COMMENTS

COMMENTS

Task1

Apologies for this taking so long Anya. I keep meaning to do it then ending up not doing it.

Okay, here we go.

First and foremost, fantastic. You've clearly thought very carefully about the effectiveness of your chosen images and your research has definitely impacted on the finished production work. This eye for design will be really useful when you move into the real production.

As for the productions themselves I am VERY impressed. Your covers are stylish, demonstrate an excellent eye for a cohesive house style and clearly control mise en scene and typography to create an excellent effect. Really spot on. Well done!

Task 2

Your photography shows really good attention to lighting and clearly fulfills all of the elements that were in the brief. I do however have one or two concerns about the effectiveness of the task for you because you are clearly in front of the camera for all of these images. If you haven't already done so, make sure that you spend some time acquainting yourself with the functions of the camera. You need to know the settings that are most effective and the right way to change shutter, iso and iris. You have tremendous creativity, so matching this with technical skill could see you achieving an A star in this section of the course. This should be your target.

Task 3

Research

There are no marks for this and so it doesn't matter how you present it, but I just have the feeling you could be a little more dynamic. I'll admit that I am nit picking, because you were really thorough here and it is clear that you demonstrated solid understanding of the genre. Be sure to look closely at representation and narrative. Really apply all the things you are learning across the course.

Magazine

Your cover is quirky and minimalistic in a good way. Beware this type of choice as it does cut you off from certain high scoring options, like using anchoring text in the representation of your central figure and implying certain narrative codes. On the inside I really like the layout and design and your choices of image are very good. But I don't think that the minimalism works so well. By the point that someone picks up the magazine and looks inside they are already hooked and at that point the appeal is the desire to read and be entertained by words. So, you need to do something that implies that. Puns work. Blocks of text work. etc. I'm still impressed by this piece, but I think it just needs to do a little more to get a very high grade. 19/25

Website

I really liked the idea of starting the website with an interview that would then find its way into the magazine. That is a really strong piece of convergence. However, I think your choice of fonts and layout and design in this section makes it look less professional. The general layout is sound but just like the magazine, it needs to be more text dense by this point to promise readers information and entertainment. Like most people I suggest you really focus on copying something that exists, totally copy it, and then start to embellish it. This will give you an authentic base to your production which you can then twist to make it more creative. 

17/25

Convergence

This you definitely did well. I got a real sense of the connection between the two and it was this that I was really looking for. The sensibilities matched, there seemed to be a definite relationship. This bodes very well. 8/10

44/60 - B grade - In summary, you did a really good job of this. Copying does need to be the basis for your approach to the real thing, but LOADS of potential. Definitely aiming for that A star.

PRACTICE TASKS

Here is some research into codes and conventions of youth fashion magazines. I found several I would like to use in my own magazine covers (ones in italics seem to be more unique to youth magazines):

• A close-up to medium close-up of a model using direct mode of address and not smiling. Experiment with posing and angles.
• Model is making a fashion statement or wearing a fashion forward outfit (more youth orientated look than in more adult magazines though) to make up for fewer sell lines associated with younger target audiences
• Minimalist design, fewer sell lines and those that are present are more related to politics or pass times than fashion in particular, are also quite small so the image itself can make a statement, may also be just one large word as a statement also
• Colour motifs individual to each issue to tie the whole image together and draw attention to areas of interest
• Experiment with placement of masthead and angles of all text
• Head, face, shoulders and text always clearly visible in image, never cropped out or obscured
• Naming the issue by its theme, eg "the global issue", and maybe slogans
• One consistent pose used by models to tie all issues together, eg wink face for i-D magazine
• Consistent placement of masthead and other text to tie all issues together
• Major sell lines seem to be at the bottom
• Consistent font if minimal sell lines, if many they are different to make important sell lines and name of magazine stand out as use more decorative fonts
• All caps or all lower case to look modern and experimental, may be consistent throughout or to draw attention to a particular line
• A box or other shape to highlight parts of the model and draw eyes towards particular areas of the image
• Different fonts, colours or styling of words within the magazine name to make it standout
• Famous or celebrity models on the cover, younger or more famous to young people

I chose to name the magazine"CROSSED", because it links to the consistent posing of the models (which suggests confidence but also teen rebellion and anger at the system) with crossed arms and the large"X" box framing them. It also links to the idea of being "cross" or angry at politics (as this is also part of what the magazine caters to as young people also care about world issues), and also suggests the phrase "don't cross me"giving the idea of being able to stand up for yourself. It also connotes kisses as in "x"s in text talk, giving it a more youthful flair and a slightly lighter tone also to be associated with the fashion and celebrity focuses that the magazine also has.

CAMERA RESEARCH

WEBSITE

https://14sandwella.wixsite.com/currentaffairsmag

PRODUCTION

PLANNING WEBSITE

PLANNING PRODUCTION

AUDIENCE RESEARCH WEBSITE

AUDIENCE RESEARCH PRODUCTION

CODES AND CONVENTIONS WEBSITE

CODES AND CONVENTION PRODUCTION

Current Affairs Magazine Aimed At Young People

STATEMENT OF INTENT

COURSEWORK BRIEF