Evaluation Q1In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Genre Conventions ‘A way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity.’

Drum & Bass Conventions:

High tempo• Quick cuts• Range of camera shots• Jump cuts

Image matches beat

Full Narrative

Urban theme

Mise-en-scene• Hoodies• Tracksuit• Masks (Theme of identity)

Video Comparison - Similarities

Crime

Urban Scenari

o

Identity

Possible Improvement

Computer Generated Images (CGI):

With the use of computer generated images like in The Prodigy – Warriors Dance the use of technology could be fully utilised in attempt to gain full marks.Lip Synchronisation:

Lip synching is a main convention of any form of music video. The use of quick cuts and lip synching is very effective in Chase & Status – Pieces as it matches the beat with each cut. This aspect is missing from our own video.Artist Performances:

Combination of performance and narrative is a common convention of music videos. Although we aimed for a full narrative, aspects of performance could have improved it in some areas.

Advert Conventions

Artist name

Album name

Image of artist

Release date

Use of brand image 

Artist logos

Record company 

Websites - Artist + record company

Key features of album

Reviews + Rating

Advert Analysis

Image of the product being promoted (Digipak) to allow customers to easily recognise it.

Release date to inform the customers when the digipak is released in bigger, bolder writing as it is more important.

Highlighting the key feature of the product.

Barcode that the target audience can scan in order to receive access to more information about the artist and album.

Artist website to encourage users to visit for more information.

Artist website to encourage users to visit for more information.

Record label logo to show they support this artist and generally promote the reputation of the artist.

Album title in bigger, bolder writing to make it stand out and promote the album title.

Artist main tour dates to provide fans information where and when they will perform.

Artist name in biggest writing to attract audience eye and promote the band. ‘Presents’ used to prevent confusion between artist and album name.

Best reviews used to emphasise how good the artist and album is.

Advert Analysis - Pendulum

Advert Analysis – Chase & Status

Advert Comparisons - Pendulum

Comparing our advert to that of Pendulum, there are obvious similarities with the artist name being the convention that stands out most. For example with the promotional sentence the artist name is significantly larger. As well as the key features and the promotional sentence, our adverts share the convention of telling the audience where they can purchase the product – although we only have a recognisable iTunes icon whereas Pendulum have a number of distributors due to being a bigger, more successful artist in the drum & bass market.

Advert Comparisons – Chase & Status

When comparing our advert to that of Chase & Status’ No More Idols, there were a few similarities between the two in terms of conventions of a promotional advert. To begin with, they included reviews from magazines to emphasise to their audience how good the album is. Also, Chase & Status have included tour dates/locations to not only promote the album but their live performances. These aspects are also found on our product, making it seem more legitimate and professional that our product shares conventions with real media products of the leading artists of our genre.

Digipak Conventions

Name of artist

Name of album/single

Pictures of artist 

Artist information – Vocalist, Guitarist etc.  Track list 

Bar code 

Record label 

Copyright 

Consistent house style - font, colours etc.

Spine - featuring artist + album/single name. 

Digipak AnalysisRecord label logo to show they support this artist and generally promote the reputation of the artist.

Barcode that the target audience can scan in order to receive access to more information about the artist and album.

Barcode that is used by stores to scan the product in to the system and give the digipak a unique value.

Track list which is a key element of a digipak to inform the audience of the song content.

Artist name / band logo on front cover to inform the audience of the artist of the digipak. Inclusion of ‘presents’ to prevent confusion between album and artist.

Album title on front cover so that all the audience can see when the product is on the shelf is the most important information – written in boldest/red writing to be more appealing. Extra panel of image

used I n advert to keep to the urban theme of the digipak.

Spine of the digipak with the album and artist name written on – still in the same house style as rest of the digipak. Makes the digipak easy to identify when stacked sideways on a shelf.

Website provided for audience find additional information about the artist regarding tour dates, news and downloadable content. Free discount code provided to buy merchandise – only available with the purchase of the digipak.

Social networking accounts where fans can follow and keep up to date – competitions and ‘give aways’ would also be provided.

Message from the artist to the fans to attempt to connect with their audience.

Disc tray which is a key feature expected from an album to hold the disc.

Continuous image from 3 panels is a common feature in some digipaks. This also highlights our urban theme by having city streets.

Digipak Analysis – Chase & Status

Digipak Analysis - Pendulum

Consistent house style – underwater theme which is appropriate to album title.

Barcode that the target audience can scan in order to receive access to more information about the artist and album.

Artist name in biggest writing to attract audience eye and promote the band. ‘Presents’ used to prevent confusion between artist and album name.

Album title in bigger, bolder writing to make it stand out and promote the album title.

Spine of the digipak with the album and artist name written on – still in the same house style as rest of the digipak. Makes the digipak easy to identify when stacked sideways on a shelf.

Track list which is a key element of a digipak to inform the audience of the song content.

Digipak Comparison – Chase & Status

In comparison to Chase & Status – No More Idols our digipak shares a number of conventions that are expected from the audience. The main similarity between these two albums are that the most important information such as the artist name and album name stand out from the toned down house style with the use of bold writing and bright colours. This aspect would make our product more eye catching for our target audience making it more appealing for them to purchase.

Digipak Comparison - Pendulum

In comparison to Pendulum – Immersion, our digipak shares a few similarities in terms of conventions of a digipak. With the key features such as bar code, album title and artist name being the basic expectations, our digipak shares the copyright laws and record company logos and consistency of the house style along the spine with Pendulum’s album. This shows that we have produced a professional piece of work with close attention being paid to detail.

Conclusion

As shown in this presentation, the use of conventions and expectations were a highly important guide to creating products with a professional feel.

With the comparisons I have provided with our products and leading artists of our genre, there are a number of noticeable similarities. However with our masks in our music video for example, the process of considering conventions and challenging them to adhere to your own unique product is vital to building your own brand image.