Sean Connolly's Evaluation

1. Evaluation
By Sean Connolly

2. Questions
1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and
why?
4) Who would be the audience for your media products?
5) How did you attract/address your audience?
6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of
constructing the product?
7) Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have
learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
8) How successful do you feel your end product is in fulfilling the task? How
well does it fit the brief?

4. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
Throughout the creation of my magazine I have included conventions and codes used
in other real magazines which gave me a foundation to build my realistic magazine. At
the beginning of the process, I researched into popular magazines such as Q and Vibe:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/q-magazine-analysis.html>
Later on after learning about the codes and conventions of real magazines I applied
them on to some made up front covers as seen here:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/codes-conventions-task-5.html>
This task was extremely beneficial to the development of my understanding of the
arrangement of codes and conventions and how they could change with the genre of
music being featured in each magazine. This influenced me to have a media product
that represented the genre of Electric Dance Music as I admired the modern visual of
EDM magazines such as Vibe which is represented here as well:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/research-into-similar-products.html>

5. Using and Developing Conventions
As I had learnt about the conventions of magazines, I started to
apply them to my own media product but in a that would suit the
genre of EDM music.
Masthead
For the masthead I decided to place it behind the head of my main
star so I would not take away the direct address established. I used
this convention from a Billboard magazine front cover:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/i-like-this-magazine-
cover-since-main.html>
Main Cover line
I developed my main cover line from the magazine Q where there
main cover line was placed In the middle of the front cover where
it covered the image of the main star. However, I decided to use
bright and striking colours that captured the reader’s attention, I
felt this would make it apparent that this is the main story of the
magazine. Here is the Q magazine which I developed:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/this-cover-is-very-eye-
catching-due-to.html>
Cover lines
I have used the way that Billboard places it cover lines around
the main star, this has been done to frame the main star in the
centre of the front cover. this highlights him as the most
significant visual in the front cover so it would lead to the
reader first looking at him. Here is the example of the Billboard
magazine I was influenced by:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/research-into-
similar-products.html>

6. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
My magazine is influenced by the magazine Q as I have used its subtle display on my
front cover, I have used a medium shot of my main star as seen in many other
magazine franchises. I have also incorporated a skyline on my front cover, this is seen
at the very top above the masthead, this idea was developed from a front cover I saw
on this Q front cover: http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/magazine-
analysis.html> I placed the skyline above a mast head instead of a left third as I felt it
fitted in better without covering my masthead. Furthermore, it helps to label the
genre of music that I am covering in my magazine Catalyst which is clearly EDM.
Another convention that I have implemented is a colour scheme for the contents
page, I have subscribed the red from the Q magazine contents page which it uses it for
the background of the contents page. The way that I have developed and subscribed
these conventions from the magazine Q show that I have tried to adapt the subtle
stylistic aesthetic of Q by using its red colour scheme. I have found that the subtle
aesthetic of Q is really effective at drawing in possible readers due to its professional
look, so that is the main reason I have chosen to use some of its conventions as it can
be adapted to suit the younger demographic of EDM.

7. Challenging Conventions
Upon my research into the codes and conventions of real music magazines I
found that there were some magazines which used methods that I did not
want to use or develop, instead I challenged them.
The magazine Kerrang uses a carnivelesque visual in its front cover which I thought would not suit
my magazine which would represent EDM, this is due to the fact that Kerrang has a more niche
market. In one front cover I had discovered that it had used lots of cover lines, I had came to the
conclusion that this would repel consumers as they would find the excessive use of information
unappealing. Also, the contents page of this magazine had a unique layout which would appeal to
a rock audience, however, since I chose to feature EDM in my magazine I felt that I would
challenge this convention and go for a more sophisticated professional layout for my double page
spread. KERRANG MAGAZINE: http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/kerrang-magazine-
analysis.html>
The dark blue background of the front cover makes this magazine unique as it links in with the
genre of music that I am representing “Electric”, the connotations of electric are usually blue and
instantaneous, these are represented by the dark blue background and the fluorescent colours of
my main cover lines. Overall, this creates an exclusive identity for my media product which does
not borrow from other real music magazines but instead creates it very own.

