Coursework

Wednesday 1st May 2024

NEA Introduction

LO: To explore coursework briefs and requirements.

NEA - Non Examined Assessment

 My brief:

Magazine - Basketball/Badminton

Music Marketing - Website and 30 second video

Film Poster - Horror

Friday 3rd May 2024

NEA Research

LO: To research the codes and conventions of similar products.

Do Now:

My initial idea is to create a website focusing on a new artist named...

Possibly to write some dance music for 30 second video clip

Research task 1

Cascada website

- On the homepage, they include short video clips of a concert as the background 'image' which would immediately peak the viewers interest in the website an the artist. Also on the homepage they have the artists logo large in the centre of the banner at the top (which includes headers such as about, news and merchandise)

- The website is laid out with a banner with links to other pages like tour, and the about page with their logo in the centre of this. Then beneath this is the videos from a concert as the background with a link to where you can listen to their latest single with Jax Jones and Zoe Wees on spotify. 

- On the about page is some information about 'musical milestones' and to the side of this is an image of Cascada. The shot type used for this image is a long shot. 

- They have used a lot of white, black and grey for the colour scheme, however due to the fact that the first thing you will see when you click on the website are the parts of a concert, the colourful lights grasp interest straight away and definitely link to the dance music genre since it is known for having bright colours and neon lights.

- The design of the logo is their name in a sans serif font (?) with a star placed within the c. The logo itself is quite simple but still effective due to the few details such as the star and the style of the writing.

- In the menu bar the pages included are about, tour, news, discography, videos, merchandise, contact

- The artist is represented as very well known considering the fact that one of the subheadings for the information paragraphs is 'musical milestones' implying that Cascada is very popular and has had many hits throughout her time of fame. She is also represented as being quite fun since the clips form previous concerts look exciting.

- One of the links included is a link to her instagram page with some recent images from her account. Also has links to the record label and management 

- A few fonts have been used but the most commonly used one is sans serif which is used for the majority of the text.

Overall:

- Some dance music genre conventions used are vibrant colours and a simple but effective logo

- The design clearly links all the pages because not only has a sans serif font been used for the majority of the text but the white text on the homepage links to the colour scheme used for the rest. 

- From the information given it almost sets Cascada up to be a role model for people who are interested in music and specifically the dance genre. It may give people goals they want to achieve such as possibly going to these concerts or writing their own music

- The concerts seem very fun and exciting, something that may make the perfect night out or something to look forward to. 

- The target audience could be for older teens to early 20s because they may hear the songs in clubs or recommended on apps such as Spotify and could appeal to them with the bright lights. However could also be for the audience of maybe 30s to 40s since some songs date back to 2006 so may interest people who perhaps grew up hearing these songs. 

Wednesday 8th May 2024

Do Now:

3 codes and conventions of the dance genre are: bright colours, simple but effective logos, loud but fun music that entices the listeners

A stereotype often used in dance genre is having bright lights and the majority of the time they include dancing in their music videos

Calvin Harris

Homepage:

- On the homepage, they include a large image of a rose (?) which has connotations of something quite inviting and welcoming so by including this on the homepage it would immediately catch the viewers attention. The homepage is laid out with the image in the centre with the text of 'Out Now' over the top, however there is no elaboration on what exactly is out now and so may intrigue audiences to want to find out more about this. They include the menu in a column in the top right corner and in the bottom right they include the social media links. 

- There is one main image on the website homepage which is the rose and the colours used for this are pink, red and orange which all together combine to make it seem more bright and colourful. The shot type used is a close up. However, some parts of the image are green which brings some depth into the picture used.

- The colour scheme that has been used is mainly pink and orange which are very bright shades which links in to the conventions of the dance genre. The colours pink and orange also have connotations of happiness and something quite exciting which would make the viewers want to continue reading the website. 

- The logo is in the top left which means it is most likely to be the first thing that the viewers read when they look at the homepage due to the fact that we read from left to right. The logo itself is quite simple which links to the dance genre but it is in bold which makes it stand out. The colour of the logo is black which definitely is different to the rest of the colour scheme making it stand out even further. The font of the logo is sans serif which is considered more modern showing that he is a modern artist that younger people will most likely be interested in. 

