Double Page Spread Textual Analysis 02

[Image scanned from August 2008 Issue #112 of Rock Sound Magazine]

• Similar to the first, this double page spread has the headline and a small description of/introduction to the article on the left hand side, and the main article on the right hand side.

• The font colour is also white which stands out against the blue background of the image.

• Unlike the first double page spread, the writing on the page is placed around the models of the main image, which gives the page a more dynamic appearance.

• The mise-en-scene is quite natural and summery, int he fact that the main part of the image is of the blue sky and all of the models are wearing bright, summery-looking clothes. They also appear to be in some sort of park (evident by the bench at the bottom of the photograph).

• The models are all jumping up in the air, and looking happy and like they are having fun, which compliments the ideology and 'happy' image of the band. They are also photographed at a very low angle, which is making them seem very confident and complimenting their apparent happiness.

• To attract reader attention the article has a drop cap, which is where the start of the article (in this case, the letter A,) is made to be larger than the rest of the article so that it stands out and reader attention is drawn to it.

• The ideology of the magazine is shown by the inclusion of the magazine's name and logo in the footer, (which also shows the page number), and this is a very conventional part of the double page spread.

Double Page Spread Textual Analysis 01

[Image scanned from August 2009 Issue #112 of Rock Sound Magazine]

This is a double page spread from Rock Sound Magazine.

• The main image has two individuals who are wearing clothes and have props which are seen as cool by the people who like their music (black clothes, large sunglasses). One individual is on each page and I believe this is good as aesthetically, it balances the page out.

• The left hand side is dominated by the headline which is in a white font which stands out well against the natural darkness of the image. This is both aesthetically pleasing and an effective consideration of layout and images.

• The props and location of the image, when put together with the text font and general feel and look of the image has a very Rural American, almost 'Wild Western' feel about it. Both men are wearing black with black sunglasses which compliments the alternative image of their band and also (coupled with the feel of Rural America,) portrays a very masculine feel. The image is also taken in Sepia, which helps further the 'American' feel it upholds.

• The mise-en-scene of the image is also very 'western' in the fact it is in a building which looks like a Western Saloon almost. The models are also pictured at a slightly low angle making them seem more confident and bettering them.

• Only one of the men appears to be giving eye contact, and even then it only appears that way, as we are unsure due to the sunglasses he is wearing. This adds the bands image, as it makes them appear mysterious and more 'cool' in the eyes of their target audience.

• The right hand side of the article is mainly dominated by the article. The font, like the headline, is white, and stands out against the dark image.

• The article is in columns and paragraphs (very conventional) but divided in the middle by a large quote from the article, made by one of the band members. This both looks good, and aids the reader as it divides up the article making it seem like less text so the the readers are more likely to read it through.

Contents Page Textual Analysis 03

[Image scanned in, taken from the August 2008 Issue #112 of Rock Sound Magazine]

This contents page is the second half of the one I analysed in the previous post. As shown by the small headline in white text on the black box, this half of the contents page will show the 'regular' features of the magazine, unlike the previous one.

• This part of the contents pages is a lot more reminiscent of the conventional contents pages we are used to seeing. There are features such as a letter from the editor, in-depth information about the institution (such as the location and staffing credits,) images presented in a more conventional way (several smaller ones) and even a page-numbered article list.

• The 3 images related to articles (and not the one of the editor,) do not, however, have small sub-headings. This is probably because they want to intrigue the reader by only showing them the pictures. The pictures are all quite odd (with the poses of the models and the props, such as the blood in the picture,) so the reader will be interested to know more about the, and therefore more likely to read the article.

• The pictures still, however, have their respective page numbers, and these correspond with page numbers in the contents list, so the reader can, if they want to, find out more about the magazine content.

• There is a letter from the editor which will interest the audienceas they will surely be interested on the views and opinions of the peopel who maek the magazine. It also aows the instituional side of the magazine (behind the scenes) to relate to the audience more as they can obzerve and see similarities between their views/opinions and those of the editors.

Contents Page Textual Analysis 02

[Image scanned in, taken from August 2008 Issue #112 of Rock Sound Magazine]

This contents page is different from the one I first analysed, as it is divided in to two separate page, (one for main features, and one for regulars). I will now analyse the first section, which is the 'Main Features' section.

• The colour scheme, (including the black and white composition of the image,) follow the red/black/white convention of music magazines. This both looks good, and the dominance of black and red would appeal to the target audience (it suits their 'image').

• There's a masthead in the top right of the page, containing information about the institution (Rock Sound,) the date and the issue number. The masthead is in a red font (so goes with the conventions).

