End of Term DEADLINE

Friday 14th December 3pm. The following must be on your blog. If you have not submitted any of the analysis pieces but would like some feedback please make sure that you print in lesson to be marked or e-mail to Ms McLeod or Ms Schoburgh. Cut off point for that is Thursday at 3pm.

Interim Deadline

This Sunday from 2pm I will be marking your blog work so far and giving you an up to date current grade and targets.

This is what should be on your blog and in the correct order:

1. Introduction - say a little bit about yourself and what your aims are for this coursework
2. Britney Spears evolution analysis focusing on her changing representation
3. Pre-liminary tasks: front cover and contents mock up
4. Analysis of two front covers
5. Title block analysis
6. Analysis of contents page
7. Target audience profile
8. Magazine proposal
9. Link to questionnaire
10. Questionnaire results
11. Findings from questionnaire - a post about your finalised ideas

Also e-mail me your article analysis to my school account. You can access your e-mail from home via the school website - just scroll to the bottom of the home page.

Thanks!

Analysing Article Pages

1. How would you describe the language used in the article: is the language used informal or does it have a more academic quality? How does this language appeal to the audience? Give examples of words or phrases which are used and why these would appeal to the audience.

2. What tone does the magazine use to address the reader: as a close friend; a member of an 'in' crowd; or an informed intelligent fan? Again, provide examples.

3. What style of font is used? What does it tell you about the style of the magazine and the audience? What style is the title of the article? Does it stand out?

4. How is the page laid out: how must of the article is images and how much is text? How are text and images integrated: are there various entry points or is it a question/answer set up? How are the following used: standfirst; drop capitals; pull quotes; columns;

5. How does the style of the article match the style of the front cover? Is a house style being developed across all the pages you have analysed?

6. How is the person being represented through the images? Analyse the mise-en-scene used.

7. How is meaning anchored by the captions for the images?

8. Does the article demand any prior knowledge? If yes, give examples. How does the opening paragraph set up the interview: does it give background information or let you know where the interview is taking place, for example.

Analysing Magazine Contents

You should analyse a magazine contents page that relates to one of your front cover analysis e.g. NME cover and contents page:

1) Does the magazine use images? How have these image been constructed? How do they support your initial findings about the style of the magazine and its intended audience? How many images are there?

2) What colours and fonts are used? Does this support the style of the front cover? Is a house style being developed?

3) How is the information organised so that it is accessible to the audience? What are the different sections? What does this tell you about the magazine?

4) Are there any promotional features?

5) Is the magazine logo placed anywhere on the page? How dominant is it?
Does the brand have any other franchises? Are these promoted on the contents page?

Front Cover Terms

• Central image
• Title block
• Anchorage text
• Puffs
• Buzz words
• Price
• Slogan
• Barcode
• Seasonal theme

Half Term Deadline

What should be posted to my blog by Thursday 25th October?

• Pre-liminary front cover
• Contents page mock up
• Britney analysis
• Title block analysis
• 2x front cover analysis
• Initial magazine proposal
• Contents page analysis

Your initial current grade will be based on your two piece of front cover analysis.

Cover work for Ms Schoburgh's lesson: The Evolution of Britney Spears

Part of the coursework requirement is to carry out research into existing music magazines and explore the way characters are represented. Through your exam preparation you have learned how to analyse images through denotation and connotation. This skills will also be developed through your coursework.

You can clearly see the evolution of Britney Spears on the cover on Rolling Stone magazine. How are these images constructed to present ideas about the star? Remember, in the first cover she is only 17!

The questions are provided as a guide. If you would prefer to present your analysis as a denotation/connotation chart (using full sentences of course!) then this will also be fine.
Type your response up in Word and e-mail to Ms Schoburgh at the end of the session.

1)  What type of shot has been used and why? How has the image been framed/cropped?

2) Describe Britney’s costume. What does it suggest about her image? Who is this appealing to?

3) Have any props been used? What messages are they conveying to the audience?

4) Describe the setting and discuss the connotations of this

5) Are any intertextual references being made? What are the connotations of this?

6) What colours are used and why?

1) How has the image been framed/cropped? What type of shot has been used and why?

2) Describe Britney’s costume and pose. What type of relationship does she want with the reader?

3) What setting is used and what are the connotations of this?

4) How is lighting used?

5) What colours are used and why?

1) What type of shot is used and what impact does this have?

2) Why has this image been chosen? Is the use of black and white significant?

2) How has the image been cropped? 

3) How has lighting used to create an atmosphere? 

4) What type of relationship does Britney want with the audience? Is this supported by the anchorage text?

Grading Criteria...

Click on the image to preview. In your summative feedback you will be given a level and told how to improve. Use this table to check what you need to do for each grading level and to check your progress.

First Task: Preliminary Test

Today you are going to create the front cover for a new college magazine. Your front cover will include:

• a mid-shot of a student at the college
• a title for the magazine
• anchorage text
• puffs
• date

You will be using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to manipulate your images and arrange the elements on your page.

Overview of the Course...

Coursework is worth 50% of the final AS grade.

This is a coursework unit where you will produce two paired media artefacts. The chosen topic for this year will be music magazines. In your production work you will need to show progression from a pre-production task to a more fully realised piece.

The pre-production task involves you creating the front cover for a new college magazine including your own images. For those who have never studied media before this will help you to develop skills in media editing packages such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. You will also develop knowledge and understanding of the format and layout of magazines. For those of you who have studied media before (and may have already become a magazine expert!) this will give you the chance to refresh your skills.

The final production will involve producing a front cover, contents page and double page spread for a new music publication. You are expected to use at least 4 original images in your work.

There is of course plenty of written work to be done alongside the project and this will take the form of a blog.