8. How does your media project represent
particular social groups?
My magazine is clearly targeted at young males in the age range of 20-24 as the
colours I picked are very masculine as seen in my front cover:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/drafting-planning_8.html> .
Furthermore, the front cover of my media product has a male main star, this
shows that males are dominant gender in this music industry and presents that
males are stereotypically the dominant gender over females. This is also shown by
the lack of women in my magazine as it shows the music industry of EDM is
heavily populated by men, therefore males are more likely to appeal to the
magazine as they can associate with the music more. The white ethnicity of the
main star would create the representation that this social group is the more
successful one as they are the only ethnicity present in the whole magazine.
Another representation is that of age, the pictures of the artists in my contents
and front cover are clearly young adults, this is shown by the outfit of them, for
example in the front cover the main star is wearing a head set, this shows the link
between young age and technology shows that the younger people are more
talented in this industry of music. It also shows that this industry of music is
mainly associated with a younger demographic of people.

9. How does your media project represent particular
social groups?
I have used “Morris” to represent younger people as being rude and
egotistical, this is shown through what I made my main star say in the double
page spread of my magazine. In it he said “I am the new God in this industry”,
this ultimately is a very definitive statement which truly shows the arrogance
of main star. Younger readers of my magazine would idolise Morris as they
could relate to him being ambitious and successful. Therefore, my media
project creates an artificial representation of younger people being arrogant
and ambitious due to Morris’ appearance of being a role model to younger
audiences. Furthermore, the use of costume in my double page spread shows
males to be fashionable due to the iconic brand “Vans” present, usually this
brand is associated with being “cool” within the male community. Lastly, the
wide shot used in the double page spread shows males to be dominant as my
main star is looking to the left towards the text on the DPS. This forces the
reader to look where he is to the left, therefore this presents men as being
influential and powerful.

10. What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product ?
I believe that Bauer Media Group would distribute my magazine.
https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/>
For the main reason is that some of their audience is of a younger
demographic, for example they publish the magazine which is dedicated to
fashion so therefore would go hand in hand in with my music magazine as it is
specifically aimed at a younger audience of the age of around 20-24. Another
reason as to why it would work is that Bauer also distribute the magazine Q
which I have tried to adapt my media product to, therefore since they both
are similar more people would be attracted to both.

11. What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product ?
However, the distributor Bauer may not want to use my magazine as it may
be too similar to the other magazine Q which I have tried to replicate. On the
other hand though I have tried to develop the aspects of Q to a more tailored
version about the EDM industry. Therefore, my magazine is unique to Q but
uses it as a foundation for its design and format. I have also used the
magazine Q’s subtle aesthetic to attract the consumer into buying the
magazine that I have created, as a result the audience of Q would be familiar
with the visual of my magazine so it makes sense for the Bauer Media Group
to distribute as it would increase the success of their profits. Furthermore, my
magazine is not too similar to Q as I have also used aspects from magazines
such as Billboard and Vibe by developing some of their own convention so I
can make my media project appeal to a younger demographic. Therefore, this
is why Bauer Media Group would distribute my magazine.

12. Who would be the audience of my
product?
The audience of my product would be people of the age of 20-24, I have
purposefully made the magazine appeal to people of this age by using bright
colours and ensuring the costume of the stars in the pictures wore clothes that
appealed to young adults. In my research prior to the making of my media
product: http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/research-into-similar-
products_29.html>
I have learnt that 55% of men listen to the EDM genre, this influenced my choice
to make sure my media product was directed at the male gender, this would
increase the sales of my magazine. The age of my target audience was 20-24 as
my research showed that mainly the age of people listening to EDM was 18-24, if
this is the most popular range of the people listening to EDM than it made sense
to accustom my magazine to that age range of listeners. Other magazines that are
similar to mine is Q, the target audience of Q is 30-40 year olds, it tries to inform
them on music in a sophisticated and advanced way. Furthermore, it is targeted
towards males mainly as the magazine does not appeal to lots of women of older
age, the magazine gives a unique mode of address to the older adults, unlike my
magazine which appeals to younger adults.

