Evaluation - Emily

Q: How does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In my opinion our magazine uses many different conventions which are present in most magazines; however we tried to adapt these conventions to create a new generation of magazine interface. We started off with our questionnaire (will upload asap) which helped us gain a rough idea of the kind of music that specific ages were interested in.

Our brainstorming of names was finally shortlisted to SMASH, and Bassline; of which we decided to use Bassline as we feel it is a rather catchy, yet ambiguous title for a magazine.

Layout wise, our magazine uses traditional elements of a brand identity, price, cover stories, and a signature cover photo. These qualities allow our magazine to be recognized as a music magazine, and it joins the market.

In terms of development our magazine (like

our prelim task) is an expansion of what would normally be a small segment of existing magazines like Kerrang! (get scanalam of magazine) and perhaps local culture magazines. Bassline focuses on exploiting new and upcoming bands and offering a kickstart to those who want to follow the same path; as it is a rather huge market which has been previously catered by internet social network site MySpace.

However whilst MySpace can only provide publicity to new bands, our magazine is also offering the link between those already in the industry and new bands who have yet to start their journey to fame.

The main way that we have challenged general conventions and forms in media is through our use of technology. Our page has a 3D wire that spans across the page; this is something that I personally have never seen on a magazine before, and something that makes it stand out especially to those who understand the relevance of it.

Our theme is black and green also breaks the stereotype of our main genre of music, Indie. When I think of Indie I think of oranges, browns, red and other warm colours. When I think of black and green I think of techno, rave and electronic music; however the main theme of the black and green is to look like an Oscilloscope, in other words, the Bassline of a song.

The font that we chose for Bassline we felt was a perfect replica to the waves.

When we handed in our drafts of our cover, contents and DPS; it was very clear that our magazine was lacking a sense of fluid reading and a very distinct house style. So we spent time creating creating a new layout style to present our magazine with the theme of an Amplifier. As much as it is a rather obscure theme for layout and presentation, we feel it is that especially which will appeal more to our readers than other existing magazines.