Thursday, 20 October 2016
Wednesday, 19 October 2016
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Research- Youth Subcultures and Death of the Music Press
After having read the two articles linked down below, there are five vital points that I have noticed about change in the media over the recent years.
Point 1- The consumption of print music media has experienced and is still currently experiencing a decline.
Point 2- During the 1950's to the 1990's music choice was more of a lifestyle, rather than, the overlooked yet integral consumption that it is today.
Point 3- There are various theories that provide explanations for this change, such as;
The increase in affordability of clothes means that buying a certain style of clothes is much easier and less of a commitment than it used to be, reflecting on the teenagers' willingness to wholeheartedly follow a music genre/theme and therefore are less likely of buying printed music media.
Teenagers no longer feel the need to rebel by the means of clothing or ritual, as they are simply contented with the entertainment that is on offer.
Teenagers are preoccupied, worrying about their financial future.
It is now more appealing for teenagers to create an identity online than to the outside world; meaning that the consumption of printed media, clothing and accessories that represent one's identity has fallen.
The internet also allows teenagers to be updated 24/7 rather than the weekly printed magazines which is much less limited and more expensive.
Point 4- The invention of the internet has created a dramatic effect on the way in which music is produced, distributed and sold, for a song can now just simply be posted and shared on social media and can be sold on platforms such as iTunes. This results in a much less immersive and dedicated experience by the consumer. In addition, the internet has caused the once very distinctive subcultures to dissipate and merge into one eclectic demographic.
The internet also, 'spawns brief microcosmic' trends- adjacent to the 'mass movements' caused by the previous music media.
Point 5- The idea that creativity and fearlessness that were once ablaze during the 1950's to the 1990's has now been dimmed and that the younger population are becoming older and older before they become independent.
Youth subculture
Death of the music press
Point 1- The consumption of print music media has experienced and is still currently experiencing a decline.
Point 2- During the 1950's to the 1990's music choice was more of a lifestyle, rather than, the overlooked yet integral consumption that it is today.
Point 3- There are various theories that provide explanations for this change, such as;
The increase in affordability of clothes means that buying a certain style of clothes is much easier and less of a commitment than it used to be, reflecting on the teenagers' willingness to wholeheartedly follow a music genre/theme and therefore are less likely of buying printed music media.
Teenagers no longer feel the need to rebel by the means of clothing or ritual, as they are simply contented with the entertainment that is on offer.
Teenagers are preoccupied, worrying about their financial future.
It is now more appealing for teenagers to create an identity online than to the outside world; meaning that the consumption of printed media, clothing and accessories that represent one's identity has fallen.
The internet also allows teenagers to be updated 24/7 rather than the weekly printed magazines which is much less limited and more expensive.
Point 4- The invention of the internet has created a dramatic effect on the way in which music is produced, distributed and sold, for a song can now just simply be posted and shared on social media and can be sold on platforms such as iTunes. This results in a much less immersive and dedicated experience by the consumer. In addition, the internet has caused the once very distinctive subcultures to dissipate and merge into one eclectic demographic.
The internet also, 'spawns brief microcosmic' trends- adjacent to the 'mass movements' caused by the previous music media.
Point 5- The idea that creativity and fearlessness that were once ablaze during the 1950's to the 1990's has now been dimmed and that the younger population are becoming older and older before they become independent.
Youth subculture
Death of the music press
Monday, 17 October 2016
Third Chapter of Media Studies by Julian McDougall Feedback
Third Chapter of Media Studies by Julian McDougall Feedback- Reading Media
There are multiple ways in which media can exercise power over citizens, some of these ways are mentioned/explained below:
Point 1- Even though the feminist media theory is always changing and varying, there is a general agreement that the average media text represents the male point of view as the 'norm' and therefore female views are seen as 'other'.
Point 2- A Marxist would say that whoever has control over the media, has the power to create a false consciousness. This is where a belief in ideas and values as truths when in fact they are constructed ideologies which support the power base.
Point 3- Even though a democracy would mean that people are entitled to a free media, with an open , access and impartial information flow without gate keeping, it is actually rarely found in practice due to media ownership etc.
There are multiple ways in which media can exercise power over citizens, some of these ways are mentioned/explained below:
Point 1- Even though the feminist media theory is always changing and varying, there is a general agreement that the average media text represents the male point of view as the 'norm' and therefore female views are seen as 'other'.
