Sunday 29 April 2012
45. Evaluation - 6. What Have You Learnt About Technologies From The Process Of Constructing This Product?
Technologies
Obviously alot of different technology has been used throughout the course of constructing my product. It was vital in many ways, firstly for research methods but also, for the actual construction proving how important technology can really be.
Apple Mac & Acer
Firstly, the computers I used. At school, we obviously have the oppotunity to use Mac computers, this was my first real experience on these so it was a challenge to begin with, however the quality of the software was far better to use for media purposes and I enjoyed learning and working out the different things the Macs had to offer. I enjoyed working on better software and worked out how to use the Mac software quickly. The Mac allowed me to use iphoto which was good for editing my photos on due to the different affects avaliable. I also found pages was far easier to use with publisher with it being overall more reliable and easier to work with offering better help and guidance.
However, when I was at home, Mac software was obviously not avaliable to me, so I struggled to complete my work due to the difference in the software and how they were incompatiable with each other. I used my Acer Laptop which was helpful in different ways. For example, I was used to working with this laptop so could research easily and effectively as I understood the software which saved time and effort. It also allowed me to manage my time well because I knew that if I did the production work at school on the mac, I could research at home on my own laptop.
I have learnt that the Mac technology is really good to use in the media world due to specialised software specifically for the music and magazine world of work.
Internet Explorer & Safari
The internet was a main part in constructing my product. Before I even started producing my piece, I had to do the research to enable me to gain the best possible end results. Google was the main search engie I used as I have gained the best results from it in the past and it's easy to gain results I needed, quick and efficient.
A vital website I needed was obviously blogger. I used this to blog my progress to show how far I've come since the beginning, when I didn't have much of an understanding. It ensured I have a record of research and all the planning and preparation I've done.
Lastly, having the oppotuinity to used 'tabs' on the internet made researching and planning so much easier. This allowed me to just have one window up, rather than flicking between several and quickly go from one to the other easily.
Picnik & iPhoto
I had used iPhoto previously on the Macs when completing media at GCSE so I had some background knowledge. It's easy to upload pictures fast and simple to edit if you want to make minor adjustments such as put the photo in black and white or adjust the brightness or colour contrast.
However, this is where Picnik was useful in the final production. Although I'd breifly edited, I wanted to edit futher in depth, for example, airbrush my model and give her more of a glow, to just make her look more of someone you'd see in the music genre. This meant I could get the exact result I wanted, effectively. It also allowed me to edit finer, for example, blur one aspect of the picture while keeping the other aspect normal. I experiemented with this on my draft but didn't end up using it due to what I wanted to create but it was interesting to see how far you can edit pictures. For example, on my draft I also had the majority of the picture in black and white and just the key element in colour making it look effective while adding colour. I had never used picnik before the production so it was good and easy to use allowing me to achieve the results I wanted too.
Samsung L100
When taking the majority of my photos, I used my digital camera. Although it isn't the best quality of camera, with editing techniques I still managed to produce good results with it. I was lucky with the day I chose to take photos, as it was sunny, creating the feel that I really wanted too. By having my own digital camera I wasn't relying on anyone for cameras and was able to edit my pictures at home if I needed too.
Iphone
As a smartphone, Iphones are one of the most dominant phones in the world at the moment with the qualities they have. They proved this when I was creating my magazine. Due to the camera and video applications on the phone I was able to use my phone when I didn't have my camera avaiable and they produced good images. For example, when I went to the gigs that I took the images that are shown on my double page spread, my camera ran out of battery, but luckily I had my phone. By using apps avalible such as Instagram, a photo editing app I was also able to edit them quickly and simply on my phone to transfer straight onto my work. By also having regular internet access I was able to research on the move and if I needed too, update my blog.
Overall...
I have come to the conclusion that technology has been a vital part in my production. I have learned a lot of new skills and techniques as well as using alien technology to me. During the production I have gained more confidence in using unknown software which can only help me in the future in future productions. For example, I am now comfortable in using the Mac's and Microsoft which means I will adequately be able to produce work from both of them. It's evident why some technology dominates in modern society due to the ease and effectiveness of it. I was able to see why everyone is able to use aspects of the technology, not just people that are advanced in this case.
Obviously alot of different technology has been used throughout the course of constructing my product. It was vital in many ways, firstly for research methods but also, for the actual construction proving how important technology can really be.
Apple Mac & Acer
Firstly, the computers I used. At school, we obviously have the oppotunity to use Mac computers, this was my first real experience on these so it was a challenge to begin with, however the quality of the software was far better to use for media purposes and I enjoyed learning and working out the different things the Macs had to offer. I enjoyed working on better software and worked out how to use the Mac software quickly. The Mac allowed me to use iphoto which was good for editing my photos on due to the different affects avaliable. I also found pages was far easier to use with publisher with it being overall more reliable and easier to work with offering better help and guidance.
However, when I was at home, Mac software was obviously not avaliable to me, so I struggled to complete my work due to the difference in the software and how they were incompatiable with each other. I used my Acer Laptop which was helpful in different ways. For example, I was used to working with this laptop so could research easily and effectively as I understood the software which saved time and effort. It also allowed me to manage my time well because I knew that if I did the production work at school on the mac, I could research at home on my own laptop. I have learnt that the Mac technology is really good to use in the media world due to specialised software specifically for the music and magazine world of work.
