Evaluation: Part One, 2

Question: In what ways does you media product use, develop or challenge forms of real media product?

How this was achieved

• The dominant use of black

When analyzing Rock genres, I came across dark tones constantly. It cannot be denied that: the eyes of rock listeners are used to darker shades, in comparison to a pop listener who prefers tones more illuminated. As a media student, realizing the importance of a targeted audience and accepting the generalization to which I needed to work towards, the colour scheme which I worked upon remained with a black background and a hard tone of red complimented with white. This allowed me to construct a relevant promotional package attracting listeners of the stereotypical rock genre. However, the underlying political tone of the band narrowed down the targeted audience and was represented through the visual elements.

I created an abstract piece containing:

• A hammer & sickle with a strong fist - highlighting the rebellious nature of the band,
• Side profile of an unknown genre - gave me the opportunity to use the tone red and also highlight that the band had no specific gender stereotypes and was open to both male/female
• Urban City Life - giving a clear portrayal of the location of the band
• Ying-Yang - adding a notion of philosophical meaning to the band as it represents good/evil (the dystopia we live in against a utopia we (the band) dream and aim to achieve through their music)

Through the incorporation of all that stated, I managed to develop media conventions and led to the engagement of my target audience with my produced product.

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In regard to my Music video, media conventions were used through:

Experimented Cinematography

• The editing did not take the form of 'continuity' and therefore, defied the laws of a 'structured' music video. When analyzing other rock music videos, it was in fact highly noted that a lot of narrative and structure was present. The absence of a specific structure caused the forms of traditional media to be challenged.
• Disorganized use of effects such as 'overlapping' the scenes and the use of red also challenged the 'neat' mediated videos that individuals are familiar to. (i have put into chronological order a sequence from the video in order to illustrate the montage edit of the music video which continues in a similar way.)

this is the first sequence of my music video. it does not follow a certain narrative, nor does it have a structured way of expressing itself; the structure of it is being un-structured and without narrative.
it worked well as it met the genre of the music along with the reputation of the band. the constant change in location confirms the narrative side to the music video as nothing is solid and constantly changes. 

Evaluation: Part One, 1

Question: In what ways does you media product use, develop or challenge forms of real media product?

It is important to note firstly, that the music video and promotional package I constructed were of an Alternative Rock genre. In regard to the ancillary task completed, many of its aspects met the forms and conventions of a stereotypical, rock-band.

a typical alternative rock video:

the alternative rock video above uses visual mediatic elements in order to create an underlying tone of humor. this is one

generalization of alternative rock: chilled out, immature, not concerned with society's problems,

fun, and against the dystopia we live in. In other words, it's an expression of escapism. In the music

video I constructed, the aim was to go against these generalizations of media and challenge them

into: seriousness, criticism and concerned with society and the music made through its

anti-establishment tone.

Finished Final

• Silhouette of Sam and Alissa (two of my classmates) I took their normal photographs originally but then Photoshop-ed them into red/white to fit the ongoing colour theme
• I have used vectors and another section of my drawing - played around with the contrast of colours etc...
• I have also used writing - this I was inspired by Radiohead to do as they also have a similar theme in one of their posters. It is a poem by the poet: Nazim Hikmet Ran who talks about freedom
• The YingYang I have used is also faceless which resembles the 'faceless' in my title. The good/evil of society
• Kept to my idea of birds, I still included them: the Corner of my album cover is to give it an urban feel as well

Finished Front/Back Cover

Here is the front/back cover of my DVD Album.

• I have kept to the black/red/white theme which is consistent throughout my ancillary task
• The use of birds was an option which came to me later in my desperate for inspiration days as I related them to liberation from the society which opposes them
• The branches I have used also exhibit a hidden meaning: "those birds who escape the oppressive society seek the privacy of a contempt life in the trees, hence building their nests up there"... - I could have used fishes as well as they also are far away from the human society but it would be absurd to relate fishes to human beings
• I have tried to incorporate certain sections of the abstract piece drawn as it will bring the whole ancillary task together: such as the mouth and nose of the character in the drawing
• I have also used branches which I originally took photographs of myself but then later decided to silhouette them into red on Photoshop, therefore, I have also gained the knowledge to manipulate photographs to fit my needs and demands!

Finished Magazine Advert

Here is the finished product of my Magazine Advert. I have managed to keep to my original idea of Red/Black, however, have also incorporated a hand drawn abstract piece which is supposed to support my Album Title: Faceless Society. I paid effort to maintain the theme of the 'unknown' as I have dismissed the stereotypical conventions of the bands photographs. In fact, there aren't any photographic medias used within it but a combination of what I, myself, have drawn and copy-right free vectors found on the net.

I think I have managed to improve my Photoshop skills immensely! I never knew how to used Photoshop before I'd begun the task and it was challenging at first, however, now I have evolved into a much better media student with sufficient knowledge of yet another software. I hope to use what I have learned and advance it further now that I know the foundational elements of it.

This experience has added a lot to my media understanding of the music industry and the advertising aspects of it. I can conclude now that it is if not the most, one of the most important aspects of the system. Without the advertisement then the communication of the band/art is hard and in order to succeed in this you have to spend a lot of time, effort and most importantly thought into constructing your creative ideas - especially if you have no budget, it is even harder than if you do.

other inspirations #: art poster

• The colour co-ordination in this poster is brilliant!
• I aim to also use red in my ancillary task as it is a very strong, bold colour
• The political tone in the poster has attracted me to using similiar technqiues in order to compose my own one

other inspirations#: Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane; photograph analysis

I like the attitude in this photograph and see potential to transform it as an album-cover. This photograph has added to inspire me to use black/white and to place an image for my band.

• The placing of the subject in a mid/long shot allows the audience to concentrate on merely that
• The blending of the subject along with the background hints at the character of the 'band'
• Graffitti shows the location of the band members, here it is possible to see a deserted place, and urban place

photograph taken from: Herb Greene Photography