Point 2- A Marxist would say that whoever has control over the media, has the power to create a false consciousness. This is where a belief in ideas and values as truths when in fact they are constructed ideologies which support the power base.
Point 3- Even though a democracy would mean that people are entitled to a free media, with an open , access and impartial information flow without gate keeping, it is actually rarely found in practice due to media ownership etc.
Second Chapter of Media Studies by Julian McDougall Feedback
Second Chapter of Media Studies by Julian McDougall Feedback- Reading Media
Point 1- Polysemy is a word to describe the range of ways a text is interpreted. However it can be argued that all media texts are to degree, polysemic.
Point 2- Spectatorship is the way the consumers receive films which is effected by our social and political backgrounds.
Point 3- Auteur Theory- When directors have characteristic traits in the way in which films are produced and therefore become recognizable for it.
Point 4- Conventions- in moving images conventions such as camera angles, sound effects, dialogue all have semiotic meanings that overtime, consumer has learned to associate with certain genres. Therefore to follow the conventions of a specific genre, editing is used.
Point 5- The media is now challenged by digital media as to how much it can be changed to create new concepts, while maintaining mainstream ideas of the current media.
Point 1- Polysemy is a word to describe the range of ways a text is interpreted. However it can be argued that all media texts are to degree, polysemic.
Point 2- Spectatorship is the way the consumers receive films which is effected by our social and political backgrounds.
Point 3- Auteur Theory- When directors have characteristic traits in the way in which films are produced and therefore become recognizable for it.
Point 4- Conventions- in moving images conventions such as camera angles, sound effects, dialogue all have semiotic meanings that overtime, consumer has learned to associate with certain genres. Therefore to follow the conventions of a specific genre, editing is used.
Point 5- The media is now challenged by digital media as to how much it can be changed to create new concepts, while maintaining mainstream ideas of the current media.
Thursday, 13 October 2016
First Chapter of Media Studies by Julian McDougall Feedback
First Chapter of Media Studies by Julian McDougall Feedback
In order to summarise the large detailed amounts of information that I obtained after reading the first chapter of this book, I think it would be a good idea to use the title for this chapter, even though all of the points are very tightly intertwined with each other.
Point 1 (Why is it important to study media?)- It is important to for media studies to exist as an academic subject for not only has the media become a much more integral part of western culture, it is also reached the point that it is creating and forging the views and conventions of society today. Therefore in order for the coming and current generations to 'arm themselves' against the forces of the media, 'achieve a higher order of media literacy', and to 'get on top of new digital technologies', it is crucial for students to study media.
Point 2 (What is Media Studies?)- Media Studies can be both macro and micro in terms of the topics that students are educated about. For example, media teaches how to analyse all different types of texts whether it be printed. digital or moving pictures, and the effects that the media has on the consumer and how both the production and consummation of media has changed dramatically over time. On the other hand, media studies can also zoom in on more micro topics such as TV dramas, videogames and music magazines and how certain conventions and styles are formed and used for an effect.
Point 3 (How can media be studied?)- Learners can be given pieces of texts to deconstruct and analyse how the media is used. In addition, they can be taught how to create their own pieces of texts whether it be a short film or magazine.
Point 4 (Who are the media?)- Even though media was once owned by persons of high power, it has now become something that is created by the average consumer, (who are now becoming prosumers), via social networking sites such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook; particularly in the western world. However, in other parts of the globe, communist countries like China, the media is heavily owned and censored by the government.
Point 5 (Theories of the media)- Theorists of media suggest that not only can it be used to study the way in which people think and cultures, but can also be a huge influence on these areas.
In order to summarise the large detailed amounts of information that I obtained after reading the first chapter of this book, I think it would be a good idea to use the title for this chapter, even though all of the points are very tightly intertwined with each other.
Point 1 (Why is it important to study media?)- It is important to for media studies to exist as an academic subject for not only has the media become a much more integral part of western culture, it is also reached the point that it is creating and forging the views and conventions of society today. Therefore in order for the coming and current generations to 'arm themselves' against the forces of the media, 'achieve a higher order of media literacy', and to 'get on top of new digital technologies', it is crucial for students to study media.
