LO1, Task 2: Sample materials (visualization diagrams)
Front Cover
2. Masthead - Masthead uses a font style which is conventional of the music magazine genre (similar to bands like sex pistols which have a similar target audience as the magazine) in which the house style colors of pink mixed with black and white are present. The pink within the banners that surround the letters in 'Casbah' relate to the persecution of Iranians who enjoyed listening to music due to the neon pink relating to the zeitgeist of the 80's/90's. This juxtaposes the battered black banners in 'Clash' which reflects the clash people had and the fight against musical oppression which is signified by the drowning black. This is furthered with the denotation guitar graphic which further connotes the magazine to be of the music genre. This is in a mix sans serif font style to juxtapose the connoted order of serif fonts (also signifying a mature young adult audience) with the battered banners and fluctuating, vibrant house style colours that use neon. This is to convey the youth of the target audience with 80's/90's flair. The masthead's name also referencing 80's band 'The Clash' to further the zeitgeist. 'Clash' and the style of banners also linking to teenage rebellion therefore, furthering appeal to the target audience.
3. Cover Lines - These intrigue the audience through what they will find within the magazine; the banners separate the text making it easier to digest (as if there's less text) and stand out from the background therefore, appealing to a teen/young adult audience. The banner for 'win a special CD' using a castle tower in the top right of the banner to further convey the theme of music prosecution in Kasbah via imagery of a broken tower to signify the revolution. They are in a sans serif font style to further the ease of reading to appeal to the teen/young adult demographic. This is furthered in a peer-peer mode of address which appeals to the target audience due to the colloquial style therefore, intriguing them.
4. Main Cover Image - Representations of a male via low angle to reflect a feeling of power as he holds his jacket over his shoulder, juxtaposing the orderly and dignified connotations of a shirt and tie as they're used casually and loosely with the holding of the jacket furthering the colloquial style of the male. Furthermore, anchoring is used from the cover-line 'meet the star guitarist' which lays just above his head and the main cover-line which signifies him to be the star guitarist of 'The Pnuematics'. Costume and colours are clearly denoted which compliment the house style colours of the graphic elements.
5. Main Cover Line - Using the same house style colours seen on the masthead (white, pink and black) I have created a unique cover line which gives identity to the band and further conveys the motif of rock within the magazine due to the damaged black banners, relating to the same meaning as the masthead's. Furthermore, the pink is used to anchor the surrounding text to give double meaning, spelling 'The Pnuematics' but also saying 'Bringing the Pressure AT Sheffield' with the text using the same pink. Differently to the masthead, the font style is still sans serif to further the ease of reading for the 16-25 audience.
Main Cover Line Replacement -
Due to changing bands (therefore, altering the main cover line) the text will follow 'The Midnight Train arrives at Sheffield Station' where the same font and graphical styles will be used as before without the double meaning mentioned previously. The new design can be seen on the visual styles and themes below.
6. Cover Image - This furthers male representations through showing another band member which anchors to a pull quote (7); another low angle furthering dominant connotations allowing for ideal self from the audience. Band equipment of an amp and guitar with colloquial, vintage costume furthering denotations in conventions of a music/rock magazine.
7. Pull Quote - Anchors to the cover image next to it with text that intrigues the audience; especially those interested in starting a band (likely due to the music magazine), taking advice from professionals.
Bar code - Conventional placement within music magazines, following the same placement as 'Rolling Stones'.
8. Background/White Space - To be filled in by the background location in which the main cover image is taken, graphical elements like cover-lines juxtaposing the grounded colours of real life environments to signify the 'out there' style of rock.
Font Styles and Graphics - Within the cover lines the selected font would be courier new due to the connotations to traditional style which is a linking theme to indie rock which is what is present in the genre of band featured on the cover. This is furthered within the main cover-line which features the band name 'The Pneumatics' to separate it from the rest of the cover in the 'All Rights Reserved' font which uses the same clashing heights seen on potential masthead designs. This uses a sans serif style to appeal to a teenage audience through ease of reading. This is then edited with graphical features like adding the house style colours to the main cover line to keep the theming consistent. Additionally banners have been used (within the house style colours) to separate the cover lines from the background; they have been edited (with slashes and scarring) to keep them in a similar style to the masthead and the theme of the magazine.
Visual Styles and Themes
Contents Page
2. Images - Male representations of an ideal self for the target audience with body language which signifies a lack of care, furthered by use of sunglasses in a low-key environment to further portray the idea of intrigue and ideal self.
3. Quote - Following conventions of 'Rolling Stones' magazine, review for the band presented on the cover and contents (The Pnuematics) via the quote to give the audience the feeling of others on the band and make the magazine seem more professional; serif font furthering this.
5. Background (image) - Low-key lighting with colour created through the background for where the image will be taken (urban setting).
4. Sub-Headings - Through the use of a small, coloured banner (similar to an underline) and sub-headings, the audience is easily able to find what content fits their interest as each heading is segmented therefore, appealing to a teen audience through ease of reading.
5. Captions/Sub-Heading - Small captions follow sub-headings to give further insight into what the sub-headings/magazine entails via short summary that use sell-line-like statements (some with alliteration) to make them quick to read and understand.