- The pages in the menu bar include shows, shop, music and videos

- The artist is represented as being welcoming and fun but also serious about his work. From what we can see from his website so far the impression given that he is fun therefore implying his music is fun.

- Some social media links included on the website are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Youtube. If you click on the 'out now' text it will lead you to a page in which shows you where you can listen to the song they are trying to promote

- The font is sans serif on the font page which makes it easier for the viewer to read however the size does change especially for when it says 'out now' in the centre. This is significantly larger than the rest of the text on the homepage. Some of the text is in capital letters such as where it says ' Lovers in a past life', 'Calvin Harris' and 'Rag'n'Bone man' at the top of the page. 

Overall:

- Some dance genre conventions that have been included on this website are using bright colours like on the main image and they also include the convention of having bright lights included. The lighting is used in the background of the shows page and is a neon green light. 

- The design clearly links all of the pages because they have the consistent bright colours against a black background for the shows and music sections of the website. The homepage links in with the colours as well as the pink and the slight green. The colours used in the main rose image are used throughout the whole website and so therefore clearly links all of the pages and parts of it together.

- Many singles are named on the music page which may give people inspiration to want to create songs or albums themselves and gives them a goal that they may like to achieve. The videos include dancing which might convince someone to do dancing. Something that may important to people is seeing shows and performances and so by seeing the shows page could inspire them to want to go see one of his shows mentioned. 

- 

- The target audience could be teenagers and young adults since a lot of his music is very popular on apps such as spotify and apple. music which are relatively new creations and so could appeal to a younger generation who are more likely to use these apps. The music he produces and the artists he does collaborations with may interest viewers. 

Friday 10th May 2024

NEA Research

LO: To research genre codes and conventions.

Do Now:

The genre is dance music

Two ways in which I will show this is by using a bright colour scheme  and a simple but effective logo

I am intending to use the stereotype of having colourful lights in the video clip of music

Research task 2

Dance Music websites:

Imagery:

On a dance music website, I would expect to see images of things that seem welcoming in order to intrigue their audiences, like Calvin Harris' website there is an image of a rose. The websites often include images from shows and concerts so people can see what sort of things these artists do and images can give the viewer an immediate first impression of the artist. Therefore it is incredibly important for the artist to include the codes and conventions of the dance music genre that will show how they are unique and different to any other artist. Some codes and conventions that are often used on these websites could include having pictures of sessions in the recording studio, from the concerts, and also sometimes just of the artists having fun. For example, on the Martin Garrix website there is a photo of them in a pool float. They may do this because it makes it easier for others to relate to them and view them as people rather than just professionals which a younger audience may prefer. 

Colour Scheme:

The colour scheme for a lot of websites are often very bright, sometimes even neon colours. A lot of websites use the colour black as the background which could be because it emphasises the brighter colours or because it creates a sense of mystery meaning that the reader may want to delve deeper into the website to find out more info about the artist and the type of music they make. Sometimes the colour white is also used alongside the black, and due to the fact that these 2 colours juxtapose one another, it makes it stand out further. A lot of dance music websites often use these colours because they stand out and therefore emphasises the information that they have included. The bright and neon colours could be used to represent the bright lighting the artists often have at their concerts. 

Typography:

Often the fonts used on the websites are sans serif especially when having large paragraphs of text, such as information from the about page. Sans serif is considered more modern than using just a serif font and so by using sans serif it appeals to a younger audience. It is also quite simple and easy to read meaning it won't confuse anyone reading or looking at the website. Sometimes they use different stylised fonts especially for their logos but the majority of the logos are often very simple still using sans serif. Another common thing that is used in dance music websites is to have block capitals or to have the letters in bold because it helps to make the information stand out. 

