Front Cover
Contents Page
Double Page Spread
CREATIVE CRITICAL REFLECTION
Q1. How Does My Product Use Or Challenge Conventions And How Does It Represent Social Groups Or Issues?
This is my slideshow I created which is my answer to the first creative critical reflection question.
Q2. How Does Your Product Engage With Audiences And How Would It Be Distributed As A Real Media Text
Here is my Flipsnack commentary. Please click on the image to watch.
Q3. How Did Your Production Skills Develop Throughout This Project?
This is my letter I wrote and created on, I then recorded it on voice memos.
Q4. How Did I Integrate Technologies (Hardware, Software & Online) In This Project?
This is a Piktochart I have created to respond to my answer for CCR1 Q4
Textual Analysis Of A Tour Poster
In all media texts, everything is there for a reason to suggest a specific meaning, from the costume, hair and make-up to the typography and colour palette. I had to decode (Hall) what was used to infer meaning and how it was successful in a tour poster and had to describe the ways how the media producer communicates meaning with its audience. I learnt about mise en scene which is the use of costume, lighting, colour, action, make-up, hair, props and setting to signify (De Saussure) a specific meaning or represent someone/something in a specific way.
In my music poster I will make sure encode (Hall) everything to be very specific and put a lot of thought into every aspect of the poster to make sure it signifies (De Saussure) all the meanings it needs to in order for the audience to understand its intention. For example, if I choose to create a classical music magazine then I will use low key lighting and have the person dressed rather formal to imply that it is a classical magazine to the audience, I could also have a musical instrument as a prop. I want my audience to be clear with what genre my music magazine is about in order for it to be a success.
Media Concepts
This is a poster I made with a partner which displays the 4 main media concepts and what they are.
These 4 concepts are vital for all media texts.
Representation allows for the producer to present ideas about people,
Audience is the people who consume the media text,
Industry consists of production, marketing and distribution
Language is the way/methods with how meaning is conveyed.
Things I will include in my own music magazine:
Representation: I will need to include some stereotypes typical of the music genre such as dark colours for heavy metal music along with some dominant ideologies such as pop being bright and happy and rock being angry and harsh. I need to carefully choose which stereotypes I use to make sure that they fit in with the specific genre.
Audience: I will have to make sure that I cater my magazine to a specific audience of people who are interested in the genre I choose which is called a target audience. My target audience will most likely be of a certain age range and possibly even gender depending on the genre which I will need to specifically cater to. For example, if I make a pop music magazine then it would typically be aimed at females, so I would use feminine colours to draw more attention to my magazine and cater to my target audience.
Industry: I need to consider how I will release my magazine and get funding for it. Including brand deals throughout my magazine will help to make money off it and I could make merchandise which reflects the magazine design in order to maximize profit. For marketing I could make a social media page and advertise the magazine on it.
Industry: I need to consider how I will release my magazine and get funding for it. Including brand deals throughout my magazine will help to make money off it and I could make merchandise which reflects the magazine design in order to maximize profit. For marketing I could make a social media page and advertise the magazine on it.
Language: I will use a variety of codes and conventions which will help to explain the genre and give an idea of who my magazine is aimed at. I will use things such as costume and lighting to emphasise what my magazine is about. For example, if I make a rock magazine that the person on my cover would be dressed in black and wearing quite harsh, dark clothes. If I were to make a hip-hop magazine that I would use quite baggy costumes with lots of chains and jewellery.
What I understand of media language and how it will be evident in my music magazine
I understand that I need to include a wide range of media language/ codes to communicate meaning. I will make sure to include a font/typography that suits the genre, a colour pallet that matches the mood of the genre etc. This will all help me to encode (Hall) meaning within my magazine.
How might I want to represent star in my/their magazine
I will represent my star as the focal point of the cover and make sure that have make-up, an outfit and hair that suit the genre. For example, if I were to make a rock magazine, I might use a low camera shot to make the star look powerful and confident and have them with a rather angry, serious facial expression.
How I think my Magazine would make money
I believe my magazine would make money through brand deals, If I make a rock album then I could try get a brand deal with a company that makes electric guitars. I could also make money through advertisement; I could advertise other rock bands and songs in my magazine. Merchandise could also be used; I could make limited edition clothing or merch with my magazine logo on it.
Why it will be important to consider my audience.
It will be important to consider my audience because without an audience, my music magazine would be a failure. My magazine needs to specifically be aimed at an audience that enjoys the genre I create my magazine about. For example, if I create a classical music magazine then I will advertise it to people who like classical music by maybe advertising it at classical music events or on classical music social media pages. I also need to consider my audience when encoding (Hall) meanings such as wanting them to understand the cover model is kind.
My Media Diet
From a day-to-day basis I consume a wide variety of media ranging from Spotify to WhatsApp. The media I consume/ use is what makes me who I am and helps to get me through the day. I am a prosumer which means I both produce and consume media.
Through creating my media diet, I have learnt about Blumler & Katz Theory of Uses and Gratifications and how it fits to any piece of media. The theory is that each piece of media can be put in one or more of these four categories, entertainment, personal identity, social interaction and education/information. These categories are the uses that we find in the media we consume. For example, Tik Tok is a combination of both entertainment and social interaction as you are watching enjoyable videos and liking/ commenting which is a social interaction.
In my music magazine I will need to consider how many/ which Uses and Gratifications I want my magazine to fit into. The more of the Uses and Gratifications I use then the wider range my audience will be. I think my music magazine will best fit into Entertainment as I hope it will be an exciting read and personal identity as people who read can be influenced and take on board some music related information. I need to make sure that I target my desired audience with all aspects of Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratifications in order to cater to their interests and signify (De Saussure) all the correct meanings.