Contents page and dps analysis task

Music Magazine –

Contents Page and DPS Textual Analysis

Name: Dan SgarbiniCandidate Number:2005Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic SchoolCenter Number: 64135

OCR Media Studies – AS Level

Unit G321: Advanced Portfolio

Contents Page and DPS Textual Analysis

Contents Page

The main image illustrates a close up Lil Wayne (a well known hip hop artist). This technical code has been put into place in order to display his tattoo’s, a golden chain and his piercings. These are all stereotypical features of a hip hop artist.

A ‘Masthead Copy’ has been used in order to follow a consistent house style and build a brand identity.

These Page details have been put into place in order to inform and educate the reader (Katz). These features include a web address, page number and photographer credits. All of these features remain a professional and structured format.

A Cover Story has been put into place in order to summarise the features within the magazine. This feature encourages the public to read the magazine, this gives the reader an insight into Lil Wayne’s future career plans.

Sub Headings have been put into place in order to summarise the stories and maintain a professional magazine format.

Sublines have been used in order to briefly summarise each page within the magazine. Therefore the readers are aware of what to expect within the media product.

The use of page numbers have been put into place in order to navigate readers around the magazine. This is presented in a bold and contrasting font in order to appeal to the reader and ensure that the page numbers are easy to find.

This content page also displays the issue date which keeps readers up to date with the issues and also allows readers to regularly purchase the magazine. White text is used within a black banner in order to create a contrast and ensure that the text is as clear as possible.

Double Page Spread

This main image creates a stereotypical model of the hip hop genre. Lil Wayne is presented with multiple tattoos, a golden chain and a diamond grill. All of these props are extremely common amongst the hip hop genre and are highly expensive items, this displays the hip hop lifestyle and attracts ‘social climbers’ (Katz).

These details include the page number, web address and issue date which all inform the reader and create a professional and traditional format.

A pull quote has been put into place in order to give the reader a brief insight into the artists personality. Profanity has been put into place within this pull quote in order to also denote the hip hop lifestyle.

The dialogue within this DPS is presented in an informal tone. This automatically builds a relationship with the audience and has been put into place in order to build personal identification with their African American target audience (Katz).

An informal tone within a DPS also ensures that the artist remains relevant to the genre of the magazine as it will also attract ‘social climbers’ (Maslow)

A Drop Capital is used within magazines in order to remain a professional format and to outline where the text begins. XXL magazine present their drop capital in a bold and sharp font in order to denote the stereotypical characteristics of the hip hop genre.

Differentiated Questions and Answers

Editorial

A Masthead Copy has been implemented into the magazine editorial in order to build brand identity and remain a consistent and professional format.

This image is of the cover star Lil Wayne, this completely juxtaposes the traditional format of a magazine. This image is generally an editors photo which builds a professional format. However XXL have used a full body shot of the cover star in order to denote ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer)

This feature is the editors details which builds a personal relationship (Katz0 with the reader and ensures that the reader is able to keep in touch and follow the editor on social media.

The editorial itself is put into place in order to ‘inform and educate’ the reader (Maslow). In addition, this feature displays the editors intentions behind this magazine and reveals a hint to future issues. This builds a direct relationship with the reader.

XXL magazine have used the editors signature within the editorial. This feature remains a professional format and gives the editor a sense of identity.

Advertisement has been used within the editorial in order to promote various other magazines that XXL magazine own. This helps them to expand their business as product placement takes place. This convention builds a personal relationship with the reader (Katz)

Conclusion• In Conclusion, XXL magazine use many features within their contents page in order to inform all readers about the

magazine. They use features such as sub lines in order to navigate readers through the magazine and to give them an insight into the magazine itself. In addition they use the cover star in the format of a close up in order to display his tattoos, chain and piercings, this attracts social climbers (Maslow). Throughout my contents page I will take many features from XXL magazine (Steve Neale 1980) including my masthead copy, bold page numbers and a consistent colour scheme which all build a brand identity and create a traditional format. I will also place my cover star within the page in order to denote his importance and relevance towards this issue of my magazine (Richard Dyer).

• I have also identified key features within the XXL DPS in which I will use when creating my double page spread. Such features include an outrageous pull quote, a close up of my cover star and photographer credits. These conventions attract the reader and display stereotypical features of an hip hop artist. I must ensure that my DPS remains a professional and basic format and is able to ‘inform and educate’ readers (Maslow).

• XXL have used many features within their editorial which remain a professional format, build relationships with the reader (Katz) and builds brand identity. I will use many of these features within my magazine editorial such as an editors signature to remain professional, a masthead copy in order to build brand identity and my editors details which builds a personal relationship with the reader (Katz). Alternatively, XXL have sued a cover star image within their editorial however when creating my editorial I will stick to a traditional method and will use an editors phot in order to remain a basic and professional format.