Lexis (terminology):

Quite often dance music websites use imperatives within their text, titles or subheadings. Imperatives are demanding words (most commonly verbs) that encourage the viewers to do a certain thing. For example they often use words such as 'listen' or 'learn' when talking about their songs or their music. One example of this is on the Martin Garrix website where it says 'learn more about the music, or check the latest releases of Martin Garrix right here!' which includes the imperatives 'learn' and 'check'. They do this because it emphasises what they want the reader to do. A common phrase used in most dance music websites is 'listen now' when talking about a new single or album of the artist/band. Another thing that is sometimes used in the websites are words or phrases that might have a sentimental link and so would cause the audience to have an emotional connection to whatever has been said. 

Mise-en-scene for artists (costume, props, settings, etc):

For some of images the artists wear casual clothing such as a t-shirt and jeans because it easily allows the viewer to be able to relate to them and see them as people rather than celebrities. This also would give them a role model to loo up to because if the artists are perceived as everyday people, it would give the impression that they can achieve something like that to. However, some images of the artists show them in specifically picked outfits or something quite fashionable because it shows how they would possibly dress for concerts or music videos. 

A common prop used in the images is a microphone or a turntable, depending on which part of dance music they specialise in. They often also include some sort of technology item whether that is a computer or a phone. 

The settings vary between solid colour backgrounds to beautiful places in the world. For example on the Martin Garrix website we see multiple different locations including the Eiffel Tower and him in front of the city lights. On the other hand, in the images of Cascada, the background is often just solid colours, such as the main picture included on the about page of her website. 

Representations of the artists (describe how they are shown stereotypically):

For the representations of the artists I would expect to see them presented as someone fun and exciting, but also serious about the music and work they create. The representations would differ from person to person but overall I would expect to see them presented as people who would be a good role model for their audience. 

Wednesday 15th May 2024

Do Now:

Representation in terms of media is is how a person is presented based on factors such as the imagery, colour scheme, lexis etc. These are often used in magazines and any kind of media sources and it is the way they present the person to be whether that is a celebrity or just anyone. 

Representation is how media texts deal with and present gender, age, ethnicity, national and regional identity, social issues and events to an audience. This done through shot type or angle, mise-en-scene or editing.

Friday 17th May 2024

Do Now:

Primary research - When you research the information yourself or find the information by yourself by using different sources

Secondary research - More second hand information, finding existing data from a variety of different sources

Wednesday 22nd May 2024

Do Now:

3 questions to ask potential target audience

What sort of codes and conventions would you expect to see on a dance music website?

What elements of the dance music genre would interest you (the viewer) to want to view the website?

What colour scheme would stand out to you as part of the dance music genre?

Research task 3

Cascada website

Describe the representations as a whole in 3-5 adjectives

- Casual (the way she is dressed in some of the images)

- Fun (the bright colours and outfits)

- Passionate (some of the images look as though she is passionate about her work and what she does)

- Talented (the way in which she is holding the microphone and her stance)

How has gender been represented? How has this been constructed?

She has been represented in a stereotypical way in certain images, for example in the main image with the red background the way she is dressed could be considered quite stereotypical for women due to the fact it is fashionable but also could link in with the male gaze theory. However, some of the images challenge this such as the image that was included on the website from Cascada's instagram account because she is in a much more casual outfit and some of the album covers look as though she is wearing a casual outfit too which could show how she doesn't always conform to society's expectations of what a woman should look like. By challenging these stereotypes it would allow for people to see her as more than just a celebrity. Also represented as quite stereotypical for a woman in the dance music industry as she wears bright colours and is shown to be beautiful an pretty. 

How is age represented? How has this been constructed?

In these images she looks much younger than her actual age. She is 41 years old but in the images she looks quite a bit younger, and this means not only would original fans of her music listen to the songs she creates but also a younger generation may be interested. (??)

How is ethnicity represented? How has this been constructed?

I've noticed that a vast amount of artists that specialize in the dance music genre tend to be white. However, some artists are from different ethnic backgrounds. 

How is the artist represented? How has this been constructed?

