TASK 12 (Evaluation Question Four)

TASK 12 (Evaluation Question Three)

http://courtneydionne7.wix.com/hiphop-artist

Please copy and paste the above link to access Question Three of my Evaluation.

TASK 12 (Evaluation Question Two)

TASK 12 (Evaluation Question One)

(TASK 11) Media Evaluation Preparation - A summary of theory

Media Theory – Goodwin (1993)

v He looks at music videos as a category of media product, not a genre.

v Believes the authorage implies that the artist literally stamps his/her visual style on the video, making it recognisable to audiences. Therefore the producer does not have authorage according to Goodwin. Can authorage change? Yes

v Goodwin’s suggestions regarding analysing and considering in relation to music video and its relationship with the audience:

v The mood of the video (how the music, lyrics and visuals combine to produce a feeling)

v The narrative structure (the extent to which the video tells a clear time-sequenced story or is non-linear with flashbacks etc.)

v The level of realism/fantasy of the settings/environments

v Standard themes .e.g. love and sex, loss of innocence, political or social agendas

v Importance of performance – do certain genres of music use performance more than others?

v Modes of sexuality – the female as mother or whore, androgyny and the blurring of dress codes, representations of homosexuality

v Nature of music videos as an ‘authored’ text – do what degree is the music video about the performer/artist

v The music – what do we hear and how does it relate?

Structuralist Narrative Theory – Claude Levi-Strauss

-         Narrative theories help us to look for common structures or patterns in music videos.

-         Interested in binary oppositions. He noted how many narratives involve a tension between two opposing ideas/characters. Good V Evil, Civilisation V Wilderness, Wisdom of age V impulsiveness of youth, Masculinity V Femininity. Such oppositions help to drive a narrative forward and maintain audience interest.

-         Opposition is deeply ingrained in our culture.

Roland Barthes’ Codes

-         We code-break when we watch things. Narrative works with different codes which activate the reader to make sense of it. Action codes (things easily understood, give information) and enigma codes (mystery, withholds information) involve the sequencing of narratives. The audience gets pleasure from information and the withdrawal of information.

(TASK 9) The Final Product Advert

(TASK 9) Constructing the A4 Advert

  

(TASK 9) Constructing the A4 Advert

(TASK 9) The Final Production (Inside Right Panel)

(Task 9) constructing the CD/ Inside right

(Task 9) constructing the CD/ Inside right

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD/ Inside right

I have started constructing the CD and inside right panel of my CD Digi-pack. I found it incredibly hard to get an accurate shape of the CD, so I used a template and formed the shape on a seperate document. I then dragged that shape over onto the required document. I did the same for the inner circles. I chose to maintain the color scheme because it keeps the house style consistent. Originally, I had planned to place an image on my CD but I chose not to, as I wanted to keep my CD Digi-pack simple.

(TASK 9) The Final Product (Inside Left Panel)

I like this arrangement as it shows different sides to my artist. I also like the fact that there are pictures with a direct mode of adresss, and also another without. This emphasises the different sides to her - brave and daring, but also much deeper and soulful. I also like that the black background varies according to the picture because, in my opinion, the change of lighting also changes the tone of the picture. 

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digipack - inside left panel

This is my inside left panel. In my mock-ups I originally planned to leave the left panel plain black. However, whilst exploring I discovered that I liked the idea of representing my artist in a variety of ways, using a collage. I tried 4 images at first, but I felt that it was too much and overwhelming, and I wanted to keep the simplicity of the CD Digi-pack that I had established.

(TASK 9) The Final Product (Spine)

This is the final JPEG version of the spine of my CD Digi-pack.

(TASK 9) Constructing the spine

I found this to be the easisest element to organise and design, because it was a matter of putting the artist's name and the name of the EP on the spine, as well as the recording logo. I kept the house style consistent.

(TASK 9) The Final Product (Back)

This is the final JPEG Version of the back of my CD Digi-pack and I am extremely pleased with it.  I rearranged the track list so that they would not be so high up. I also placed my name as the producer of the CD Digi-pack, and I rearranged the placement of the additional texts. It now looks much more organised and aesthetically pleasing. I moved the barcode slightly over to the right and applied the same consistent brightness and contrast setting to the image. I was inspired by both Adele and Tori Kelly's adverts. Firstly, the idea to have a picture where the artist does not directly address the audience was inspired by both case studies, and the focus and definition of hair was inspired by Tori Kelly.

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digi-pack - Back

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digipack - Back

I have moved the image away from the gutter. I have also rearranged the additional text on the back of my CD Digi-pack.

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digi-pack - back

There was an issue with the colour of the logo 'Def Jam', as it was previously red and did not fit into the colour scheme. I had a technical difficulty regarding how to change the colour as it was a set image, and the only two options were to apply a colour overlay or gradient overlay. I tried to apply the gradient overlay and the colour changed to a musty white/ slightly grey colour, and I think this fits in much better.  I have also added other important conventional information, such as a ownership of sound statement, the artist's website and the record label's website.

I applied a gradient overlay which successfully changed the colour of the logo. I think discovering this helped me to develop my technical skills regarding photoshop.

This is the process - changing the colour of the logo

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digi-pack - Back

I have added the logo of 'Def Jam' records, and I chose this label because it is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, which is an extremely large company. I also think that this record label sells music similar to the style of Tori Kelly (pop/R & B), such as August Alsina.

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digipack - Back

I am constructing the back of my CD Digi-pack, maintaining a consistent house style to demonstrate continuity. I have used an image where there is no direct mode of address to continue to connote mystery and depth. So far I have added my tracks and the barcode. In terms of the iconography (image) I applied the same amount of brightness and contrast level, and I will also do this for other elements of the product. I am thinking of rearranging the track list to sort out the issue of spacing, and moving the image away from the gutter (rulers). I also intend to stick to the conventions and add other details, such as the logo of the recording company.

(TASK 9) The Final Product (Front Cover)

This is the final JPEG version of my front cover. I think that this product is of a high standard because of the quality of the photograph. I used a DSLR Canon camera to shoot the photographs and using the technology of Photoshop, I adjusted the brightness and contrast of the image. I also like the simplicity of the typography and the placement of it. I applied the conventions of the front cover of CD Digi-packs, and I was heavily influenced by my case study of Adele's album '21.'

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digipack - Front Cover

I have now implemented the artist's name which is essentially her brand. I wanted the typography to be a unique selling point, so I designed it - adding dots between each letter of her name. This adds an aspect of individualism to her as an artist.

(TASK 9) Constructing the CD Digipack - Front cover

Today, I started to construct the front cover of my CD Digi-pack. I have been inspired by my case study of Adele's album '21', and I implemented the colour scheme of monochrome, white and green.

I chose this particular image for the front cover because it is not a direct mode of address, so it connotes mystery. I also think that the use of a monochrome image against coloured typography really portrays the artists as soulful and unique.

 I altered the brightness and contrast to bring out the sparkle of her earing and make her eyes and lips brighter. I think that this simplistic image is quite breath-taking. Furthermore, I used simplistic typography (Adobe Hebrew) so that the front cover is not too busy.

I am yet to add the artist's name.