Evaluation of the double page spread

Question 1, In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?In some forms, my media product is similar to real media products, giving the layout of this media product. The use of a introduction page for an interview is mainly used in popular branded music magazines such as NME and Q. The image used for this particular stage on the media product, I believe looks very authentic and uses real conventions in major brands of music magazines.The pose of both my models, Lauren and Steph, and the props they have used for this shoot shows professional quality and the also the difference in the music scenes their ‘characters’ belong to. The image and the font, connects well together, giving the whole layout a professional appeal challenging the conventions of real media products. Out of the three media products I have produced for this particular course, I would have to say that this is the most professional media product. From the images chosen to appear and the particular font used, it links in professional and creativity, developing conventions of real media products.

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Question 2, How does your media product represent particular social groups? Again this media product can gain the trust an also the curiosity of the target audience because of the models used. Both models, Steph and Lauren are around the same age as my target audience, the characteristics of these models represent the target audience. From look wise, it can be established that these models are representing rebellious misfits on the outer social circle, struggling musicians trying to make it big. The models are creating an identity for the target audience. Immediately, the dominant image alone attracts the attention of the target audience, immediately relating to the two people posing in the magazine. I believe that my layout creates a sense of lifestyle of mystery and music for my target audience. The poses the models are creating oozes mystery and tension, by looking at one another deeply. This on a more deeper level, shows the differences between new music and Indie, Steph (Left) representing new music and Lauren (Right) representing Indie music thus creating new identities for both types of music niche markets.

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Question 3, Who would be the audience for your media product? Again, the target audience for this media product would be late teenagers, interested in Indie music and new music. From the different poses and positions my models pose, it can create a new appeal for different audiences. For example, the images from my double page appeals to those ‘misfit’ rebellious teens, struggling musicians who are trying to break into the music industry and those who find different appealing in an role model. By first look at my music magazine, it could be easily stereotyped at being aimed at just the female gender, however this is not the case. My magazine is aimed at both genders who are interested in certain Niche music scenes. I could have improved this mistake by adding male models into my magazine to add more variety to my magazine.

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Question 4, How did you attract/ address your audience?I attracted my audience through, mainly the images I used. The images create an atmosphere which the target audience can immediately respond to. Because the dominant image used has a dark lighting, I used the colour yellow for the font, so the text can be seen clearly by the audience. The use of the word ‘Introducing’ placed at the top of the page, creates a sense of suspense for the audience.By having the names featured at the bottom of the page, it looks like a poster for a competitive competition of some kind, making it look like there is a strong sense of rivalry between them. This making the interview seem more interesting to the audience. The use of the green and blue font colour helps to clearly show the reader the separation of the two texts.

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Question 5, What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing this product?I have used a number of technology software's and equipment to create my final media product. This including, Photoshop to create my final product, my online blog recording my research into the information I needed to produce my final media product and digital camera to produce my photo shoot for my magazine. Using my online blog to record the different parts of my research, I found easier to use then rather typing it up on word etc. It means that other people can see and comment on my work and see if its any help to them when they tackle this course. The blog I found very easy to use. To record my photo shoot, I used digital photography, this again, a simpler way of recording and minulipuating certain images to fit in with my criteria of my final product. The main example for this point, would be Lauren’s head on the second page of the double page spread. It’s clear that her head has been photoshoped (her head cut out of another image and placed onto her body in that picture, then colour blended to create the effect that that belonged to that body), because the head is to bright for the image itself. However, its still quite good to now know that technique and I can improve on that effect so I can use that effect on any other media products I may use for Photoshop. To keep my readership profile, I would set up an account on face book, like the popular brand magazine More! As its a popular site for teenagers to access. This way I can keep track of what is essential in a teenagers life, what’s useful, music wise, to add into my magazine and more importantly, what the target audience is in to in that period of time.

Conclusion: Overall I think my double page spread was a success. The main accomplishment for the double page spread would be the message and representation of the models placed in that double page spread. The fact that the models can create an identity for the target audience is a great achievement for me. Another good point is the layout. I am especially proud of how the layout has turned out. With the introduction page and then the text on the next page, however the only problem with this point is the actual interview. I believe that the interview could have been placed more professionally on the page i.e. In columns perhaps. This point I believe makes the page look amateurish