The artist is being represented as passionate about her work as shown by some of her facial expressions in the images, she looks as though she is having fun and enjoys what she does. She is also represented as talented which can be seen by the way she is holding the microphone because this implies she is knowledgeable about how to use it and in the image she is shown to be singing which we can infer from that, that she is very good at what she does. Also the way she is standing implies she is more confident because she is stood more open compared to someone who might be less experienced and have more closed body language whilst singing. The artist is represented is also represented as confident by the way she is dressed in certain images especially the instagram photo, because it gives the impression that she isn't afraid to be herself and do what makes her feel comfortable. Therefore due to this it could be argued that the artist has been represented as role model and someone to look up to. 

What stereotypes are used repeatedly?

In dance music videos especially, the outfits are very glamorous and pretty which has been reflected in the album covers and images featured on the website. Another thing stereotype that has been used continuously throughout the images is the idea that dance music artists are represented as fun.

David Guetta website

Describe the representations as a whole in 3-5 words

- Calm (in some he looks quite relaxed)

- Exciting (bright colours that have been used)

- Fun (bright colours and the picture from the concert)

- Professional (has the equipment that he uses as a DJ)

How is gender represented? How has this been constructed?

In a lot of the images, gender has again been represented in a stereotypical way as the way he is dressed definitely looks more masculine including the leather jacket as that is very commonly seen more as an item of clothing that men would wear compared to women. Also in some of the images they are wearing a cap which again seems more masculine, although it isn't too uncommon for women to wear a cap nowadays. Men are also represented to be sporty and even though he isn't playing any sport it looks as though he is stood on some sort of court. Overall gender has been represented quite stereotypically.

How is age represented? How has this been constructed?

He hasn't been made to look younger or older than he is and so it gives the audience the impression that he's not afraid to be himself and that he is proud of who he is. Therefore due to this he is showing his audience that it's okay to be yourself despite who you are and this is reinforced by the fact that he looks pretty relaxed in some of the images.

How is ethnicity represented? How has this been constructed?

The artists of the dance music genre are predominantly white, although some of the artists have a different ethnic background.

How is the artist represented? How has this been constructed?

The artist has been represented as fun and exciting as shown by the concert image which looks as though they would be quite enjoyable and therefore creates the impression that if you become a fan or you follow his music it is guaranteed that you will have a good time. From the images we can gather that he is quite professional because he is with his equipment which gives us as the viewers the immediate thoughts that he is going to be a pro at what he does and knows how to use the equipment well. Also the way he is standing looks as though he is having fun himself but also if it was at a concert perhaps he is experienced at how to conduct his audience and show them a good time.

What stereotypes are used repeatedly?

Some stereotypes that have been used repeatedly are the bright colours which are featured throughout the images and also other dance music artists may use these specific colours, due to the fact that they can be associated with the dance music genre. Another thing is the use of the outfits being quite fashionable such as the leather jacket and the blue jacket, as clothing is a big part of how the viewers opinions on the artist may be made or influenced.

Research task 4

Audience research

Secondary audience research

Cascada website

Target audience - The target audience isn't specifically stated on the website however from the images and the content on the website I think that the target audience would be more aimed at older teens to young adults (possibly the type of music they would listen to at parties and clubs), however I also think that some of Cascada's audience may be slightly older due to the fact that she is an older artist and so some of her listeners could have been a fan from the offset.

Achievers - motivated by achievement, interested in brands that show success overtime and premium products (they may be motivated by seeing artists'/bands' achievements and the overall success that takes time to develop)

Believers - low resource group of those who are motivated by ideals (they perhaps would favour specific artists and bands who are predictable for them)

David Guetta website

Target audience - Again doesn't specifically say who their target audience is however from the things that have been included on their website (including the french?) I assume their target audience would be again teens and young adults.

Achievers - motivated by achievement, interested in brands that show success overtime and premium products

Believers - low resource group of those who are motivated by ideals 

Primary audience research

Questionnaire questions:

- What sort of codes and conventions would you expect to see on a dance music website?

- What elements of the dance music genre would interest you (the viewer) to want to view the website?

- What colour scheme would stand out to you as part of the dance music genre?

