evaluation q1 part 2

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

2. Introduction:
For my print production, I aimed to create a subtle, yet noticeable, link between my music
video and the print productions. In terms of the genre compliance, I think my print
productions keep intact with the genre of my music video. For inspiration I used the
minimalistic art movement to help project the ideologies behind my print productions.
Another key theme to my print productions was the theme of creating identity. I wanted to
create print productions that would implant the whole artist, into the minds of the
audience, not just the name.

3. Narrative and representation:
For the front cover of my album, I wanted to keep it simple. By keeping it simple, I was able to create a brand identity. The image I
used on the front of my album was a close up of my artist. I made the shot so it was black, and was in keeping with the mood of
the cover. The use of the shot of my artist really emphasizes his identity, and helped me promulgate the idea of helping the
audience put a name to a face.
Referring back to the mention of the blackness of the image, I did this to infer to the audience that the artist (who is also a main
character in my music video) is in the shadows, and is also a reserved person, who does not have much hope. This is an
intertextual link between the music video and the print production, furthering the brand identity.
In terms of my two inner panels, I wanted to keep the narrative in check with my music video, in order to emphasize the type of
album that the audience would be purchasing. The two panels show half of the two main characters’ faces. The intention behind
covering half their faces, is so the audience can imply that they have only seen half of the characters, which adds a unique aspect
of mystery. This was tailored to my audience as my main demographic are a very curious group of people, and hopefully from this;
they will buy the album and search for answers to questions they may have. As well as these shots, I used the Newton’s cradle in
my inner panels, which connotes the idea of continuity, suggesting to the audience that listening to the album is a continuous
experience, furthermore suggesting that the music on the album is more than just music. As well as this, having the Newton’s
cradle furthers the link between the music video and the print production, creating a stronger more prolific brand identity.
For my back panel, I wanted to keep the narrative of continuity a key theme. As I said, having the image of the cradle in my two
inner panels allowed me to project this idea of a continuous experience, and I wanted to keep this prominent for my back panel; I
did this by subtly blending the image of the cradle into the background, so it was behind the text.
In terms of design, I wanted to take inspiration from the minimalistic art movement, for my album cover, as well as my poster. The
idea behind the minimalistic design was to create this representation of simplicity. The lack of events on the front cover and poster
connotes this idea that there is no distraction from the music, I also took inspiration from the Kaiser Chiefs, and their album ‘Yours
truly Angry mob’. The band are also within my genre, and. I wanted to replicate the idea of simplicity to connote the importance of
the music.
Finally, the font on the poster and front cover of my album was chosen due to the connotations. The font is made up of parallel
lines, furthering the idea of continuity and as I have said, the idea of a continuous experience. The text itself can be considered to
have elements of psychedelic in terms of design inspiration, which I hope allows the audience to infer that listening to the album is
an experience; experience and illusion is a common connotation to the psychedelic movement.

4. Mise-en-scene:
In terms of the setting, I made sure that I cut out any potential inferences of where the photos could
have been taking. I removed any background from all the images I used in my production to create an
element of mystery. But also to draw attention to the artist, which furthers my intention of creating a
brand identity, and as I’ve said multiple times, putting a name to a face.
The only prop that I used was the newton's cradle. In my analysis of the music video I talked about how
the cradle has multiple connotations, however they don’t all apply to the connotations I was aiming to
project in my print production. The connotation I wanted to essentially copy and paste was the idea of
continuity. In the last side I talked about how the continuity comes from me wanting my audience to
know that listening to the album is more than just listening to music, but instead its an experience, one
that they will have continuously. I had these images on the inside and back panels of my album, but not
on my album cover and poster. The reason being that I wanted to prioritize brand identity for my artist,
over this intertextual reference.
Within the bracket of mise-en-scene, direct mode of address is an important part of my print
productions. For the front cover of my album and poster, I wanted to create a sense easiness. The centre
of attention of the two print productions is the close up shot of my artist. For me personally, it was vital
that the audience and the artist are not making eye contact, because I believe that it tones down the
intensity and creates an inference to the audience that the artist is an easy going guy; which makes the
artist and hopefully the album more attractive to the audience. However, to contradict this, within the
inside panels I wanted to create the opposite inference, but for a different reason. The two shots on my
inside panels are extreme, intense close-ups of the artist and the other character in my music video. Not
only does it create a stronger link between the print production and the video, but it also creates an
intense atmosphere; so hopefully to the audience they open up the album and feel as if they are about
to experience something that’s intense and more than just sticking a CD into a stereo.

