4. Intertextuality
Throughout my different media texts that I have created, the music video, the
poster and the digipak I have designed and created them to be easily linked with
each other.
This has been created using the same or very similar imagery paired with the
appropriate colour schemes as well as using the same typography throughout. This
combination helps to match to the genre of indie folk, the artist as well as song
meaning that the target audience will be able to enjoy and consume the media.
5. Colours
For the use of the colours selected to form the desired colour scheme, I decided to
use 3 main colours. These colours that I chose are black, white and grey. This colour
scheme links into the pre-existing album cover from Haux as, he uses a similarly
basic but effective colour scheme.
The use of darker and simple colours helps me portray to the audience the genre of
indie folk and conform to its genre conventions. It does this by creating the
representation of a darker and more emotional side of the song as well as
portraying the representation of the artist as being sensitive and someone who has
been hurt.
The typography in terms of the colour scheme has used the same colours but ones
that contrast to the background its laid upon. For example, in the poster, the line
“out now” is written in white. This then allows for the text to be able to be easily
seen and to stand out to the audience. The idea of contrasting the typography to
the background of the text also allows it to conform to the genre as this is a
common look that artists such as Haux use in indie folk.
6. Noise
A noticeable effect that I have used and applied to all of my texts that I created is
that of “noise". I used the effect of noise in my music video, poster as well as
digipak as it give the aesthetic of a more realistic and a personalisation of the image
that matches both the genre of indie folk as well as the song. This is because the
song’s representation is talking about being hurt in a relationship and the stigma
attached that the audience will be able to relate to in their everyday lives.
The effect of the noise is more pronounced in the darker shots for example in the
digipak with the CD tray, you are able to see the noise upon the edges of the rose as
well as upon the skin on the hand featured.
7. Lines & Circles
I have carefully used the shape of a circle with lines in my digipak and poster to
easily be able to engage the audience as being part of the indie folk genre. This is
because when going through pre-existing posters and digipaks, I was able to see
that artists of the genre, used lines and circles to give a clean and unique aesthetic
that isn’t seen in other genres. The use of lines and circles also is used to be able to
create emphasis on certain aspects of their poster and digipak.
You can see here some of the pre-existing posters and digipaks and how I have used
this feature to be able to similarly compare to them:
8. Location
As I discovered in my genre research and pre – production, the location featured is
important to be able for the media text to be able to meet genre conventions. The
locations used in my music video, poster as well as my digipak are all natural
elements resulting in a realistic and relevant set of texts (poster, digipak and music
video).
With the careful use of the location, I believe that they all have this sense of
intertextuality where the audience is able to easily recognise the locations that the
same and if not very similar to each other that are featured across the different
texts from the same artist. Most indie folk artists film and use images from locations
that are large, open and natural like forests and beaches and have not been man
made such as cities.
10. Haux logo
With my artist that I have chosen to do, as they are an independent artist they don’t
have a pronounced and renown logo but much rather a simple and quaint smart
font of their logo.
However due to the difficulty of finding the font used and the licence required to
use the font when it has been found I decided to use a very similar albeit different
font. The font in question that I have used is called Super French Regular. I have
used the same logo of “Haux” throughout all three of my texts so my audience
knows and recognises the artist. Furthermore, with this logo it conforms to any
artist in the indie folk genre as it is clear, smart and easy to read however very
simple.
11. Haux logo
To ensure that the audience is fully aware of the artist, with this aspect being
included in the genre conventions, here is where I featured the Haux logo:
Digipak
Music Video
Poster
12. Features of my digipak
For a digipak to work, it requires to be as realistic and life like as possible with genre
conventions being met and the standard industry elements being applied.
As you are able to see in my digipak I have, using Adobe Photoshop, applied a
barcode, a text explaining the copyright of the artist and other social media icons
that the independent artist can be connected with on as they aren’t part of a
defined music label. You are able to see this in application below:
13. Features of my digipak
To add a much more personal touch to my digipak, I created on the inside cover a
section where the artist has “written” a personal message to the fan thanking them
for the purchase of the album and that they hope they will enjoy it.Rather than this
being genre specific, this element applies to all artists and bands as they want to
personally connect with their fans and to thank the fans for their continued support
as they have worked hard to produce their music.
14. Features of my poster
As well as being similar to my digipak in terms of aesthetics and intertextuality, I
have also included other functional features.
I have included the social icons placed at the bottom of the poster in order for the
audience to know on what platforms they can search and find more information
about this artist if they desire. This links into the demographic that I have made my
target audience as they are within the (16 – 24 years old range) making them the
key users of social media, so they will be able to easily recognise and access the
forms of social media shown in today’s society.
I have also included beneath the logo of the artist, the album name. Like all artists
and their associated album promotions, the audience needs to know both of the
names meaning that the require to be some of the most important pieces of
information that the audience needs to be easily able to access and engage with on
the poster.
15. Features of my poster
I have also included features such as the out now line to inform the audience about
the availability of the album as well as featuring a large logo of the artist at the top
of the poster underlined to create emphasis on what is being advertised. The idea
behind including this, is that its very forceful and lasts in the fans mind making them
want to go and find out more and see what the album is like to purchase making an
effective poster.
As well as using the same front image for the digipak and poster in order for the
audience to be able to recognise it, I have also used the same font throughout
further enhancing the same look across all three of the texts.
As seen in my digipak, this idea of personalisation of the text so the fans feel closer
to the artist can be seen in the poster. This has been created through the simple
addition of the white handwritten note of the artists name in the corner contrasting
against the background.
16. Summary
In conclusion, from the digipak, poster (ancillary products) and music video (main
product) that I have created, I feel that they effectively engage my target audience
and that they can be easily intertwined together. This is through a collective of
features such as typography, imagery, colour scheme and many other elements.
There is an obvious link for the audience with the locations that I have used in all of
my texts that I have created, with me using the same style of imagery, typography
ect throughout allowing the audience to know what to expect.