13. How did you attract you audiences/address
your audience?
I first attracted my audience by making sure the colour scheme of my front cover was
focused at males, this would make sure the predominant gender who listened to EDM
was satisfied (which is males). Furthermore, made sure the main star on the front
cover of my magazine looked like and interesting artist which captivated the attention
of the audience. This is helped by the use of the head set on him as it shows a snippet
of the main stars job as a musician. That is a key phase of attracting my audience to
buying the magazine as they must be made interested by the front cover as it is the
initial face of the magazine. The masthead of my front cover has a very blocky font
and is in the colour white which will make it stand out I front of the pale blue behind
it. Another aspect about the masthead in my magazine is the actual word “Catalsyt”,
it is a very significant word which would appeal to the audience as it sounds technical,
this links in with the genre of music that I am presenting about Electric Dance Music.
An important way that I addressed the audience was by making the register of
language appeal to younger adults, this makes the way that my magazine informs the
reader on events is tailored to my supposed target audience. Lastly, the colours I have
used will appeal to a male audience as it is very masculine.

14. How did you attract you
audiences/address your audience?
Colour
Colour played a massive role in the attraction of my audience, the use of dark
blue framed the main star very effectively, also the white centre serves as a
contrast to the dark blue around it. The two relaxed colours definitely would
attract a younger audience since it is not too bright, before I was going to
choose a brighter coloured blue as seen here:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/drafting-planning_8.html>
However, it was too bright and would prove to distract the audience from the
main star so I made it darker.
Masthead (Font)
For the masthead I used a bold font, this helped give the masthead more
significance within the whole front cover. Also, the colour white would prove
to be a unique colour to use as not many real music magazines seem to use it
a lot. Furthermore, the colour white went with the sophisticated visual I was
trying to create, therefore it look more professional and attractive.

15. How did you attract you
audiences/address your audience?
Skyline
This was imperative for addressing the
audience as it highlighted the type of music my
magazine would feature in it. Also, it attracts
the audience by giving the magazine credibility
that this is the “Number 1” magazine. This
would attract new audiences to my magazine
that would be unaware of what the magazine
covers.
Anchorage Text
Through using snippets of text from the main
star to signifies to the audience that a major
event is happening in the music world, they
would feel obligated about what is returning
and why, which would be revealed in the
double page spread later in the magazine.
Inevitably, this would attract the audience to
buy my magazine, also it addresses them on
what the main star is talking about.

16. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing the product?
One major strength of using PagePlus for the construction of my magazine is
that I can simultaneously work on all three elements. Therefore I could
complete tasks like making sure the coverlines on the front cover were also
present on the contents page of the magazine, this is a major strength as it
will help me achieve cohesion between the three elements easily. However, a
major weakness of using Page Plus was that it is hard to crop the background
of a picture, so in wake of this problem I found that using Paint.net was the
best option as the magic wand option allowed me to remove the background
effectively. A problem I faced about constructing the product was looking at
what genre of music I wanted to base my magazine on, I resolved this issue by
researching magazines associated with the EDM genre of music, I found that I
liked the visual of these magazines so I decided to use to do EDM.

17. Photographic Choices
In my first draft of my magazine I felt that the camera shot poorly represented
what I wanted my main star to look like:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/drafting-planning_17.html>
Later on, I decided to use a medium close up shot of my main star, during my
research into music magazines I learnt that these were the most commonly
used shots. Therefore, I decided to take a photo of my main star standing in
front of a black background so I could than replace it easily with a new
background with the colours dark blue and white. This was the result:
http://seanavfc9.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/drafting-planning.html>
For the double page spread I used a wide shot of my main star looking to the
left where the text would be, this would prove to be effective as it guided the
audience to where the information was. Also, it created the message that the
main star was in love with himself as he is gazing on the article based on him.