5. Camerawork and composition:
For the front cover for my album, and the magazine advert, I decided to use a close-up shot of my artist.
I have touched upon why in my previous analysis of the shot. However I excluded some of my
justification for my choice. The use of a close-up creates this sense of being personal, the close-up
creates an intimate relationship between the audience and the artist. This is intended so the audience
can infer the type of person my artist is; of which is an easy going, open person. Making him more
attractive to the audience. For this particular shot, I decided to defy the general rule of keeping the
subject of the image out of the centre of the frame. By doing this I was able to further the idea of having
my artist at the centre of attention. As I said, by doing this I am able to further the brand identity, as the
audience can infer that my artist is the centre of attention; to which I can promulgate the brand identity.
Within my inner panels for my audience, I decided to use a more direct and personal shot. I decided to
use extreme close ups of my artist and one of the characters in my music video. This creates a more
direct mode of address, giving the album a more personal touch, in terms of how it regards and
addresses the audience. I decided to comply these shots with the rule of thirds, by placing the subjects
on the left and right of the image, I was able to create a more ‘artsy’ and creative image. As well as this, I
was able to create some dead space, to which I could utilize in any way I wanted; of which I filled it with
shots of the newton’s cradle. Furthermore, I made sure these shots were at eye-level, for the exact same
reason as using the extreme close up. Of which is the idea of inferring a more personal and intimate
relationship between the audience and the artist.
In terms of where to improve my work, I would like to have modified the position of my artist in the
poster and album cover. I liked the idea of having the artist not making eye-contact, but I believe that I
went a bit overkill in terms of where the subject is looking. If I was to do it again, I would have the
subject looking a bit more central, so the audience don’t feel as if they’re being disregarded.

6. Design, layout and editing:
For the font I specifically wanted to use a font that is considered to be psychedelic. The idea behind this is a simple one.
Common connotations to the psychedelic art movement are illusion and experience. To have my artist’s name in this
font, I want the audience to infer that listening to the music produced by this artist is in fact an experience, rather than
just an activity like any other artist. As well as this, I created a link to my music video with this font. The font is made up
on long, parallel lines of which creates the link with the video, as the ideas of being parallel to someone as well as
continuity is a key theme throughout my video.
The font for the title of the album was chosen as it replicates handwriting. The idea behind having handwriting on the
front over of the album, and the magazine advert creates is that of the creation of a more personal touch. The
inference behind it is that the album has been crafted by hand, by the artist. This infers to the audience that his heart
and soul has been poured into the album, and it is something that my artist is willing to put his name on and something
that is his own work. As I said this creates a very personal touch to the album, as the audience can observe and
appreciate. Its almost a unique selling point to the album, as it defies the classic pop album that has no real care put
into every aspect, by the artist.
For all aspects of my print production, I used a deep blue as the main colour of my background. The thinking behind
this was to create a night-sky feeling. The idea of looking up at the night sky, for most, is a numinous experience, which
means that you feel in awe of what you are witnessing. I wanted to create this feeling for the audience, as listening to
the album is more than just listening to music, but instead it’s being in the presence of something much greater than
themselves. As well as this, it draws another intertextual link with my music video, as the videos lip-sync shots have a
particular blue tint to them, as well as the deep blue lipstick that my female character Yasmin is wearing in her lip-sync
shots.
As I have briefly touched upon, the art movement that my album cover and poster takes inspiration from is the
minimalism art movement. I want the audience to be able to infer that this represents the artists style, and the idea
that the artist himself is very simplistic, which is a common theme within the alternative indie genre. An example of
simplicity and minimalism within the indie genre is the Kaiser chiefs and their album cover for ‘Yours Truly Angry Mob’.
I decided against using a logo, so to speak. I avoided using a logo, because I wanted to make sure that my print
productions focused on my artist himself, and for the audience to put a name to a face, rather than a logo to a name.