What is Ideology?

In Media, Ideology refers to a system of belief/political system that is constructed and presented by media text. For example, a news story about a strike; It can be perceived or implies an underlying ideology about who is right.

Ideology is a very imprtant concept as it underpins the contruction of virtually any media text. This will aldways have an ideology which communicates expliciltly/implicitly to an audience. For example, a newspaper will usually have an explicit political ideology but may have an implicit ideology as well. A film may not appear an ideology but may construct a strong one for its audience. For a magazine, it could have an Ideology to do with a particular demographic, lifestyle or political system.

Researching Music Magazines

The next part of my preliminary task was to research two current music magazines, this will help my understanding to what the layout of these are like. Below are two examples:

Here, they both share many similarities in terms of features. Below is a mock-up of them, their key features and terms.

These magazines use features such as the main background image which is all over the cover, smaller features of the magazine which are at the bottom of the cover so that the main image is not completely covered. 

What does this suggest about what editors find important in terms of their cover make-up?
From here, the importance of cover make-up shows that because there is very little if any used, it shows the artist to be more 'true' in terms of emotion or the statement they are trying to justify.
How have pugs/banners/puffs etc been used to help sell the magazine?

Look at the use of Semiotics. Which colours and signs have been used, and what do they suggest? How do they help to sell the magazine?
Can you apply any of the theories you have learned (such as feminism/male gaze) to this cover? If so, comment on it.

Rule of Thirds

The Rule of thirds is a guideline which applies to the process of composing photographs or images. The guidline states that any image should be framed with only 2/3rds of the main object in focus or view. It also states that the main object should never be in the centre of the image so it looks more natural.

(an example of a picture without Rule of Thirds applied, and then one with Rule of Thirds.)

Preliminary Task: School Magazine Analysis

School Magazines


For this task, I have been asked to analyse a School magazine. For this I have chosen our own school's magazine to annotate the particular features which are seen in this; Normally in school magazines you would find:

• Informative text. (Generally about the school or current events)
• Pictures showing activities that are related to the school.
• Informal/Formal text depending if the magazine is aimed at the students or teachers/guardians.
• School Logo/House Style of the school represents synergy between the school and the magazine.

This is the front page of our school magazine. It includes the School Logo, and the same House Style colours to our uniform. This fits the typical layout of a school magazine.

This is the double-page spread of our school. The text used here is formal not only in font type but in the language used, this would be directed more towards parents/guardians as it talks about the press of students, also that it talks very informatively about the school.

Semiotics

Semiotics is where signs are used to stand for something other than what it is. For example, the colour green can represent envy or greed.

There are two main theories in Semiotics, "de Saussure's Dyadic Semiotic System, where there is the "Signifier" and a "Signified". The "Signifier" is what is seen and the "Signified" is what is implied or meant. The other is Pierce's Tryadic Semiotic System, here he describes different types of signs. Indexes (Signs) are connected to the meaning, (For example, a photograph or picture). Icons are related to the object in some way. Symbols are totally arbitrary (not connected to the indexes), and do not mean anything.

Questionnaire

You can complete my questionnaire here.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHVXaXVDQzZ1cFJaSWFJSVhPTWNLVWc6MQ#gid=0

Male Gaze Theory

Male Gaze Theory

Using Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory, I can apply this to some current films that are showing in cinemas. But firstly, the Male Gaze theory can be viewed that audiences can look at films in two ways:

• Voyeuristically
• Fetishistically

Cinema audiences watch these films in darkened rooms, so they are not seen by others. This makes them 'Voyeurs' and can have two effects:

• Objection of the Female Characters in relation to this theory.
• Narcissistic identification with an ideal image on the screen.

This theory also suggests that voyeurism involves turning the represented figure into a fetish, so that it becomes more desirable to the male audience. This leads to the creation of the iconic female movie-star who is celebrated for her looks and is considered more as an object other than anything else. This makes them like 'eye candy' for the male audience.

Underworld: Awakening (2012):

This film poster shows the main female character and not much else, which can show that is down to the male gaze that this is the way in which the film is advertised since they are using the looks to make it desirable for the male audience.


One for the Money (2012):

Here, the Male Gaze theory can be applied the movie poster shows the main female actor in focus, which again makes it desirable for the male audience.


Declaration of War (2011):

This film poster shows that Male Gaze Theory is not applied here since it shows a two shot of the main characters, and not showing the female character in any desirable (in terms of this theory) way.


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011):

Also, this poster suggests that in the film, Male Gaze Theory cannot be applied since the again is a two shot, and the poster is not showing the female character in any desirable (in terms of this theory) way.
 

Research Methods

Qualitative and Quantitative Research




When creating my magazine I will have to decide how I shall conduct my primary market research to find out my audience's preferences about music magazines. There are two types of research methods that I can carry out:


Qualitative: This research method involves gathering 'Quality' data from sources. This deals with descriptions which should be in-depth and opinionated. This type of data cannot be measured or counted, only observed. These are normally about colours, textures and appearances of particular things and can give more details than Quantitative data.


Quantitative: This research method involves gathering 'Quantity' data from sources. Unlike Qualitative data this provides a lot of amount of data, not necessarily in-depth or precise. These questions are normally about age range, sex and preferences.


I will conduct this research by use of an Online Questionnaire. This means that more people are exposed to this than in a physical format, since it can be distributed through social media and forums. I think people are more likely to complete my questionnaire since it reinforces anonynimity because of it being through the internet.

Introduction to Blog: Outline to Brief

Outline to the Brief


This Blog has been formed for my AS Media Coursework. The brief I have received has asked me to plan, research and create a Music Magazine. During this task, I have to produce a Front Cover and Contents page for a college magazine. After this I shall produce a Front Cover, Contents page and Double Page spread in the style of a music magazine. In order to have a good understanding of this I shall research different types of music magazines and describe how they appeal to different audiences. Once this is complete, I will have to complete Mock-up designs of my magazine before I create it. Then, I will produce a final copy of my magazine.

All research carried out will be posted on this blog to show my progression in the task.

Regards,
Stephen Hendrikse