Detailed class analysis of music magazine on nme real file

Detailed Class Analysis of Music Magazine on NME

By James Borland

On the cover many different band names are denoted across the cover including “Kasabian, Maximo Park, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Muse”. Most of the music featured in the NME is rock music but this cover shows Dizzee Rascal as clearly a rapper. The connation is simply that these different bands will be featured.

Genre of the magazine is new music hence “New Music Express, NME”. At this time Dizzee Rascal was an up and coming popular rapper. The image features Dizzee smiling and low to the ground. There is some direct address as he is looking straight at the reader. The mise en scene shows that he is in a room covered in graffiti and wearing clothes and a gold chain which is more urban and fit the style of rap music. Stereotypically a black man fits the rap genre and crime culture with all of the graffiti however Dizzee is pictured looking extremely happy flipping the stereotype to show that just because he is wearing gang style clothes he is not violent or aggressive. The main cover line used is a quote of Dizzee showing that the article is all about him. The word joy also links to the main image were he is smiling. The shot is a full body shot and shows as it shows all of his body as he is crouched down.

The target audience is younger white men aged 17-22, they are in social class c1 as they have some disposable income but they buy the NME as it is cheaper compared to some magazines.

The masthead is easily recognised and that is why it can be abbreviated. It stands out on the page and is in red, a colour the NME logo is commonly printed in. The bold font allows for it to be seen from afar.

He is represented in such away to show him as cool and trendy with his trainers and his gold chain but also to show he does not fit the modern rap music stereotype of violence and gang behaviour as he is shown to be smiling and happy. It making rap music appear friendlier.

The colour scheme features mainly black, white and red as even the picture features the colours predominantly. The NME usually features some red but it does change as it is such a recognisable brand.

The barcode is featured at the bottom right in a very small size as to not distract the readers eye from the main image and all of the cover lines. The edition is also featured down there and has the normal colour scheme.

There is a puff next to Dizzee’s head which continues to fit the colour scheme of black white and red. It features current news at the time of the cover.

The magazine cover is split into the rule of thirds meaning that the main image and cover line are in the centre and the less important information is in the corners like the barcode and the other cover lines. The masthead is also in the corner but this is because the masthead is large and very recognisable. Dizzee Rascal’s article is clearly the most important from how it is shown on the cover.

Use of informal language such as the word “man” at the end of the cover line and the fact he says “I’m”. This used to show the reader that this will be an exclusive interview.

The contents page features the masthead again to make the brand clear across the different pages of the magazine. Also the colour scheme is the same as on the cover but this time the colour black is used more to allow the text to be clearer as a contents page does not need to catch the readers eye so much.

The layout separates all of the different parts from each other making each section clear and easy to read. The word “CONTENTS” is capitalised and bold making it easy to read and demonstrating clearly what this page is. Below the date is also featured making it clear what issue this is. Along the side all of the articles and there anchorage is featured along the left hand side .

There is an advertisement for subscribing to the NME for weekly issues. This features slightly different colours to show that it is not part of the normal reading of the NME. It is also to help catch the readers eye trying to get them to subscribe as words such as “just” are used to make the deal seem better.

There is no sign of Dizzee Rascal on the contents other than his name to show where the article is. This is to show that the magazine will feature other artists, perhaps less popular. This makes it clear to the reader that other new popular music will be featured.

Here there are different titles showing what sort of content will be in the magazine. This splits up the magazine issue into different sections allowing for readers to read exactly what they want to.

There is also a sort of mini article in the contents page to get the reader started on what will be in the magazine and what it will be like. This small article features some informal language fitting with the NME’s overall style, through the use of the word “eh?” the article feels more like a conversation.

Props are featured and they are empty alcohol bottles and a stereo. The props fit the stereotype of rap music as alcohol tends to be a part of gang culture

The title used for the article references gangs as it uses the word “Tags” is used which creates synergy with the main image as he is tagging the wall in the photo. The full title shows how he has now become quite popular and does not need to fit the gang stereotype any more.

The layout means that the main image is featured across one whole page making it clear who the article is about. The top right quarter of the double page spread features the cover line of the article in large black font. The graffiti from the cover is also featured here. Between the title, background and main image the usually colour scheme is seen again as Dizzee has a red jacket, the title is black and the background is white.The title helps to imply that this will be his story as it happened especially with the start of the article stating “From Mercury Prize to Kate Moss” showing that he has gone from a famous prize to a famous person.

The text goes from large, top to small, bottom. This makes for a kind of summary for the article meaning if you like what you read at the top you can continue to read the article at the bottom which is more detailed.

The main image is similar to the image on the cover featuring the same location and model however this time Dizzee is wearing a jacket and tagging the wall, this is to show how he is linked to rap music and in general a gang attitude. The mise en scene shows that the scene is supposed to be like being on the street with rubbish on the floor and tags on the wall but Dizzee has brought with him some colour creating a happier tone and avoiding part of the stereo type.

Identify the Elements that Connect the 3 Different Parts of the Magazine

• On both the cover and the contents the NME logo is featured very dominantly.• Across both the cover, the contents and the double page spread there is a shared colour

scheme of red, white and black, the double page spread differs a bit but still the red of Dizzee’s jacket is dominant on the page and so is the large bold black text and finally the walls are white but then covered with graffiti.

• Dizzee Rascal is featured across all 3 however only his name is seen on the contents page. The cover features him in a huge main image and the double page spread is just all about him.

• Across all 3 there is similar language used speaking directly to the audience in a more informal way.

• On all 3 of the pages red for the most part is the most dominant colour, giving the magazine a friendlier image and fitting in with the NME’s usual colour scheme.