Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Peer Feedback
people in my target audience!After recieving peer feedback, it is clear what attracted them the most is my colour scheme. some have said i maybe should have continued my colourscheme throught to the contents to create more of a house style however I still think it was a good choice. My peers also said that they think it is a intriguing way of presenting a magazine and they would give me full marks for choosing a difficult genre to present to the public. After asking those in my target audience, they believe it is something they would be very tempted to buy in stores.
FINAL Product
This is the final Cover of my magazine. In comparison to my draft i decided to chage the second picture. I think having a group photo on the magazine added to its overall look as the rest of the images are just of a single person at any one time.
The colour scheme is quite suttle with the choice of colours however the bold nature of the title means it is unlikely it will be mist on magazine racks.
This is my final DPS. I changed some part of my interview but like i mentioned i wasn't going to edit anything drastic. I am really happy with how my magazine has come out. I think it shows the gritty culture of my genre well and gives a good representation of Grime and UK Hip-Hop
DPS draft
This is my DPS draft. I dont think im going to change much of it, maybe some of the colour scheme but nothing drastic!
Cover Draft
This is my draft for my front cover. Not Much will change in my final front cover, this is pretty much exactly how i want my magazine to look; structured, gritty and 'straight from the street'.Monday, 9 May 2011
IIWII Evaluation
In what ways does my media product develop forms and conventions?
My media product develops the forms and conventions set by leading Hip-Hop magazines. Hip-hop magazines heavily influence my magazine as it is seen as the foundation of all types of rap, including Grime. Therefore alot of my research was around Hip-Hop magazines and layouts to get an idea of what really sells. Most of my influencing was heavily from Vibe and King magazines although i have been a fan of Rolling Stone magazine.
My front page clearly took the look of King magazine. It has a bold, clear magazine title with one main subject. it features little information on inside features, leaving that all to the contents page. The housestyle is suttle yet it still manages to give a gritty edge to the magazine. This has then been further developed by making sponsors brazen on the cover in order to attract the eye of the targeted audience with companies that are familiar to them e.g. Grime Daily is a internet production line which is familiar to the urban public. In terms of image, i went with a complete opposite idea to what you could expect from Vibe or King. I decided to trade in 'glitz' and 'glam' for 'raw' and 'rugged' as i think it adds to the authenticity of the magazine.
My contents page seemed to merge the influences of Vibe and King magazine. It took the concept of having a different main subject on the contents page, however i decided that i wanted 2 main subjects on my contents page. this is because i wanted to add something extra to my layout as i felt something was missing. My contents follows a similar style to the contents in terms of colour scheme, however i decided to use a different colour scheme.
My double page spread is clearly influenced by Vibe, with the idea of having one page of the double page spread with just an image and the other with writing. It also has quotes in bold and singled out from the main body of the text. This is similar to my DPS however I decided I wanted to add some type of artist profile on my single page image as well as a interview quote. I think this develops typical conventions as i have taken the primary idea of a magazine which clearly knows how to attract its target audience and sell, and made the idea my own.
How does your product represent particular social groups?
My media product doesnt just represent one social group, it represents my current generation and also the working class. Yes, the target audience is inner-city teenagers but it a magazine with a culture that can embrace all walks of life. Therefore i think my magazine represent teenagers and young adults as a whole not just a particular social group.
What kind of media institution might distribute your product?
I believe an indipendent media institution would distribute my product such as Grime Daily, which has a huge Youtube following. This is because not only does it have its Youtube channel to promote the magazine, but it is also the only magazine in its nature.
Who would be the audience of your product?
My target audience are prodominately teens and young adults, however it is a magazine open to those who embrace good music and also embrace the urban culture. Within my target audience, the most likely buyer of my magazine are Males from around the ages of 15-21. This is because this scene is prodominately a scene of male artists. However because of the Penumbra Effect, many people will indirectly consume my magazine as it has a wide social audience. Many of the articles will be discussed openly in bulic and also the inclusion of posters will not damage the idea of recognisation through exposier. This does however have a negative effect, the magazine may be shared between people directly lowering sales.
How did you attract/adress your audience?
By using gritty imagery common to every city, bourough, estate e.g underpasses, this immediately makes the reader feel like there is a empathetic bond between themselves and the magazine. This because it is scenery they see day to day therefore they feel like it is something they can relate too. Also, if they see someone of a similar appearance to them they will automaticly be attracted to the magazine.
How have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt to use hardware to a better advantage. I am now comfortable using high performance camera's in a way that allows me to take good quality images. Also I am now comfortable scanning documents into the computer, something I wasn't comfortable doing before hand.
I have also become more comfortable using software in order to enhance my images etc, such as using photoshop. Although I felt comfortable using the software before hand, I am now even more able to enhance and edit images.
In addition to software, I now feel able to use blogger confidently. Before the start of this course I had never heard of blogger, now i feel able enough to give tutorials in using it and keeping and maintaining a healthy blog.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression to a full product?
