Advert

This is my finished advert and this is a link to a video comparing it to established artist's adverts. I approached the advert similarly to the digipack, I wanted something that would stand out while being simple and edgy. I think I achieved this by using black and white and the choice of image editing and fonts. All of this makes this look professional and represents the target audience of the group. The images are separate and represent each as an individual but also in unity as a group. This helps to show separate power and status as well as together as a group. The images have been edited to look like a stencil - taking the contrast up and saturation down. This gives it a more street like urban feel while still retaining the human qualities that people can relate to when looking at this. They all have aggressive menacing expressions while looking directly at the viewer in an attempt to intimidate them. Again this shows their status and gains the respect of the viewer. The fonts used are similar to that of the digipack, this is to keep a sense of identity throughout the whole promotional pack. They are a mixture of graffiti and stencil type fonts. Both used to get an urban feel and look. This is used to relate to the target audience. As well as this a type writer font is used for the ratings and release date to give the old school look. This is exactly what Wu Tang Clan are and represents them, and their audience very well I feel. The layout is simple and is intentionally done like this so that the focus is on the band members and the digipack that is being advertised. This, like the colours, contrast the big lifestyles that this genre represents. I think this appeals to the target audience as it is dark and sinister while being edgy and urban. I used ratings from 2 well known hip hop magazines, The Source and Vibe. This gives the ratings clout and also lets people know that it is a recognised and obviously good digipack (5/5*s). This should encourage the consumer to become a customer. This is a link to the Facebook page that has comments on the advert. http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages#!/photo.php?fbid=10150545789585183&set=a.10150545789580183.645144.721940182&theater Again the feedback on the advert says the use of colour (Or lack of) makes it stand out and seem quite striking. The fonts and images back this up and add to the gritty feel it has. Also a comment about the reviews making it seem more authentic and real mean that it look more professional.

After researching adverts from a similar genre I've found they all are composed of certain criteria; Band name, title of album/digipack, release date, review quotes and sometimes a tag line.

These are 2 adverts that I've looked at in depth.

The first is Public Enemy's advert. This advert features the actual album cover on the advert and then has text around it. The main image therefore is the same as the album - a black and white posed photo of the band. It features a large title with the name of the band at the top, above that is a quote from the album and adds emphasise on the type of music. It features the bands logo both on the album and on the advert, it also has a tag line "Apocalypse 91.. The enemy strikes back." This gives the name of the album as well as a easy to remember quote. This makes it seem like an attack and adds to the angry hard image the band are promoting,

This is the second and is Besatie Boys' album advert. It, like Public Enemy's album, is quite simple. Minimal colour is used with a black and white image and text. This is contrasted with the bright yellow band name at the top. This makes it stand out more and makes it easily distinguishable. The image is a posed one and features the entire band. Next to it there is the title of the album and the fact that it is "out now".

This is my first flat plan for my advert. I wanted to go with the idea of a simple advert that catches peoples eyes. This isn't specified in the photo but it is black and white (images and text) and the fonts for the text are ones that look like graffiti to achieve an edgy urban look and feel to the advert. I decided that this would be the case for all my flat plans and it would be a choice of the layout of images and text that would be the major decision more than anything else. This one has images of each member of the band (Depicted in the music video) individually so that you can see each's identity and status. The would be close ups and the person would have a stern almost angry expression showing status and power. The images would be edited so they resemble a graffiti stencil (like that of Public Enemy's image on the CD cover I analysed) to add to the urban look and follow media conventions from the hip hop genre. I decided to include the 3 most important bits of information. The band name, the release date and the name of the Digipack. This reduces the amount of 'clutter' on the advert and ensures it is simple and striking. They are placed on the diagonal from top left to bottom right so the eye naturally follows it down collecting all the information. 3 images, 3 bits of information, made into easily readable digest able bits. The second flatplan I did is a bit different. Using the same colours and fonts from the first one, as well as the same 3 bits of information. This time using a group shot of all three members to show the groups unity and power together. Again the images would be in black and white and edited to show a more stencil like appearance while using similar expressions to the first flatplan but this time having them use hip hop gesture with their arms out. Showing how big and 'larger than life' they are. This one uses the same aspects of design as the others but changes the layout again. The group is together in the image but standing more uniformly looking more menacing than the other 2 above. This gives a slightly more sinister feel to the advert. A quiet aggression rather than a 'in your face' one. The 3 bits of text are then placed around the images, making them the focal point that drags the viewer in, then they find out more by reading the information. This one uses the same colours, fonts, expressions and information as the other 3 but it is more structured. While the others are group shots or individual shots that are placed randomly, this one uses individual images of each member but places them together so that it is clear that they have individual identities while also being part of the group. The title, release date and band name is in the centre below the images. This makes it a focal point and is very clear and straight forward.