Codes and conventions

CODES AND CONVENTIONS

By Chloe Hayter

NME Front CoverMasthead is multicoloured – Connotates the ‘hippie’ style associated with Jimi Hendrix

Typography of Cover lines – Looks like it’s written – Connotates the ‘hippie’ style

The layout is cluttered – image is large – with the writing it makes the cover obscure and eye catching which suggests this article is making a statement

Colour – Pink/Purple – Associated with Jimi Hendrix and his ‘hippie’ style – colours are highlighted in photo

Direct mode of address (eyes) – connects artist and audience – personal relationship

Wire Front CoverDirect mode of address (eyes) – connects audience and artist – personal relationshipTypography – Masthead slightly transparent but obvious – doesn’t draw attention away from imageLayout – Image takes up the whole page – leaves the focus of the audience to only be on what the main cover and image are about

Colour – Monochrome in typography along with natural image – nothing draws the audiences eye away from the image – very basic

Image – Natural, detailed close up of face, the main focus of the magazine cover – suggests the artist is the highlight of magazine

Kerrang Front Cover

Direct mode of address (eyes) – connects audience and artist – personal relationshipTypography – Cracked effect on masthead – connotates the rock music associated with Kerrang possibly it’s aggressive nature (smashing guitars on stage, ‘moshing’ or ‘headbanging’)

Colour – Black white red and yellow – black/white connotates grunge style – yellow/red make cover more interesting – red connotates anger, reflects message behind the music

Layout – masthead image and main cover line take up most page, Paramore shown as main focus for audience with scattered images of the band on the cover – Emphasises the exclusive ‘special issue’

Image- Strong stance, little expression, reflects harshness of music and Hayley as the lead singer

Q Front CoverDirect mode of address – connects artist and audience – personal relationshipTypography – Clear font – Upper Case – Makes cover lines stand out – Conveys information betterImage – Aggressive expression, screaming – connotates style of music – Fire and the band in Dave Grohl’s mouth – Emphasises him as the frontman/’face of the band’ – Fire connotates the rock genre

Colour – Red, White, Dark Green, Black – Red connotates aggression represented in the rock genre of music – Red reflects colour scheme of the logo of magazine

Layout – The layout is ordered – surrounds the central image – magazine logo is behind the main image – Draws little attention away from image

Vibe Front CoverDirect mode of address- Connects audience and artist- personal relationshipTypography – Bold, includes upper case and lower case making certain words stand out – Gives cover a clean lookImage – Relaxed image with hat to one side , hands in front of face, nothing out of ordinary – informal

Colour – Red and white font to match masthead – Red could have associations with strength reflect meaning behind the music – Blue background could connotate the relaxed nature of image and possibly musicLayout – Organised – Surrounds main image – Masthead behind main image – doesnt divert attention away from the image

Vibe Contents PageLayout - The word ‘contents’ arranged in abstract way –bold,striking – connotates iconic style of magazine – Motif of masthead shown behind Kanye west

Direct mode of address – Connects artist with audience – Personal relationship Image – dramatic feel with arm wrapped round him with love heart – direct mode of address (eyes) – main focus of the magazine Colour – monochrome except for heart – dramatic – draws attention to image – artist is the main focus

Typography – Bold masthead – More italic for the headings – Draws attention to headings as it falls away from the house style slightly

Vibe Contents Page Direct mode of address – Connects audience and artist – Personal relationshipImage – Laying on the floor, legs in the air, revealing clothing – suggests sexy, seductive image created by artist possibly reflecting Ciara’s style of R’n’B music – fancy shoes- suggest putting on a show making the effort again relfecting seductive sexy nature of image

Typography – Outline of ‘V’ suggest being stripped back or revealing – a reflection of artist

Layout – Organised – nothing covers the image – keeps the image the main focus – keeps within house style

Colour – natural colour – highlights colour of skin – emphasising the revealing clothing in the image and highlighting the amount of skin showing -

Q Contents Page Direct mode of address – connections with audience and artist – personal relationshipImage – natural close up of Adele – Connotates ‘up close and personal’ suggests a look into her life possibly through interview – Artist is the main focus