I feel like I have learnt to plan my work better and schedule my time. For my preliminary i didnt use a layout plan which meant i spent time flashing through variations, where as with this full product I had a clear outline of how I wanted my product to be percieved. I feel like i am now more creative with my photography than I was with my preliminary. This in turn leads to a better construction of my final production.
My media product develops the forms and conventions set by leading Hip-Hop magazines. Hip-hop magazines heavily influence my magazine as it is seen as the foundation of all types of rap, including Grime. Therefore alot of my research was around Hip-Hop magazines and layouts to get an idea of what really sells. Most of my influencing was heavily from Vibe and King magazines although i have been a fan of Rolling Stone magazine.
My front page clearly took the look of King magazine. It has a bold, clear magazine title with one main subject. it features little information on inside features, leaving that all to the contents page. The housestyle is suttle yet it still manages to give a gritty edge to the magazine. This has then been further developed by making sponsors brazen on the cover in order to attract the eye of the targeted audience with companies that are familiar to them e.g. Grime Daily is a internet production line which is familiar to the urban public. In terms of image, i went with a complete opposite idea to what you could expect from Vibe or King. I decided to trade in 'glitz' and 'glam' for 'raw' and 'rugged' as i think it adds to the authenticity of the magazine.
My contents page seemed to merge the influences of Vibe and King magazine. It took the concept of having a different main subject on the contents page, however i decided that i wanted 2 main subjects on my contents page. this is because i wanted to add something extra to my layout as i felt something was missing. My contents follows a similar style to the contents in terms of colour scheme, however i decided to use a different colour scheme.
My double page spread is clearly influenced by Vibe, with the idea of having one page of the double page spread with just an image and the other with writing. It also has quotes in bold and singled out from the main body of the text. This is similar to my DPS however I decided I wanted to add some type of artist profile on my single page image as well as a interview quote. I think this develops typical conventions as i have taken the primary idea of a magazine which clearly knows how to attract its target audience and sell, and made the idea my own.
How does your product represent particular social groups?
My media product doesnt just represent one social group, it represents my current generation and also the working class. Yes, the target audience is inner-city teenagers but it a magazine with a culture that can embrace all walks of life. Therefore i think my magazine represent teenagers and young adults as a whole not just a particular social group.
What kind of media institution might distribute your product?
I believe an indipendent media institution would distribute my product such as Grime Daily, which has a huge Youtube following. This is because not only does it have its Youtube channel to promote the magazine, but it is also the only magazine in its nature.
Who would be the audience of your product?
My target audience are prodominately teens and young adults, however it is a magazine open to those who embrace good music and also embrace the urban culture. Within my target audience, the most likely buyer of my magazine are Males from around the ages of 15-21. This is because this scene is prodominately a scene of male artists. However because of the Penumbra Effect, many people will indirectly consume my magazine as it has a wide social audience. Many of the articles will be discussed openly in bulic and also the inclusion of posters will not damage the idea of recognisation through exposier. This does however have a negative effect, the magazine may be shared between people directly lowering sales.
How did you attract/adress your audience?
By using gritty imagery common to every city, bourough, estate e.g underpasses, this immediately makes the reader feel like there is a empathetic bond between themselves and the magazine. This because it is scenery they see day to day therefore they feel like it is something they can relate too. Also, if they see someone of a similar appearance to them they will automaticly be attracted to the magazine.
How have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt to use hardware to a better advantage. I am now comfortable using high performance camera's in a way that allows me to take good quality images. Also I am now comfortable scanning documents into the computer, something I wasn't comfortable doing before hand.
I have also become more comfortable using software in order to enhance my images etc, such as using photoshop. Although I felt comfortable using the software before hand, I am now even more able to enhance and edit images.
In addition to software, I now feel able to use blogger confidently. Before the start of this course I had never heard of blogger, now i feel able enough to give tutorials in using it and keeping and maintaining a healthy blog.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression to a full product?
I feel like I have learnt to plan my work better and schedule my time. For my preliminary i didnt use a layout plan which meant i spent time flashing through variations, where as with this full product I had a clear outline of how I wanted my product to be percieved. I feel like i am now more creative with my photography than I was with my preliminary. This in turn leads to a better construction of my final production.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
DPS Content
IIWII hooked up with the talented young London born artist ‘Narxx’ in the form of Antar Phipps-Norton for a one of interview, addressing issues such as other artists and his personal influences. The story goes as follows...
AntarPN: so thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to be with us today! I heard you’ve been tied down with some big projects?
NArxx: no worries! Yeah, I’ve been working on some pretty promising tracks and moves recently, you know, I do what I do, ain't no-one that can contest that!
APN: yeah we definitely know its what you do well! Is there any thing we should be looking out for?
NA: well I’m working with other talented artist in the scene, you know the likes of Dot Rotten and Maxsta who are both themselves breaking through in the scene. But also I’m still working with a small circle I came up with.
