Media Studies A2 Evaluation question 1

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

2. Genre
• It was extremely tough to decide which genre my music video came under. However I
eventually decided that it was ‘house’ music.
• The features which helped me decide this were the typical conventions of other house music
videos. This includes:
1. Many dancers
2. Representing the party lifestyle
3. It is rare to see the artist being shown in the video
4. Including a storyline
5. Many close ups of the actor in the video
After considering all of these features I then began to create my music video, digipak and poster.

3. Digipak conventions
Front:
• Digipaks generally have a large, eye-
catching picture on the front cover.
• The picture illustrated on the front
also has to have some relation to the
song/artist.
• The song/album title is also a feature
which is found on the front cover of
the digipak.
Back:
Inside:
Inside the digipak
you can usually find
the plastic folder
which holds the DC
itself. Many of them
include images on
the CD and/or on
the plastic folder.
You can also find more
information and
artwork related to the
album. Extra
information such as
lyrics, and artist
information would be
included inside the
digipak.
Poster conventions
1. Reviews/ratings
2. Name of artist
3. Release date
4. Social media links
5. Single/album name
6. Record label
7. Main brand image
8. Album cover

4. Main Title
Central Image
Extra Features
When designing my poster, I researched
existing album posters in order to ensure that
I included all of the main features.
I looked at the largest features first such as
the image of my artist which is clearly
displayed to the side of my poster. The
reason I did this, rather than in the centre is
due to the fact that throughout my music
video she comes across as mysterious, so I
wanted to continue with that theme.
After this, I then went on to creating the title
that would be displayed on the poster. As
there is a running theme of ‘neon lights’
throughout my project, I wanted to pursue
this. Therefore, I added an ‘outer glow’ to the
light yellow writing which I used.
When adding the smaller features to
my poster, I had to ensure that I didn’t
miss anything out. I added the
‘Spotify’ and ‘itunes’ logos to the
bottom right of the page in order to
tell people which companies they can
buy this music from.
I then added the date of release along
with a rating from the radio station
‘Capital Xtra’ for the purpose of
advertising it. As having a popular
music radio station would attract my
target audience, which is young omen
aged 16-20.

5. My music video is narrative based. This means that it tells a story which either features in the lyrics or is suggested in the
lyrics. Throughout my video, the artist is shown going through the relatable struggles which teenagers generally go through.
There is a beginning, middle, and an end to my story.
At the beginning of the video, I clearly use the conventions of a real
media product, as the lyrics match with what is happening around
her. Her surroundings are dull, she is sitting alone looking lost. She is
then shown having problems with her family, as she sings “my
seems seem to fade” where she Is then seen arguing with her mum,
and walking out of the house.
Next, I began to challenge the usual conventions of music videos as we
see her travelling around London on tubes and finding her way from
place to place. This is challenging the conventions of a real music video
as the lyrics don’t match the visuals. As she is still singing the same
lyrics, the viewer might expect her to still be sad/lonely. However, she
is clearly becoming more comfortable and happy as we see her
exploring who she is, along with where she is.
Star image is created through the shots that I used
throughout my filming process. Goodwin’s theory consists
of many shots of the star being used in order to develop the
audience’s views. For example, close up beauty shots which
would contrast with the full length shots; allowing the
audience to create their own opinion of the ‘star image’. I
believe I have used and developed this idea as my music
video mainly consists of shots of my artist, with a few
scenery shots.