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

In my preliminary I believe that I made a number of mistakes including a flawed fundamental understanding of the conventions of a media magazine. I rectified that by carrying out in-depth analysis and research into the conventions of magazines and why these conventions have become standard. From this research I feel that I now possess a better fundamental understanding of the conventions of a magazine. I have used that to produce work of a much higher quality than that of my preliminary for my final piece. The production of which was aided by my improved skills on the software that we used to construct the products.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the process of constructing my media product I learn about and developed a number of skills on software that is both new to me and software that I am accustom to. At the beginning of this topic I only had limited knowledge of the software that we were to use which was Adobe InDesign. This knowledge came from the preliminary task that I had completed previously. I had to refresh this knowledge at the beginning, however as I progressed thought the production process I learnt more about the programme thought experimenting by myself and drawing on the knowledge of others. My education on the software was aided my skills I had learnt and developed on another product produced by Adobe which was Photoshop.  I had a more extensive knowledge of this programme due to using it, to complete previous projects in past years. I was able to use these programs in harmony together, using Photoshop to manipulate my images for my produce and using InDesign to construct the product its self as well as to complete the text for my product.
I also learnt more about a piece of on-line software called Prezi which enabled me to display my work in a new and exciting method other than PowerPoint presentations.  It had a simple interface which enables for easy control and allows a person to get the correct look to their work.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience by using the conventions of magazines which I highlighted during my research at the beginning of the project. These include the mast head featuring big bold lettering, the largest font on the front cover followed by the sub heading and cover lines. I made sure that the key image was clearly visible, this draws the reader’s attention to the image, the image itself  shows one of the band members pointing towards the camera, this gives the illusion that he is in fact pointing directly at the audience and staring at them. The illusion works at a distance and is effect at a number of angles other than just straight ahead. This makes the front cover eye catching

To address my audience I used an informal tone, along with colloquial language making my product ease to relate to. It also makes it seem as if the articles are taking to the reader rather than at the reader. My product also recaps on topics when covering latest developments. This gives the magazine friendly, this can allow new readers to pick up my product without being intimidated or feeling excluded due to in house joke

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

 The  social group that my media product represents are fans of music and in particular fans of the metal-core genre.   As with any genre of music there is a stereotype associated with that genre, sometimes these are very negative. The average social stereotype of metal/metal-core fans is that of hostile rebellious teenagers, who are a problem to society. Other stereotype of the genre involves the usage of illicit substances for example drugs as well as alcohol abuse. This is a rather adverse social stereotype and like many social stereotypes hold little truth. Whilst some of the actions may be carried out by some fans it is also carried out by other members in society in other social groups and is as case of a few ruining it for the majority.

Within my magazine I have avoided the negative stereotypes, which have been formulated from an outsiders view of the genre and I have instead opted to represent metal-core fans in a fairer way thought the eyes of the majority who enjoy the genre. The fans of the genre are represented as party goers who have a good time and enjoy them self’s and whilst unacceptable behaviour may happen it is condemned by the majority.

Another way that I have represented the fans of the metal core genre is by choosing the attire that was worn by my models for the photo shoots.  The first shoot that I did I had the models wear shirts and semi smart wear, yet I had them rough it up to make it look as if they were breaking social normalities in the way the genre of music is considered to no follow the normality of society as a whole. Whilst I believed this to be a good concept and have potential to work, it subverted the conventions of a metal core magazine in a way that it no longer fitted the genre. I was forced to reshoot with the models wearing more iconic clothing that was representing of the genre.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media print product “Iron core” is a music magazine containing the genre of metal core. It conforms to many conventions of magazines in general and more specifically the conventions of a music magazine which I highlighted in my research before undertaking the production of my product. It conforms to the conventions relating to the structure and layout of the front cover, the contents page as well as a double page spread.  These conventions state the position of key items such as the mast head, the sub-heading and the key image.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for my media product which is a music magazine specialising in the metal-core genre, would me fans of metal-core and metal. The genre of metal-core was born in the late ninety’s and by 2000 was its own genre. This means that the main body audience for the metal core genre ranges from teenagers to people in their late 30’s and early 40’s.  Whilst aspects of my magazine will appeal to all fans of metal-core I feel that my main target audience is fans in there late teens and in there twenty’s. This is because of some of the content I cover such as festivals. People in that age bracket are over the age of 18 and able to go to many gigs and festivals, whilst being able to afford it them self’s.

Post production

Now that I have finished my production I will begin on the evaluation of my work. The questions that I must answer in my evaluation are:

• 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 product?

• 5. How did you attract/address your audience?

• 6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

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

I intend to answer these questions over a series of posts and hope to use a variety of multimedia within my answers.