• Bright colours
• Pastel colours
• Black, grey, white
• Other

- Is there a specific font in which you associate with the dance music genre?

- How many images do you think would be a suitable amount to include?

- What would be your preference of topic to read about? (about the artist, music/albums, shows and tours, bts) 

- How do you think the artist should be represented?

- How would you prefer the website to be laid out?

• Have an image on the homepage, minimal text

- Would you be interested if unique content was available exclusively on the website for you to read?

- Any additional comments you would like to include?

Friday 7th June 2024

Target Audience

LO: To research our target audience to enable successful targeting.

Research Conclusion

- In order to make the dance music genre appeal to 16-24 year olds, I am going to use bright colours possibly to represent the bright lights that are often seen at clubs and parties as many over 18s/young adults may attend these. I am also going to use an enticing logo possibly using bold to encourage people to view the website.

- My target audience would be 16-24 year olds who like the dance music genre and therefore with that enjoy dancing or listening to music. They may be interested in going to clubs where they commonly play dance music, in addition living in the city or a more populated town compared to a rural area like a village. Due to the fact that I would like to make my music artist a female, the website may interest more female 16-24 year olds, but possibly males as well. I think that my target audience would be looking for goals or something to achieve as the age range of 16-24 is often the period in which a person would decide a career for their future, and so may be searching for inspiration. 

- 3 possible names for the artist could be:

Lavender

This name sounds quite inviting and delicate showing the more welcoming side of the dance music genre.

- I want my artist to be represented in a positive way challenging certain stereotypes. I would have them wear clothes that are trending in order to appeal to the target audience and possibly holding a microphone to show that they are serious about their work and what they do. The shot types used could be long shots so that the viewers of the website can see the artists full outfit and possibly also have a microphone stand

- On the homepage, I would like to have a collage of 3-4 images with bold writing in front to stand out to those who will see it. I think that the images could be a mix of scenes from performing on a stage, to a recording studio and casual pictures from day to day life. This could appeal to the audience because it would show them that the artist is passionate about their work but also makes them seem more relatable rather than just being someone famous.

- A colour palette that I think would work well for the dance music genre would be bright, almost neon colours (such as yellow, pink, blue). This could work nicely because they would link to the bright stage lights that would be used in performances. I would also use a lot of neon purple within it because if I do choose the name of Lavender, it would fit nicely with that but also purple has connotations of something quite luxury or of a good quality and something quite trustworthy.

- The main image could consist of the artist on a stage, with bright lights and holding a microphone with a microphone stand. I think this would interest the audience because from the very second you see the homepage it would give the impression that they are serious about their work and that they enjoy it. I would also use a long shot for this to be able to see their entire outfit and the whole stage. 

- On the homepage, I wish to include information about the different pages available, such as the about page, news page etc. I would also like to include a title about a new song that has been made as this may link to the 30 second video that will be included. This also ties in with the idea of having behind the scenes/sneak peeks of new music that might encourage the audience to follow this artist. This is also something that is common on a lot of dance music websites where they will show parts of a new song or where you can listen. 

- On the about page I am going to include a paragraph that explains my artists background/past experiences to give the audience a bit of information about them

Wednesday 12th June 2024

NEA Planning 

LO: To plan an effective product aimed at a specific audience using appropriate codes and conventions.

Friday 28th June 2024

NEA Create

Wednesday 3rd July 2024

Tuesday 10th September 2024

Coursework Review and Plan of Attack!

LO: To review work so far and create a detailed plan.

