hop or R&B?
These are a few questions I will include in my questionnaire. By creating this questionnaire I will be able to gain the appropriate knowledge of my target audience and will be able to work of their ideas to help gain the most value for my product. Therefore I would have a created a magazine which is directly aimed at my target audience.
Codes And Convections
From my research, I have been able to recognise the various codes and conventions in Hip-Hop and RnB magazines.
Firstly, I recognised that majority of the time, the magazine only use one artist for the front page. Very rarely would these magazines have a front cover consisting with more than one artist, unless they are a group.
The main colour scheme I picked up on is the contrast of black, red and white. I believe they choose these particular colours due to it creates a very attractive look, but yet very simple at the same time.
Also, these magazines never consist of much text on the main cover. They rely on the image to attract most of the attention.
Simplicity is their main tool, with the important features such as type face, lighting to perfect standards, it compliments the page as a whole. Where I need to improve is my improvisation of colour linked with the main image. I feel I rely too much on typical conventions to support the structure of my page, and this is what I have mainly learnt from my preliminary task that will help me for my final project.
Simplicity is their main tool, with the important features such as type face, lighting to perfect standards, it compliments the page as a whole. Where I need to improve is my improvisation of colour linked with the main image. I feel I rely too much on typical conventions to support the structure of my page, and this is what I have mainly learnt from my preliminary task that will help me for my final project.
Audience Theory
The picture above is named “The hypodermic needle theory”, and basically states that whatever news or information any sort of media provides the public, is without any question believed. Some have stated that this is a form of brainwashing where the consumers are unprepared to doubt its validity.
This theory was founded in the mid 1920’s and was never seen as successful, due to the lack of media choices. They were limited to radio and cinema. For that reason, it has only been fully noticed recently because of the increase in media power.
This image demonstrates signs of the hypodermic needle theory. The cover consists of a very popular rapper with a big following group who see him as an inspiration, and he is holding a gun to himself. This to the fans he has may give a negative message. Especially to his younger fans, who can be easily persuaded to believe what they see.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Lighting
Lighting is a key part in photography due to lighting being able to attract more attention to certain parts of the image which will attract more attention of the potential viewers. The lighting in this image is being given from the viewers right hand side, giving more attention to her facial expressions and the cover of the book. I will be carefully choosing how I am going to be lighting my pictures that I will include in my main task. For example, my genre RnB and Hip-Hop may not consist of too much lighting as sometimes it can be portrayed as aggressive. Sp too much lighting will be providing a false image, and going against typical conventions. However, the aggressiveness I have realised, is only through male artists, whilst female artists may require more lighting to enhance their beauty they rely on.
Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is commonly used in paintings and photography. This shows that an image would have been divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that the main element of the image should be placed along the lines or their intersections.
The basic technique behind applying the rule of thirds is to imagine separating an image down into thirds so that you have 9 parts. As follows:
With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now shows four important parts of the picture that you should think of placing points of interest in as you frame your image.
The theory of the rule of thirds is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines then apparently your photo will become more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to see the image as a whole and easily spot the main point on the image. Studies on the rule of thirds have shown us that when the normal public view images, they naturally go to one of the intersection points rather than the centre of the shot.
As you can see in this image, the picture was cleverly taken so the head of the subject is on the intersecting points, and more closely to his eyes. This is very clever due to eyes are the natural focus point for a portrait. Just below his eyes which is his tie and white flower will take the role of secondary interest.
Finally ,when considering using the rule of thirds, it is taught there are two simple questions that have to be asked to get a successful shot. These would be:
- What are the points of interest in this shot?
- Where am I intentionally placing them?
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