• There is the headline stating 'main features' above the page-numbered (makes it easier to find), article headlines. Each of these has a subheading with a brief description of each feature, so that people can read it and then, when their interest has been engaged, carry on reading through the magazine.

• The main image is a low-angle (adds importance to the subject, bettering them,) of a famous musician performing at a live concert. The fact that the picture is mainly black is probably because the musician is deceased (black connotes mourning). Most of the page-space is given to the main image, as the list of articles is pushed down towards the bottom.

• I believe this is a very good use of space, as it makes the contents page look a lot more interesting as it is unconventional (we are used to seeing a few small images assorted around a typical list).

Contents Page Textual Analysis 01

[Image from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86f11UdJ9VHv_GE2VzPu6c-dF4J01e_Ru1hmTtkxhwP1kH8fzhMDK9JUVOl1SyUYASAFMyRBY6YNHY5oEDE3MPQPObE0KvfLP6fTS0WsdE9sFF5-Y44gmVBi9oMG4FS8AoOXbDjYl_6sg/s400/q+contents.jpg]

I will now begin to analyse contents pages for research before designing my own. This is a contents page from the music magazine 'Q'. Q mainly features indie and popular rock music, but the more conventional side of things, meaning that the audience is wider, so they can feature a larger range of genres without losing a lot of audience.

• The colour scheme is the same as the front cover (the conventional white/black/red), making this usage of the colour scheme a motif of Q Magazine, making it more recognisable to fans of the magazine, and it also looks nice on the page, making it more aesthetically pleasing.

• There is one main image, featuring what I presume is the most famous band in the magazine, (so they want to make them easier to find). The image shows the band cool by the standards of their fans, (wearing fashionable clothes and stood together in the group almost reminiscent of a suave gang of males).

• The secondary image is relating directly to the "Review" section, and also depicts a male as 'cool' by the way he is dressed and posing in a casually confident manner. The man, (as we can see by the juxtaposition of the photograph and the particular section of the page,) is directly related to the"Review" section. This gives a small excerpt of an article, making the reader read it and then want to know more about it, causing them to read more of the magazine if they are interested.

• Both images have the article names and page numbers near them, so that the reader can locate the article in the magazine straight away. This is probably why they included some of the more famous acts in the photographs (so that people find what they want to find efficiently thanks to the contents page).

• A dateline is in the top right corner, which helps collectors of the magazine know the date and month. It also will help people to realise what content will be relevant and when it was relevant as well.

• There is a main headline stating that it is the 'Contents' page, which is there obviously so that people know the fact that it is indeed a contents page. The Q logo is placed to the left of this, so that it is like a masthead of sorts, and all of this still follows the black/red/white colour scheme.

• The page has a special features and a regular features section, which helps divide the contents page up making it seem less overwhelming, but it also breaks convention y featuring an "Oasis Special" section.

• This is so that fans of the band Oasis can easily find the articles relating to them (as this magazine is a special issue featuring a lot about Oasis).

• There are also article/feature headlines, with the relevant page numbers and a small subheading of information about each article. This is useful as it (like the information near the images) helps the reader to locate articles relevant to what they want to see.
  

Front Cover Textual Analysis 03

[Image from: http://www.getloadedinthepark.com/images/news/209/DJ%20Magazine%20-%20July%2009.jpg]

'DJ Magazine' (shortened to 'DJ Mag in the masthead') is a monthly U.K. Magazine, dedicated to Electronic Dance Music. I have chosen to analyse this front cover because the magazine has a different musical genre in the ideology when compared to the other two I have chosen. This means that there will be more variation in my research.

• The masthead (almost entirely blocked out by the main image, showing only the word 'DJ',) consists of the conventional colour scheme of red, black and white. Unlike the other front covers I have looked at, this one has more aspects of the institution in the masthead (despite the name of the magazine/company) as it has the website on the side, instead of in the bar code. This is good, as people who mostly use the Internet may have hard of the website and not the magazine, so they will recognise the magazine from the web address, and, if a person doesn't buy the magazine, but are still interested, they can go on the website increasing their chances of returning and purchasing it.

• The main image features two male models, both making eye contact with the camera, who are posing with the prop (sunglasses) in such a manner that they appear confident. Their clothing is representative of what the target audience of the magazine think of as 'cool', (differing from clothing featured on the Kerrang! and NME front covers, as the target audiences like different genres of music, so will prefer different fashion styles). The brighter colours on their clothing choices are more reminiscent of the upbeat, happy-sounding dance music featured in the magazine.