Typography – Bold, Upper Case – Keeps within house style – highlights key bits of information – possibly considered as the most important partsColour – Red, Black White, Grey – Keeps in house style – Possibly reflects different moods of music- genre’s – Emphasises eclectic range of music

Layout – image takes up most of page – the main focus – headings are listed – showing the vast range of what the magazine offers

Kerrang Contents Page Direct address from secondary images and editorial section – connects audience and artist – Personal relationship

Colour – Black , White, Yellow – Keeps within house style – Reflect harshness of rock music with contrast of yellow/white against black Layout – image takes up half the page – the band is the main focus ‘bring me the horizon’ – organised with headings and page by page guide listed showing large amounts of what the magazine offers

Image – Artist signing for fans – shows popularity of bands featured – emphasises style with the ‘emo’ looks of artist and fan – styled hair, unnatural colour, tattoos Typography – worn and cracked look on the headings – reflects rock music and it’s often associated aggression

NME Contents Page Typography – Upper Case, Bold heading – highlights the important information - keeps to house styleImage – artist playing live – suggests what the magazine offers information about such as gigs and live music

Layout – a page by page guide of the magazine listed- shows large amount it has to offer – information surrounds image suggesting the image to be one the highlights of the magazine

Colour – Red, Yellow, Black, White – keeps to house style – red = strength, black = harshness, white = plain, innocence, yellow = happy – The contrast adds to striking style of the magazine

Q Double Page SpreadDirect mode of address (eyes) – Connects audience with artist – personal relationshipImage – one Main image -Revealing mid shot, scruffy hair, smokey eye makeup, chain around neck – represents the wild side of artist, sexy and revealing image

Layout – Takes up whole page, she is the only topic and focus of this article. A whole page of writing filled with information just about her – Three columns to divide up information (easier to read) – Transparent ‘L’ to highlight the articles about her

Colour – monochrome with red – sticks to house style – red = passion reflects sexy image

Typography - Transparent ‘L’ to highlight the articles about herSmaller text for the body of the article – Italic for ‘lady’, stands out

NME Double Page Spread Direct mode of address – Connects audience and artist – Personal relationship

Typography – Heading different sizes, bold – Reflects rebellious nature in artist, possibly their childish side too -

Colour – Black, White, Red – Makes overall spread look more striking with the black and red against white

Image – dark make up, messy styled hair could represent a rebellious childish side reflected in the masthead with the words ‘attention seeker’

Layout – Title and Image take up ¾ of the pages – Title makes a statement by quoting artist in a large size – four small columns in small size looks easier to read, creates illusion of being short sharp and to the point

NME Double Page SpreadDirect mode of address – connects audience and artist – personal relationship Colour – Pinks and Black – suggests a girly article – more interest in article from women Image – The word ‘icon’ on a ring – striking leopard print clothes – bright pink lipstick - Abstract image – makes a statement

Layout – Image and heading takes up most of page – ‘Nicki Minaj’ is the only topic – Text in several columns across the page – looks more attractive and easier to read for the audience

Typography – Heading, big, bold, upper case, pink – relfection of artist and their statement – more italic writing for ‘The gospel according to’ could suggest feminine side with a ‘pretty’ font – suggests only her word is true and correct

Kerrang Double Page SpreadDirect mode

of address – connection between artist and audience – personal relationship

Image – plain image but with a strong stance from the band -relfects strong sound in their rock genre of music

Layout – image takes up the double page spread – title takes up whole page -Writing is small, only takes up ¼ of page in three columns – gives illusion of being easier to read and to the point

Colour – black red and white keeps to house style – harshness of music reflected in contrast of black on whiteTypography – Gives title a worn look on the bands quote – makes a statement – looks like it’s been stamped down on the page

The Fly Double Page SpreadDirect mode of address

(eyes) – Connects artist and audience – Personal RelationshipLayout – Image takes up whole page – the artist is the only topic – Writing in two columns – looks easier for audience to read Colour – White black and orange – Contrast in colours makes the article striking Typography – Small font for body text – Bold black on orange background for quote – makes it more striking – more of a statement/ important message – Upper Case headings in black and orange – more striking

Image – abstract shirt – Striking, obscure, making a statement – setting of a city with over cast sky – moody image with a serious expression on artists face – suggests being from rural area – gives sense of artists background