Internet Explorer & Safari
The internet was a main part in constructing my product. Before I even started producing my piece, I had to do the research to enable me to gain the best possible end results. Google was the main search engie I used as I have gained the best results from it in the past and it's easy to gain results I needed, quick and efficient. A vital website I needed was obviously blogger. I used this to blog my progress to show how far I've come since the beginning, when I didn't have much of an understanding. It ensured I have a record of research and all the planning and preparation I've done.
Lastly, having the oppotuinity to used 'tabs' on the internet made researching and planning so much easier. This allowed me to just have one window up, rather than flicking between several and quickly go from one to the other easily.
Picnik & iPhoto
I had used iPhoto previously on the Macs when completing media at GCSE so I had some background knowledge. It's easy to upload pictures fast and simple to edit if you want to make minor adjustments such as put the photo in black and white or adjust the brightness or colour contrast.
However, this is where Picnik was useful in the final production. Although I'd breifly edited, I wanted to edit futher in depth, for example, airbrush my model and give her more of a glow, to just make her look more of someone you'd see in the music genre. This meant I could get the exact result I wanted, effectively. It also allowed me to edit finer, for example, blur one aspect of the picture while keeping the other aspect normal. I experiemented with this on my draft but didn't end up using it due to what I wanted to create but it was interesting to see how far you can edit pictures. For example, on my draft I also had the majority of the picture in black and white and just the key element in colour making it look effective while adding colour. I had never used picnik before the production so it was good and easy to use allowing me to achieve the results I wanted too.Samsung L100
When taking the majority of my photos, I used my digital camera. Although it isn't the best quality of camera, with editing techniques I still managed to produce good results with it. I was lucky with the day I chose to take photos, as it was sunny, creating the feel that I really wanted too. By having my own digital camera I wasn't relying on anyone for cameras and was able to edit my pictures at home if I needed too.
Iphone
As a smartphone, Iphones are one of the most dominant phones in the world at the moment with the qualities they have. They proved this when I was creating my magazine. Due to the camera and video applications on the phone I was able to use my phone when I didn't have my camera avaiable and they produced good images. For example, when I went to the gigs that I took the images that are shown on my double page spread, my camera ran out of battery, but luckily I had my phone. By using apps avalible such as Instagram, a photo editing app I was also able to edit them quickly and simply on my phone to transfer straight onto my work. By also having regular internet access I was able to research on the move and if I needed too, update my blog.Overall...
I have come to the conclusion that technology has been a vital part in my production. I have learned a lot of new skills and techniques as well as using alien technology to me. During the production I have gained more confidence in using unknown software which can only help me in the future in future productions. For example, I am now comfortable in using the Mac's and Microsoft which means I will adequately be able to produce work from both of them. It's evident why some technology dominates in modern society due to the ease and effectiveness of it. I was able to see why everyone is able to use aspects of the technology, not just people that are advanced in this case.
44. Evaluation - 5. How Did You Attract/Address The Reader
I decided to ask a keen music listener what they thought of my magazine and what stands out to them as a reader. This lead to me being able to see what attracted and addressed my reader and whether my conventions and different techniques had worked when producing my magazine. Overall, after the listener analsying the aspects of my magazine, I believe I have managed to address and attract the music listeners with the different techniques I have used and believe I've stuck to the conventions of a broadcast indie music magazine by using the knowledge I have gained from researching.
43. Evaluation - 4. Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?
I decided to
merge lots of songs together to evaluate the audience for my media product. My
main target audience is obviously that of the genre. I found songs that
portrayed elements of this that I've researched and make a remix to indicate
the indie genre, I thought seeing as it's about music I'd actually show it in
music form.
The songs I have
used represent the aspects of the target audience and thier lifestyles.
Firstly, their social ecomic group is represented by ABC - Jackson Five, as the
gratification theory is shown in A B C catergories and the people that are
likely to be buying my magazine and the target audience is a mix between upper
class and middle class.
I've used
Happening - Chiddy Bang at the beginning to show that they live their lives and
enjoy themselves, for example going to gigs and festivals with their laidback
attitudes, they're the type of people that have the live for now approach. This
is also shown in the song Young, Wild & Free - Whiz Khalifa due to the
demographic being that of teenagers and young adults they seem to enjoy life
and live it too the full, yet still regaining the laidback attitude of being an
individual and themselves. I also showed the age range by adding Busted - What
I Go To School For and 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton due to the fact some people may
still go to school, yet have part time jobs allowing them to lead the lifestyle
they do.
This leads on to why I chose the song Who You Are - Ed Sheerans Live Lounge cover, I thought it would be appriopriate to use Ed Sheeran due to him being a key figure in the genre. I used this song to show that they're not afraid to be who they want to be and have an individual quirky style and don't really follow set memes and tropes, they set them themselves. This also relates to why I chose Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars because it shows that people think they're attractive, showing male gaze. Girl models are used because the mole demographic find them attractive and are drawn to the magazine. This shows an element of intertextuality also because alot of magazines do this.
I used the song Audience For One - Cold War Kids for a pun, because in the indie genre they're not playing for an audience of one, however, they start of at smaller gigs, so it may often feel like this to some of the up and new coming artists, that relates back to my magazine.
Sofa - Ed Sheeran has been included to try and demostrate the laidback attitude that the demographic and audience often have, they have this attitude and seem to just spend life taking it easy listening to acoustic music.
I wanted to show the festival feel again and show how its a big part of the audience due to the genre I'm aiming my magazine at. I did this by including the song, Let The Sunshine - Labrinth. This is quite a happy feel song that reminds everyone of summertime, reflecting back to the summer aspect and festival hype once again.
Finally, I included The End - Kings Of Leon to show the end of the song, but the end of the production.
Thursday 26 April 2012
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