Evaluation

Question 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I think that I have managed to try and keep the style and conventions of my magazine consistent to the traditional style and conventions of other Indie genre magazines, focusing mainly on comparing the layout and structure of the real 'Indie' magazine to my own. However, rather than setting my masthead as the largest text, I have made the main cover line stand out the most to challenge the conventions of the stereotypical front cover.

On the other hand, I have used the idea of block colours used on other Indie magazines by using a greyscale filter on the majority of the main image and allowed colour to the most important feature of the image; that being the retro radio to highlight the fact it is a music magazine.

The use of unusual and old-fashioned props are common in other indie magazines, so in this sense I have developed the forms of Indie photography and structure in relation to the front cover.

I have also used the idea of block colours on the colouring of the main cover line, other cover lines and masthead.

The fact I used greyscale for the majority of the magazine front cover also challenges the conventions of real indie media products because, for example, the actual 'Indie' magazine usually consists of numerous bright and bold lighting in the images. Although this contrasts with the 'Indie' magazine, the use black and white and greyscale filters on images match the genre of other indie products and images.

On most Indie magazines, there is only one image; that being of the main cover story, so I similarly used the same technique and only inserted one main image on the front cover. The number of people in the frame varies but usually not many artists are involved so I minimalistically used two models.

Although the masthead usually overlaps the main image, I challenged this form of layout and instead put it to the side of the main features of the front cover but as one of the largest attributes as well as the most colourful and outstanding.

Also, on Indie magazines, there doesn't seem to be many cover lines displayed on the front cover so I used this technique and only inserted one cover line along with the main cover line.  

Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My front cover of my magazine represents the indie music social group. Therefore the need to dress my models in a particular way, use specific props and thoroughly think about the choice of background was vital to meet the representation of my target audience; I think the choice of model gender is also important. The colours of my models are insignificant as the image is black and white but the outfits worn are of value to the genre.
Denim is a popular indie material, as well as leather and many Indie social groups are encouraged to buy from stores considered to be related to the indie style; for example, Levi's, Urban Outfitters and Lazy Oaf.
I wanted my models to both wear these materials and I was able to use the brand Levi's due to the denim jacket, which adds to the precision of the representation of the Indie social group. Also, both models wear baggy woolly jumpers which are also a repeated outfit worn by the Indie public. The use of masks, specifically animals, represents the idea of hidden identity and a mysterious sense which many stereotyped Indie groups are perceived to have; they stereotypically come across unfriendly and isolated.
The background is a part of a deciduous forest which represents the Indie social group by the link between the chilled feel of the music produced and the calming sensation of nature.
The style of font used for the main cover line is quite scruffy and rough which represents the careless and tough identities of the stereotypical indie groups.

Question 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

I believe that my media product could be distributed by independent companies as well as possibly quite mainstream companies and businesses due to the increasing interest in Indie music. Currently, Bauer and Time Inc. UK are the main magazine distribution companies and I think, if my magazine was as successful as NME and Uncut, Time Inc. UK would be the most likely distributor of my magazine due to the magazines they already produce are similar to the one I have aimed to create.
Independent companies are likely to distribute my music magazine because Indie is an abbreviation for 'independent' so my media product would be ideal for their business, if applied to music. This would boost the independent companies reputation due to the increase in popularity of the Indie genre; partially due to the development of social networks such as Tumblr. 

Question 4
Who would be the audience for your media product?

Due to my research into the Indie genre, the audience for my media product would focus obviously on the Indie social groups but more specifically at the younger generations, possibly ranging from approximately 16-26. The ideal target audience would broadly associated within the middle class, young Bohemians who reside in gentrifying neighborhoods category; also known as 'hipsters', however I would prefer a range of social classed and indie styled buyers than particularly the interest of 'hipsters'.  

Question 5
How did you attract/address your audience?

I think that the aesthetics of my magazine, majorly helps attract my audience. It has a very strong colour theme, the features compliment one another due to position and shape and the layout of the magazine highlights the valued details. The distinctiveness of the brightly coloured texts and masthead would significantly draw the audiences' attention as well as the large central main image that uses animal masks and having been set in a forest location, would attract readers more so due to the unusuality and contrast from the urban regions, stereotypically wear indie social groups are spotted.    
I have also attracted my audience by the minimal cover lines on the front cover as not to reveal too much information so they would want to find out what's inside but also as it folllows the conventions of a typical indie music magazine as the primary focus is consistently the main image and cover line which is easy to spot and read. The selling line at the top of the magazine is what will make the audience want to buy it; 'Top Festival Bands Uncovered'. This cover story will allow the reader to find out the, to be, highlights of the festival season and discover the most popular and upcoming artists for indie music.
The masthead gave the magazine the continuity of a colour scheme but being the brightest, makes the title of the magazine memroable as well as intriguing due to the vagueness in relation to music and founded point; it's called 'Moon'.

Question 6
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

My confidence in using and understanding technology of all kinds has improved dramatically due to the number of different equipment and programs we have had to use in order to produce our magazine. My learning is mainly focused on photography, the shooting and editing, but formatting and transferring knowledge of typical conventions of a magazine genre onto my own work  in order to produce a high quality media product has also been noticeable personal achievement of mine.
Before I constructed this product, I was familiar with using a professional camera and taking macro style photos. However, using the camera for the photoshoots for my magazine was a much harder task as I had to use the knowledge of  angles and use of props to follow the indie styled images. 
I also wasn't as knowledgeable about the difference changing the camera setting makes as well as the improved quality of photos by using the smaller view screen rather than the digital preview.
I had never used Photoshop, for leisure or professionally, before I began AS Media. I am very confident in using this program after several hours of using the software to edit, position and create my front cover. 
I am able to do numerous edits to my images including transparency, detailed physical changes to human faces and features using the pen tool and filter tools and the ability to manipulate images whether it be colouring, positioning or shadowing. 

Question 7
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

I feel like I understand the conventions of magazines better than before due to the more advanced research and analysis of particular genres of magazines, whether it be for school or music. It is clearer to me how magazines are laid out in ways to suit their audience and style as well as what is put in/on the front cover to more directly attract buyers. 
I believe my preliminary media product was a lot less professional compared to my main media product. I think this is mainly due to the improved understanding of Photoshop as I am more aware of the programs' abilities which has made it easier to use; in the preliminary task I stuck to using the basic tools as I wasn't confident with the unknown tools. I was also able to edit the photos in my main magazine front cover far better than in the preliminary task due to the better usage of Photoshop tools.
I also think that my photoshoots for main task went much better than the ones in my preliminary task. The reason for this is because I planned what shot types I was going to use and analysed the possible impressions I would like my magazine to give to the audience through the different camera angles and and types of shots, as well as the importance of  props, models, costume and positioning. 
In my main task, the colour scheme was much more noticeable and stricter in comparison to my preliminary magazine which had more of a variation of colours; this added to the non-professionalism of the school magazine. I believe I have used the colours in main task to help relate more to a target audience whereas in my preliminary task, the colours were less direct and attractive to a specific audience.