Magazine 2 analysis

The masthead is following conventions because it is central at the top of the magazine and is in capital letters to make it stand out to the target audience, who are mainly males aged 14-40. The slightly cracked effect on the font presents how the magazine is based around slightly more different and edgy music. The masthead is covered by the three people on the front cover, because it is a well known company and it doesn’t need to stand out for people to know what magazine it is.

The use of the skyline is following conventions because it previews one of the main articles in the magazine, which means that the reader can see what features are in

the magazine. Since the magazine is very well known, the skyline is above the masthead

because the magazine title alone isn’t interesting enough to appeal to the target

audience, so by putting the strapline above it, it is more likely to appeal to the target

audience.

The main image is following conventions by how it has the three people who appear in the main feature of the magazine. The image is a medium close up, which means it follows conventions because generally all main images on magazine front covers are medium close ups. Also, the main image follows codes and conventions by how in the rule of thirds, the three people’s faces are all on a hotspot, meaning the target audience will recognise them better and it will appeal to them more.

The layout is following conventions as the cover lines are used effectively, meaning they follow codes and conventions. This is because of how the cover lines all appear in a hotspot in the rule of thirds, meaning the audience will see these straight away, so it will appeal to them more because they know what bands and features there are straight away.

The anchorage text follows codes and conventions through how it links effectively to the image. In the anchorage text it says about

the ‘stories’ behind the music by the artists presented, and in the main image the person is

holding a book. A book implies a story, meaning that the target audience will find this appealing, because they know what the feature is about a more personal side of the artists, which means

they will want to find more. The direct link between the picture and the text means it follows codes and conventions effectively.

The magazine cover follows conventions by using a puff in the corner of the page, which is used

effectively to show the target audience that there is more than just the features in the magazine. By

using bold and capital font in the puff, it means that the target audience will already by intrigued

by the articles, and knowing they could ‘win’ something to do with the music content

presented, it will appeal to them more and make them more likely to buy it so they can find out

more and get involved in the competition.

FRONT COVERANALYSIS

The magazine cover is following conventions through the layout by following the rule of thirds. This is because if it was divided into thirds, there would be a focus feature at each of the hotspots. This means it follows conventions because the main features of the front cover are placed where the target audience will see them best.

The magazine cover follows conventions through the use of the barcode, because this allows the reader to know about the price of the magazine, as well as being able to actually buy it. It follows conventions because it is on the side of the magazine, and barcodes are always in a corner or on the side, as they don’t need to stand out and distract the reader from the features of the front cover.

By including the price on the front cover, the magazine is following conventions because it allows the reader to know how much the magazine is. The price is £2.50, which means its target audience is working class males, aged between 14-40 because it is not massively expensive, however it still has a fairly high price implying it is a good quality magazine.

CONTENTS PAGEANALYSIS

In the contents page a variety of font sizes and styles are used. This follows conventions, because it

means the title saying ‘Contents’ stands out from the rest of the page because it is much bigger font

and is a different style, which means it will catch the reader’s eye. Also, main features have larger text,

and the title of every article is larger than the descriptions of the articles. This follows conventions

because it lets the reader see what they are most interest in faster, and also makes it clear which bit of text is about which article, so it isn’t confusing to the

target audience.

The biggest image used on the contents page uses direct address, as the band are looking directly at the camera. This follows the conventions of contents pages as it allows the target audience to feel more connected to the bands they enjoy, and also means its easier for the reader to recognise the band if they are interested in them. This means they are more likely to buy the magazine if they see the biggest picture is something they relate to, which means it follows conventions.

The contents page follows conventions of layout through the use of page numbers next to every feature of the magazine it presents to the audience. This means the magazine is following conventions, because the page numbers allow the reader to find the sections they are most interested quicker, and it gives the magazine a more clear and professional appearance and order, which means the target audience will find this appealing. It follows conventions because all magazines have page numbers so their readers find the magazine easier to read.

The contents page for the magazine has the date at the top of the page, which is following conventions because most magazines have dates on the contents page so the reader knows the date when the magazine, and the articles, were relevant. This allows the reader to find a magazine that’s relevant to what they’re interested in. if a person is looking for a specific article from a specific year or month the date allows them to find it easier.

The colour scheme on the contents page doesn’t match the colour scheme on the front cover. The

cover has a lot of bright colours, whereas the contents has more darker colours. Although this

challenges conventions of magazines, as most have a consistent colour scheme throughout the

magazine, however by changing the colour scheme it means that the reader will be able to see the

different articles clearer, because the contents page isn’t as full and intense as the cover is.

However, one way this magazine contents page challenges conventions is through the fact that there are no quotes used at all in the contents page. Mostly in magazine contents pages, there will be quotes from the interviews that are included, which means that the target audience will want to know more about the context of the quote. The fact that it isn’t used is made up for through the fact that there are a few pictures used, meaning they draw the reader in rather than quotes.

DOUBLE PAGEANALYSIS

An effective link to the cover is presented in the top corner of the double page article. By having the word ‘lyrics’ in the corner, it shows the reader that this is part of the feature that the main cover line was referring to, meaning this will make the reader more interested and will make the front cover have more meaning to them. This follows conventions because it means the reader isn’t left confused as to whether this is the feature.

On the double page article, the layout of the double page follows conventions as the font is varied in many ways, such as colour, style and size. The largest bit of text links to the front cover as it talks about the ‘lyrics issue’. Also, the first letter of sections of the article are in red, while the rest is in black, and the rest of the font on the page is either black or white, with red being for key words. Also, some subtext is used above the title which is in slightly smaller text. This variety of sizes and colours, as well as different styles used for the title and a different one used for the main body of the text, means that it follows conventions. This is because it highlights bits of significance to the reader, allowing them to find what interests them and read more of the article if it appeals to them. The variety of colours also keeps it from looking boring.

The quote used in the double page is included to draw the reader in. Quotes used in this way are often fairly random, which means that the target audience becomes interested and want to read the rest of the article in order to find the context for the quote. This means it follows conventions, because it is using it to make the reader more interested and drawing them in.

The double page spread follows conventions because of the use of the main image, and how it uses direct address. By using direct address in such a large image, it makes the reader feel more involved with the article, and also it means that they will recognise the artist faster if they are just looking through the magazine for things that will appeal to them. This follows conventions because it allows the reader to feel more connected with the article they are reading.

The colour scheme used on the double page spread follows on from the colour scheme used on the contents page, meaning that it follows conventions. The use of black, white and red is the same as the colours used on the contents page, and the consistency makes the magazine look more appealing to the reader, meaning it follows conventions.

The use of anchorage text to explain the pictures used on the double page presents how this contents page follows conventions, because it allows the reader to fully understand what the picture is trying to show them. This means that the reader may find it easier to tell if this article is the one they were looking for or if this is the artist they are interested in. the fact that both the images used have anchorage text shows that this double page in the magazine follows conventions.

The Mise–en-scene of the main image involves the book that the artist in the image is holding. The book is to represent the secrets of the song lyrics the magazine says it will present. A connotation of the book is stories, which implies that the article is going into deeper detail about the lyrics. This links to the cover, as on the cover it is talking about the ‘stories behind the songs’. This is relevant for the target audience because it means that they know that this article relates to the cover, but it also means that the reader gets the idea that the information given about the songs and their lyrics is actually detailed and is right from the source of the song.