Point 2 (What is Media Studies?)- Media Studies can be both macro and micro in terms of the topics that students are educated about. For example, media teaches how to analyse all different types of texts whether it be printed. digital or moving pictures, and the effects that the media has on the consumer and how both the production and consummation of media has changed dramatically over time. On the other hand, media studies can also zoom in on more micro topics such as TV dramas, videogames and music magazines and how certain conventions and styles are formed and used for an effect.
Point 3 (How can media be studied?)- Learners can be given pieces of texts to deconstruct and analyse how the media is used. In addition, they can be taught how to create their own pieces of texts whether it be a short film or magazine.
Point 4 (Who are the media?)- Even though media was once owned by persons of high power, it has now become something that is created by the average consumer, (who are now becoming prosumers), via social networking sites such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook; particularly in the western world. However, in other parts of the globe, communist countries like China, the media is heavily owned and censored by the government.
Point 5 (Theories of the media)- Theorists of media suggest that not only can it be used to study the way in which people think and cultures, but can also be a huge influence on these areas.
Wednesday, 12 October 2016
Monday, 10 October 2016
Friday, 7 October 2016
My Sixth Form Magazine Cover (Central image)
 |
| Step 3-This is the final edited image. In order to make the image more friendly and aesthetically pleasing, I increased the brightness and smoothed out any imperfections. |
 |
| Step 3- This is the original version of the central image that I chose for my front cover. |
 |
| Step 2- Here, I have cropped the picture into a mid-shot and then I inverted the picture horizontally. This was so I could put the cover lines on the left hand side for the consumer would read the text from left to right, so by therefore inverting the picture, it would produce a more aesthetically pleasing piece of text. |
Thursday, 6 October 2016
Research- Adobe Package Review
From reading this article, I learnt that Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign are all imaging editing software, and that depending on the task at hand, (whether its print or digital, an image or text, a vector or a raster), depends on what programme is to be used for they are specially tailored to do specific jobs. In addition, I've learnt that by using each programme where appropriate, I can achieve a product of a much higher quality, much more efficiently, in comparison to just using one software.
Photoshop is best suited for retouching photos, editing artwork, creating digital images for online use, (e.g social media and banner ads) and website or app mockup, and editing animations and videos. However, if the piece contains paragraphs of text another programme is to be used. Also, one wants to create a logo, due to its ability to use vectors is limited, a programme like Illustrator would be much more suited. This is because vectoring programs use calculations when it comes to enlarging/ shrinking images, preventing the image to lose quality or to become pixelated.
Hence, Illustrator should be used when creating and dealing with logos, one-page print pieces, (for example posters)or if one needs to set type for a logo (dealing with typography). On the other hand, if the image itself has to be heavily edited, Photoshop is much more suited for it has more tools to achieve a wider range of effects.
For anything that is more than a single page long, InDesign is much more efficient. For example magazines, books, posters and flyers, whether it is print or digital.
Photoshop is best suited for retouching photos, editing artwork, creating digital images for online use, (e.g social media and banner ads) and website or app mockup, and editing animations and videos. However, if the piece contains paragraphs of text another programme is to be used. Also, one wants to create a logo, due to its ability to use vectors is limited, a programme like Illustrator would be much more suited. This is because vectoring programs use calculations when it comes to enlarging/ shrinking images, preventing the image to lose quality or to become pixelated.
Hence, Illustrator should be used when creating and dealing with logos, one-page print pieces, (for example posters)or if one needs to set type for a logo (dealing with typography). On the other hand, if the image itself has to be heavily edited, Photoshop is much more suited for it has more tools to achieve a wider range of effects.
For anything that is more than a single page long, InDesign is much more efficient. For example magazines, books, posters and flyers, whether it is print or digital.
Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Planning- Flat Plans
 |
| This is a flat plan for my front cover. |
 |
| This is a flat plan for my contents page. |
Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Monday, 3 October 2016
Feedback Sheet of Second Textual Analysis
As the feedback has suggested, I am going to improve my work by including more information about the target audience, for example, the demographics and the psycho-graphics. In addition to this, I am going to also include what the magazine didn't do well as well as what the magazine did do well.
 |
| Picture of Feedback Sheet of Second Textual Analysis |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)