Q2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

For my response to this question, I prepared a powerpoint presentation and explained my points in the short video below. I also go into further detail below.

The text below is a summary of the points I make in the video plus some visual representations of the points I make and I also elaborate on points about each ancillary task.

Music Video

At first the music video appears to be completely unrelated to the artist and to anyone who knew nothing about her, it could belong to any artist in the dance genre. One of the main influences on this is the fact that it involves a panda costume and no appearance from ABSYNTH herself. By doing this we have created intrigue and enigma amongst the audience, as it prompts them to ask questions and want to find out more about where it comes from/what it is all about. We have incorporated the idea of the audience sharing the video with their friends themselves, therefore starting a viral video campaign. This would be encouraged by the feel good factor and the very random idea of having a panda on a journey to school, which we know from audience feedback made them laugh.

Another aspect to the video that has been a running theme throughout the video and ancillary texts is the idea that the music comes over all of the fame and attention. The entire video is shot as if someone was observing the panda making his journey to school, rather than the panda performing for a camera, this was achieved by using no tripod and having no direct address from the panda. This idea adds to the brand image that ABSYNTH has about being very passionate about her music and it always coming first, because as the camera is not focused on the panda, the track and the fun involved in the video are highlighted to a higher degree, compared to if it was shot using direct address. There is only one incidence of direct address which is at the end, where the panda does a thumbs up, however this was added for comedic values and to create a more impactive and lasting impression in the individual's mind.

Album Cover

As stated in question 1, we chose to brand ABSYNTH as the girl everyone loves. She is very cool and trendy but is a far cry from the tomboy DJ's often seen in the industry and does not dress provocatively, therefore not falling into either stereotype for the female DJ. Therefore a strong emphasis was put on the natural beauty of ABSYNTH and none of the images used on the album cover are revealing or suggest that she doesn't like doing 'girly' activities.

Once again the emphasis on her passion for music is demonstrated through the dominant headphones on the front cover and they also feature on the inside cover. Her body language and posture, with her holding the headphones demonstrate that music is her interest, not playing up for the camera. On each side of the cover we have at least one prop that demonstrates the music passion, for example: the headphones, a boombox and DJ decks.

The colour scheme is a very dominant feature that is consistent across both the album and the website, creating strong synergy between the two platforms because it is clear to the audience that the two mediums correspond with one another.

Website

Website Homepage

• Purchasing Opportunities available on nearly every page of the website, with banners for downloading the album
• Album is the entrance page for the website
• Large choice within the store
• Portrayal of ABSYNTH stays consistent as she isn't sexualised or made to look like a tomboy
• Colour scheme and fonts are same as album
• WWF Charity Gig News Story
• Lots of content acting as a reward to the viewer for searching her on the internet.

We also had a mobile version of the site so that it could be accessible in that format, as it is a popular way in which our target audience finds their information. It is continuing the theme of the website offering them the information they want, wherever and whenever.

Overall, I think that our main product and ancillary texts work very effectively together because they work together to create a strong brand image for ABSYNTH. The video has been created in order to stimulate hype about her and urge the audience to find out more. While the website and album act as what they come to find when they research her. The way she is portrayed in each of the mediums is also consistent making her the girl that everyone wants to know.