CH - Evaluation Question 2

How effective is the combination of my main product and ancillary texts?

The combination of our main product and ancillary texts is very effective for many reasons.

We were aiming to create a combination of texts that were congruent with indie conventions, such as:

• Fun, playful
• Ambiguous (as to its purpose; art or advertisement? using Dyer as a critical framework)
• creating an alternative band image
• breaking with pop-video conventions
• postmodern; interesting, new, fresh, open to interpretations
• creating many possible audience readings
• creating narrative fuzz surrounding the band
• intertextuality, using homage to create iconic signifiers thus building upon myths

Below are our final ancillary texts.





1. An example of one of my digipack images.

-My text was effective because I focussed on the band image, and the postmodern creation of narrative fuzz. I tried to be playful with my piece, as I felt I had most freedom with the images I created by hand.
-My image breaks with most conventions, as it is not a photograph; it does not include the entire face of the singer, therefore theoretically it makes less impact to the audience.
-My image uses intertextuality to build on the Enemy's narrative fuzz; below is a screenshot from the 1985 music video 'Take On Me' by Aha. By using the same effects, rough pencil sketches of the band members, I homage this iconic video.

-My text works particularily well with that of Rosies and Josh's below because we all based our images on that of the band, and the band image created.
-All three images work primarily in greyscale and a shade of blue; this makes them recognisable to the audience as texts of the same origin.

For the development of this text, see posts below;

1. http://twgsbmedia10a2group6.blogspot.com/2010/11/ch-digipack-first-image-finalized.html
2. http://twgsbmedia10a2group6.blogspot.com/2010/12/ch-digipack-designs-refined.html
3. http://twgsbmedia10a2group6.blogspot.com/2010/12/ch-digipack-background-image.html

2.Below is Rosie's advertisement, to run as a small-scale ad in a popular music magazine. This therefore had to be a different design to that of the digipack, as it had to appeal to different audiences.

-This text is effective because it creates a mysterious air around the band, building on the narrative fuzz.
- The use of stage lights create an impressive band image, one of stardom, fame and celebrity; this juxtaposes that of our video, and the band image created in my piece. This makes the band interesting as they are working on many different levels.
- The photograph used here is very effective as an advertisement; a MS gives the audience enough detail to feel empathatic towards them, but without being as intruding as a CU
- The band members break the fourth wall, giving the impression of knowing they're under scrutiny. This involves the audience and is effective in drawing their attention
- The use of greyscale with only a blue rinse is very effective, as it is breaking with pop conventions of music videos and texts; it is unusual for an advert to be coloured so, more artistically than most generic adverts. This works with Dyers theory of postmodern media consumption

3. Below is Josh's text. This is significantly effective in creating different audience readings.





- This text creates enigma around the band; they are vacant; absent yet present (Dyer and Goodwins audience theories)
- The use of lighting and contrast creates a visually stunning image that compliments the other two texts; Rosies and Joshs especially compliment eachother aesthetically yet contradict one another in their band image.
- The representation of the Enemy is very mysterious and shady, quite unlike the 'in-your-face' effect of the other texts. This is very effective as it adds another layer to the bands considerable narrative fuzz.

In Conclusion the texts work well together, creating an effective marketing scheme that appeals to many audiences through its flexibility and diversity.

• The use of images is very effective as they have been chosen to create enigma therefore drawing the attention and interest of the audience.
• The main product contradicts these texts in its colouring and aesthetics; our ancillary work is very stylzed, whereas the main product is low-budget and 'home made' in nature.
• The main product is rife with connotations and denotations; the mise-en-scene is littered with iconic signs. The adverts are open to many audience readings through the use of layered iconic imagery that operates on a less obvious level.
• An example of this iconic imagery in our main product is in the Evaluation posts below.
• An example of this iconic imagery in our ancillery texts are the use of black and white, associated with newsprint, criminals.