• The main cover line (red, black and white colouring,) is related to the musical act in the main image, and the normal cover lines are all relative to other musical acts of the same/similar genre. They are relating to acts well known on that music scene, but they may not be well known to other people, that is why the main image and cover line stands out very well, as they need to be noticed by the intended audience.
  

• There is a bar code and price, (as it's a commercial product,) the price being slightly more expensive than the other magazines analysed, as the magazine has a slightly smaller target audience.

• They also advertise free items with the magazine. This is clever as it would entice people in to buying the magazine for the free remix song, especially if they are interested in the musical act who made it.

• It also contains information about festivals and live music, which, it being a dance-music magazine, will be important in the ideology (such as live DJ music in nightclubs), so it will be an important aspect of the ideology.
  

Front Cover Textual Analysis 02

[Image found at: http://specials.centurymedia.de/myspace/lc_cover.jpg]

This is the front cover of an issue of 'Kerrang!' magazine. This cover is particularly interesting, as it breaks away from what is normally expected of Kerrang!, making the cover more interesting, yet also keeps some of the original elements expected from the magazine, meaning that it still appeals to the main target audience of Kerrang!.

• The first notable difference of this issue of Kerrang! magazine when compared to most others is the fact that they have abandoned their normal colour scheme (consisting of a very bright yellow masthead, with black and less conventional colours throughout,) replacing it with the conventional music magazine colour scheme of Red, Black and White. This gives the magazine a more 'high-class' feel when compared with most other issues of Kerrang!.

• The magazine still manages to keep Kerrang!'s alternate, even 'anarchistic' (almost), feel to it, mainly by use of the font in the masthead. Placed, conventionally, in the top left hand corner, the masthead breaks Kerrang! tradition in the fact that the masthead is white and not one of the more alternative colours Kerrang! normally adopts (such as the bold yellow). This makes the masthead, just the colour scheme, seem more 'high-class'. The font however, is given an almost destructed look, (e.g. the edges seem chipped almost, and the font almost has the look of broken glass (connoting violence and even vandalism which are all somewhat negative association with the classical rock and roll music Kerrang! became associated with).

• The colour scheme itself (with the almost 'high-class' look) was, I believe incorporated into this specific issue of Kerrang! to fit in with the look of the main image, which in itself breaks many of the conventions of Kerrang!.

• The first way in which it does this is because the model is female, which isn't incredibly common in music magazine front covers today. This appeals to male audiences, because she is depicted as being very attractive and in the fact that she seems very confident (slight smile, eye contact with the camera,) female audiences would like this as they are showing her as very confident and strong.

• The shot is a medium close up (it shoes from the shoulders upwards,) and this, combined with her appearance , (the make up and black clothes) comes across as the sort of image you would expect on the front of a fashion or beauty magazine (such as vogue) and not what you would expect on Kerrang!. However, the fact that she is wearing black with the black make up and black hair, show that the almost Gothic image is being upheld.

• This would attract more female audiences as well, because it is reminiscent of magazines aimed at them. Also, while she may not be well known to a lot of people, to the particular audience of Kerrang! she will be very well known, which is why it is her dominating the front cover, and not other, more well known bands.

• This fact has however been considered because one of the secondary images is of a band called 'Green Day' who are a lot more well known in the U.K. This means that the secondary image will attract more people to buy the magazine, even if the main image does not. The other secondary image contains a picture of a live performance, which is a lot more typical of Kerrang! than some of the other elements.

• The main cover line relates directly directly to the main image as it is about the band in which she is the lead singer. It also refers to her as a "Metal Goddess", which, like the main image, keeps Kerrang!'s image (of a Metal magazine,) while having a non-typical portrayal of her, similar to that of a beauty magazine (describing her as a Goddess).

• Being a commercial product the magazine has a price and a bar code. The price of the magazine is around £2.50-£3.00. This is because the magazine is not very exclusive, as it caters for a wide range of people, but due to the specific nature of the music it features the price is slightly more than that of other magazines (such as television magazines, for instance,) which are consumed on a much larger scale.

• The rest of the cover lines, and the box and border around one of the secondary images all follow the red/black/white colour scheme, which I believe is very pleasing on the eyes and gives the magazine a very modern and more mainstream look, while still managing to please the target audience by sticking to the conventions Kerrang! upholds.

• There is also reference to the website and television channel near the bar code, which shows a lot more about the different institutions which make up Kerrang!, and shows how successful it is (as it has a website, radio station, television station and a magazine).