(Monday 9th - Sunday 15th) - Choose website template, choose final design for logo & make a start on background for homepage

(Monday 16th - Sunday 22nd) - Menu bar, continue background & images for homepage

(Monday 23rd - Sunday 29th) - Complete homepage, social media links, make a start on linked page

(Monday 30th - Sunday 6th) - Text/bio, 30 seconds of embedded audio, image for linked page

(Monday 7th - Sunday 13th) - Complete linked page

(Monday 14th - Thursday 17th) - Finishing touches and checking 

Friday 13th September 2024

Do Now:

1. The target audience for the brief is 16 - 24 year olds

2. I have to produce a functioning website with at least 1 linked page and a homepage, in which one must include a 30 second video/audio clip and images relating to the genre

3. I'm going to include bright colours to hopefully represent the lights the audience would see if at a concert or club

I'm going to include an enticing logo

Tuesday 17th September 2024

Do Now:

1. Raheem Stirling is a football player who spoke up against racism in football

2. Malala is a women's rights activist who fought for girls to have the right to be educated. She also one a noble peace prize at quite a young age

3. GQ stands for Gentlemen's Quarterly

4. Vogue is a woman's fashion magazine 

5. A magazine masthead is the logo which is featured on every magazine such as Vogue or GQ

Friday 20th September 2024

Do Now:

1. Malala was considered an unusual choice as the cover star because vogue is a fashion focused magazine and Malala isn't the stereotypical kind of model that would be seen on a magazine. She instead is the cover star to share her story and raise awareness for her cause.

2. The target audience for GQ is male; they may be in the upper class part of society, interested in fashion, enjoy reading about topics such as news stories and watches etc. ABC1 men

3. The target audience for vogue is female; they may be interested in fashion, dating tips ABC1 females, sophisticated

4. Anchorage is the use of words to give meaning to images, such as captions, headlines, and taglines

5. A main cover line is the line on a magazine that links to the main image largest cover line, explains the main feature

Tuesday 24th September 2024

Do Now:

1. The quality street advert was produced in the 1950s

2. Major Quality Miss Sweetly were the two brand icons

3. The chocolates were aimed at the upper classes in society as chocolates were often a luxury. The working class

4. If asked about media language you could look at the anchorage text, the cover lines, the title/masthead. Typography, colour palette, layout

5. If asked about the representation you could look at the stereotypes, age, gender

Friday 27th September 2024

Do Now:

1. A is a serif font B

2. Lexis is the word choices

3. Typography includes all of the elements added to the text whether that is font, size, colour, etc

4. Mis en scene: props, costumes, setting

5. CGI and colour grading comes under editing

Tuesday 1st October 2024

Do Now:

1. A is a sans serif font

2. The slogan on the this girl can advert is 'sweating like a pig, feeling like a fox'

3. Ideology includes beliefs, attitudes and values

4. Intertextuality is the use of ideas or text taken from another product and utilising it in your own without fully copying it the referencing of one text in another

5. the age rating for the No Time To Die dvd is a 12

Friday 4th October 2024

Do Now:

1. Typography includes the style, size and colour palette of the text

2. No Time to Die was released in 2021

3. The Man with the Golden Gun poster referenced to the action genre Kung Fu

4. Intertextuality is referencing one text in another

5. The women on the No Time to Die Poster are represented as powerful and confident

Tuesday 8th October 2024

Do Now:

1. Roger Moore played James Bond in TMWTGG

2. TMWTGG was released in 1974

3. TMWTGG poster included a reference to the nuclear power station disasters/global energy crisis 

4. Daniel Craig played James Bond in NTTD

5. The women on the TMWTGG are represented as stereotypical bond girls sexually objectified

Friday 11th October 2024

Do Now:

1. BBFC regulates films

2. 12 is the rating used for physical or digital release of movies however 12A is the rating used in the cinema 

3. Production, editing, exhibition distribution

4. Marketing comes under exhibition distribution

5. Covid 19 had a massive impact on the NTTD marketing strategy and release

Tuesday 15th October 2024

Do Now:

1. NTTD was produced by MGM EON productions

2. NTTD was distributed by Universal pictures

3. Production, distribution, exhibition

4. Marketing comes under distribution

5. Some examples of typical marketing products are posters, trailers, advertisements

Friday 29th November 2024

Do Now:

1. Coursework is 30% of your grade 

2. You have to include a minimum of 4 images Yes

3. Genre conventions are the typical characteristics particular to a specific genre

4. The deadline for NEA draft 2 is Christmas January 6th 2025

5. No images should be used that aren't original