18. Blogger
Blogger was a great area where I could store my work and show the research I
had completed leading up to the creation of my magazine. I can access my
blog at anytime making it easily accessible and efficient to use. It is organised
very well and is extremely effective to show my work and research by a few
clicks of a button, this reduces time consumption and increases potential to
work which let me create an even better magazine. Another key strength of it
is that I can view my others work which is a great way to learn more and to
gain some inspiration on what to do next. Since all my work is saved under
one area it makes accessing work fast and not a drag. Uploading blogs is fairly
instantaneous and easy. Lastly, you can draft blogs and continually work on
them over time by having the great ability of being able to edit them and
keep them as drafts if they are not quite ready to be uploaded. One small
weakness of it was the need to convert every image to a JPEG file in order to
put it on blogger. It made the process of posting an image more troublesome
and longer.

19. Pageplus
Pageplus was very easy to use and was not complex that a beginner like
myself could not use it effectively. However, the major benefit of it was that I
could put images side by side to see if they were cohesive or not, if they
weren’t it would help me to spot the appropriate changes that could be made
to increase its overall cohesion. Furthermore, Pageplus work could be saved
as PDF documents that can be viewed effectively. Another point is that it has
a range of tools that could be used to better my magazine, for example
choosing different texts and colours. There were some weaknesses when
using this software as well though, firstly I found it difficult when trying to
remove the background of some images so I found it easier to use the magic
wand feature on Paint.Net. Secondly, it was quite complex at first so use due
to the large number of options, however, this was a small weakness as I
became more confident with the software.

20. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel
that you have learnt in the progression from it to the
full product?

21. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel
that you have learnt in the progression from it to the
full product?
My preliminary task is poor compared to my final product, I feel that it has no
order or reflection of what real music magazines look like. There is a lack of
cover lines in the front cover and they fade into the background.
Furthermore, the appearance of it is very basic and lacks any attitude, the
main star is very awkwardly posed whereas in my final product the main star
is placed well within the front cover. The font of the left third is out of place
and has no clear message of what the magazine is featuring. In the contents
page the title is not big enough and is not placed well, the text on the right
side is very generic without any variation in colour, font size or font type. My
final product is far more professional compared to my preliminary task, it
follows the codes and conventions to create an ordered and appealing visual.
I feel that I have learnt how to create a realistic magazine that uses codes and
conventions to its advantage to attract its supposed demographic.

22. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel
that you have learnt in the progression from it to the
full product?
The improvements are clear since I have made my final product from my
preliminary task. Over the process of making my final product I found out that
the research is the key to making a successful music magazine. I have learnt
how to properly format a magazine front cover properly, for example my
preliminary task shows a lack of awareness of where to place cover lines or
the masthead. However, my skills have become more advanced as I have
made a realistic visual for all three elements of the music magazine. Another
key thing that I have learnt is how to use the soft ware for making the
magazine, for example I lacked the knowledge to use Page Plus previously but
through the process I have learnt how to use both Paint.net and Page Plus to
a great degree. I have also learnt how to take photographs that appeal to the
demographic of my audience, also I developed ideas from other magazines
such as Q which gave me a foundation to add to. Throughout the process I
made the magazine with the thought that it was going to be successful if the
consumers bought it. I am extremely content with the clear improvement!

23. How successful do you feel your end product is in
fulfilling the task? How well does it fit the brief?
I feel that my end product does fulfil the task as being a successful magazine.
This is due to the fact that the magazine includes the basic conventions that
are always present in other magazines. I had subscribed and developed some
of the codes and conventions from real music magazines in my final product,
also I have challenged some conventions too in order to make a unique
magazine. Also, by researching the demographic of EDM I could focus my
magazine to appeal specifically to the predominant social groups listening to
it. Furthermore, I believe that I have successfully improved from the mistakes
that I had made in the past. Therefore, I was destined to create a successful
magazine as I had made improvements from my mistakes and learnt how to
use the software effectively, therefore I could complete the tasks fully without
any error. I have made a professional and appealing Electric Dance Music
magazine which would be very successful if it was ever to be distributed!