APN: oh really? That must be quite a triumph for you to be working with artists like that with the credentials they already have attained?
NA: yeah it is, I used to listen to these guys on my iPod only a year back and now I’m in the studio with them, its crazy!
APN; so what about the people in your ‘circle’? Who are they?
NA: see now that would be telling! No I’m joking, I have only a select few in my circle, such as Statik who I have known for years now!
APN: Static of Team East Midlands?
NA: yeah that’s him. I also work with Motion on a day-to -day basis without fail, He’s the next one to watch out for definitely.
APN: IIWII EXCLUSIVE!
NA: haha yeah definitely, but for real he’s the next to blow. I’m bringing the whole of my ends with me!
APN: you’ve got a real down to earth sense of personality about you, you seem well grounded?
NA: yeah I like to believe I am, its always important to remember where your from and who helped create the person you are.
APN: who influences you the most?
NA: definitely the likes of Ghetts and KA. Also guys like Devlin and Ice kid you know. Real gritty artists. But also 2Pac and Biggie. Rap giants!
NAME _ NARXX
ALIAS
_Mr. AUDIIO, AUDIIO
- NARCOTIICS, N.ASCENE
_GRIME/HIP
-HOP/DUBSTEPSPECIFICATION
_ ARTISTLABEL
_INDEPENDENT
INFLUENCES
_GHETTO, KANO, 2PAC, BIGGIE, DEVLIN, ICEKID
Risk Assessment
I am going to be taking photos in my local area in Northampton.
In order to become comfortable with my surroundings (lighting, positioning etc), i will need to take as many appropriate shots a possible to make sure. In order to do this successfully, there are a few criteria I need to abide by. Because my location is outdoors, I will need to make sure the weather is appropriate in every shoot. if weather is too extreme, e.g. heavy rain, not only could it damage the quality of the shoot, it could also damage my equipment.
Also, because these photoshoots are outside i will need as little interaction with the public as possible in order to avoid the hassle of having background interruption and to also avoid breeches of personal privacy, aiming to keep the confidentiallity of the public.
In order to become comfortable with my surroundings (lighting, positioning etc), i will need to take as many appropriate shots a possible to make sure. In order to do this successfully, there are a few criteria I need to abide by. Because my location is outdoors, I will need to make sure the weather is appropriate in every shoot. if weather is too extreme, e.g. heavy rain, not only could it damage the quality of the shoot, it could also damage my equipment.
Also, because these photoshoots are outside i will need as little interaction with the public as possible in order to avoid the hassle of having background interruption and to also avoid breeches of personal privacy, aiming to keep the confidentiallity of the public.
Evaluation Selection
I have decided that i am going to upload a video of myself evaluating my work. I believe this will be the best way for me to get reasons for my selection of work across to the viewer of the video. I am going to prepare a script in order to express my views in a structured manor. Hopefully, this will give a better outlook as to why I have chosen certain routes with my magazine creations.
Tropes and Memes
A trope is a recurring element which is repeated over time and forms a common convention.
For example, there are typical vampire tropes:
- They sleep in coffins
- They sleep in coffins
- They decay in sunlight
- They have pale skin
- They can be killed with 'stake' through the heart
- They have the ability to shapeshift into bats and wolves
- They are allergic to garlic and crucifixes
More recently, these tropes have evolved as vampires have been introduced back into the film industry. For example,
- They no longer burn in the sun, they sparkle
- They have super strength and super speed
- They feed off animals to get rid of their thirst for human blood, sometimes not feeding at all; this differs from the 'original' vampire, who's health started to deteriate after periods of time without feeding.
- They live in the normal world with normal people
- They're not only seen as monsters but people who blend into society
This can be related tohip-hop music because it has ideological tropes of being a genre promoting the power and freedom of speech and also the daily struggle of the working class. It was supremely focused on being able to speak one's mind withought being labelled or judged. However in more recent times it has become a genre heavily related to violence and weapons, promotion of ill-behaviour to the youth and also a scene heavily dependent on the promotion of female sex appeal.
Memes
A meme is an idea or belief that occurs simultaneously to more than one person without any explanation. For example, Pixar released the film 'Finding Nemo' and several weeks later Dreamworks released the film 'Shark Tale', which was very similar, yet with no evidence of copying. In the hip-hop industry, Public Enemy and NWA both made their brake around similar stages of their career, both promoting similar messages. Although they're both recognised as highly influential groups of the hip-hop culture, many have made queries to their similarities and whether or not they are copies of eachother. However as far as memes go, it is clear that they are not copies of eachother, but a duo of ideas that happened simultaneously.
Monday, 2 May 2011
Planning Ideas
These are the basic 'blueprints' of my magazine. I have clear idea of how I want my magazine to look and come across therefore once I start to create my magazine i doubt there will be alot of editing and change of idea's. My colour scheme and house styles are not yet finalised however i want the colours to be suttle and bold both at the same time without being too cliche.
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