6. Images - More band representation to further ideal self. This is furthered with the model from the feature appearing throughout.
7. Small Section Highlighting Sheffield news to further the idea that this is a local magazine.
Font Styles and Graphics: Potential fonts could either be courier new for all the text (except the page title) to keep it consistent with the cover however, times new roman could also be used to signify the more mature audience (16-25) however, this is a serif font therefore, may make the purpose of using the contents to quickly find a page via reading more difficult. The contents title uses graphical elements where the colour of the title changes from black as it crosses over the image on the right to allow it to stand out from the low-key lighting. This however, will be in a serif style to maintain the theme of indie rock due to the coverage of an indie rock band and its mature but stylistic connotations.
Visual Styles and Themes
Double Page Spread
1. Interview - I have pre-typed and stuck on what will be contained within the interview (mentioned on the cover and contents pages) with the guitarist however, despite pre-writing the questions, the answers are yet to be obtained from the actual interview (in planning) therefore, I have left a placeholder of 'response from interviewee'. Furthermore, these questions relate to what is advertised on the cover to give the target audience benefit from being interested in the magazine, such as advice on how to start a band.
2. Images - Model's costumes are present on both images to give a clear idea on how they should look,
including props like a guitar; this including a medium shot to show the guitar and the care-free way the musician holds it to further connotations that these artists (like the audience) are relaxed and careless/rebellious. This is furthered in the right hand side image which uses iconography like punk gloves and sunglasses with unkempt hair for the conventions of punk/indie rock costumes. This furthered with a graphical background featuring the magazine's name to make the photos seem more professional. This is furthered with the model from the feature appearing throughout the page.
3. Page Number - Inspired by 'Rolling Stones' the page number is in a similar sans serif format to remain consistent with the style present on the contents and blend of rebellious teen punk against mature, traditional style; fitting conventions of indie rock.
4. Image - Posture/body language and costume signifies the same motif as the rest of the magazine with a feeling of carelessness; low-key colours to be used to signify a mysterious and therefore 'cool' and dominant feel to the man represented (in the dark but not caring, comfortably sitting).
5. Article - Article uses drop cap and peer-peer mode of address to create colloquial language which informs the reader in a way which is relatable and easy to understand for a teenage audience due to the casual style.
6. (Pull) Quote - Uses context to anchor the quote to the guitarist above however, to make it more evident, a reference/name can be added beneath. This also uses a relaxed teacher-pupil mode of address which educates upcoming artists or general musicians (the target audience), again linking to the cover and what's advertised.
7. Drop Cap - In the same house style colours as the cover and rest of the DPS, pink/purple remains consistent with the neon creating connotations of the 80/90's disco/punk rock zeitgeist.
Slug - I intend to add a slug to the top left of the double page spread to further conventions of music magazines.
Lead - I intend to add a lead to inform the audience further about what the page is about. An example could include: The Pnuematics (now The Midnight Train) are here to rival the titans of the music industry and revive that classic 70's rock. Sheffield's voice is coming back.
Headline Title - Within the title I emphasize what the article on the first page is about, drawing parallel to the cover with the cover-line 'meet the star guitarist' to give gratification for those who buy the magazine (promised as advertised). Furthermore, 'star' is emphasized in neon pink (house style colours) relating to the fact that this guitarist is who is present on the feature. However, the font style and graphical effects are serif and lacking therefore, to increase engagement and create meaning I intend to change this text into what is seen on the visual styles and themes diagram below.
Font Styles and Graphics: The title remains consistent with the font (Saint Carrel) on the contents page in which 'star' is coloured neon pink (house style). Courier new is used as well in the articles and interviews to remain consistent. Graphical elements are used through borders at the bottom of the page to separate the page number which is in Saint Carrel as well to separate it from the normal (courier new) text. Saint Carrel takes the role of more important text and courier new taking on larger/general pieces of text. Graphical elements (which can be seen below) are evident in the background of one of the images with the text 'Casbah Clash' in the background. This uses a serif font to remain stylistic as the font doesn't necessarily need to be read. This is within a background that uses the house style colours (pink).
Article seen on 5: Within a competitive media industry in what is claimed to be ‘city of music’ The Pneumatics were able to stand amongst and above the competition under the shining light of iconic artists which came before from the City of Steel. Their indie rock style rivaling works of Pulp and Arctic Monkeys alike, evident in their practice as successors to the legendary bands. The Pnuematics are sure to continue Sheffield’s musical legacy and apply pressure on the competition.
Taking on gigs flooded with their dedicated fans sprouting in as the band continues to grow twice a month, you (the reader) have the opportunity to catch these newly emerging Sheffield Stars in action as they serenade you with their rocking beats. The band's next gig will be taking place at (location) on (date), be sure to attend if you want to experience a true indie rock experience.
Visual Styles and Themes
The house style colours I'm using within my assets remain consistent throughout the magazine; the neon pink, purple and black are intended to create connotations of 80/90's night life, discrete night clubs and teenage rebellion which fit within the zeitgeist that the target audience grew up in.
No comments:
Post a Comment