Analysing Music MagazineFront Cover – Kerrang!

Written Codes

Masthead

Main Cover Line

Puffs

Written Codes

• The amount of text on the front cover is limited, in order to draw more attention to the images. This magazine front cover displays the use of a masterhead, strapline an main cover line. Their initial purpose is to attract the audience. This is achieved through its utilisation of contrasting colours. For instance the main cover line ‘Bring Me the Horizon’ is written in white against a black background. It makes the text that much more eye-catching and vibrant, appealing to its target audience. Also words such as ‘plus’, written in white against a red background, provoke its audience into a sense of thinking . Again, this particular attitude is developed through the consistent use of black and white.

• Headlines such as ‘...Plane Crash Horror’ and Northern Uproar’ give implications as to what they want the readers to be focusing on. They are in large font and written across the top of the magazine like a strapline, are subsequently proceeded by text giving further details in a smaller font size and colour. This cover is especially effectively as it is easy to indentify its contents after a single glance.. The size of the main text and image also enable it to be read and recognised from a distance. This factor, along with the variations of the colour scheme red, white and black, will help it standout on a shelf. There is the manipulation of exclamation marks to convey excitement. This is evident in the sentence ‘Poster Special!’ and ‘…Storm the UK!’

Language• The words ‘Bring me the Horizon’ in a bold white font, is the largest typeface on

the page, other than the masterhead. It is placed in the centre of the page. The address is informal, and the fact that it is in bold effect letter bestows it with the effect of sometime shouting those words at you. This is also refleted in the fact that as the name progresses, the text grows larger. There are also a few other short puffs, each restricted in length, but placed in a single srtand at the foot of the page. They provide a brief insight as to other aspects of the magazines content. They fascinate the reader with words such us ‘revealed’ and ‘plus’ to let them know that there is more to follow, avoiding entering great detail.

• There are also a select few language techniques that have been incorporated into the text. There are many instances of short sentences to slicken the pace of reading. An example of this would be ‘You Me At Six’ and ‘Week of Rock’. This extract also exhibits the use of direct address in the form of ‘You..’, although it is not featuring in both sentences.

Colour• Colour can have varying associations or connotations, that we are all generally in

consensus. These different colours are likely to represent various aspects of the content. There is a consistent colour scheme in the sense that the only colours that feature are red, black and white. This has been intentionally crafted to formulate a sense of regularity and make it recognisable on the annual basis. In my opinion the main purpose of the red used is to disrupt the flow of the black and white text and images. It predominantly features at separate points of the front cover; as a puff under the main cover line and a smaller background colour for separate shapes on the page. The regular interval of the inclusion, balance out the pattern of the front page. Also the connotations of red and usually and or danger, especially in games. This subliminally provides us with a clue as to what the genre of the featured band, with who the main cover line is regarding. The background is mainly white, and therefore rather bland. This is so that it is contrasted against any text or image that is placed onto it, making it appear more vivid and striking. The black is also used regularly for the text under the sub-heading, the magazine name. As the majority of the text we read everyday is in black against a white background, like newspaper articles. The magazine cover doesn’t disrupt this pattern, so naturally our eyes are drawn towards them. It provides us with an indication as it its significance, as its is used for vital components like the magazine name.

Composition and Framing• The main image appears to be a medium shot. This is to show all of the members

of the group, maybe to generate a sense of mystery. Or another alternative it the they have been simply cropped from waist down. One thing is sure, they have been digitally manipulated. The people were extracted an actual photograph , before being placed onto the background. What’s more they appear to have been placed in front of the masthead. It stands out in black font against the white background figures. This is particularly effective in distinction to the plain white background. It allows the name of the magazine to initially catch your eye, at first glance. You then spot the other placements of contrasting colours scattered across the page, which results in the reader looking at the full cover.

Medium shot

Image• Usually, the image on the cover represents the

target reader, or the ideal that the target reader would like to aspire to. On the cover of ‘Kerrang’, the main image is of a group, featured in direct mode of address. It almost creates the impression that they are looking directly at you and the message is intended for you. It captivates the reader, especially as the bands are in a stance of action. This type of cover is applied in music magazines, so that the artist don’t appear stationary. This fact that it is in black and white entails an aura of mystery and suspense. It is enhanced by the uniformity as to their clothing and the fact that one of them is clenching a fist, and revealing a tattoo, but we are not made aware of why. There are also other smaller images associated with the puffs, with various artist singing.

Pose, Style, hair make-up Mode of address

• All of the members of the band are facing forwards in direct mode of address, although the nature of the medium shot means the detail is restricted. This adds to the sense of mystery, as if they have something to hide. The style, hair and make-up are all a part of this as it is all fairly similar, in the fact that there is not any great detail. However, there is a slight variation, in their distance . One of the is right up the front, with the others appearing to be behind. How do they know each other? Would with suggest he is the lead singer? What are their agendas? There distinct reason for appearing in the magazine is not specified. They audience will automatically start scanning the page for clues or hints, but are unlikely to find any.

Design• The text on the front cover are usually proceeded by one of a colour and font size.

This endows each segment of words with their own individual importance as the are different from those directly around it. There is also at least a minute amount of space between each set of words, making the overall layout equally distributed. The main image cover a small part of the magazine name. This aids in linking illustrations and words, so that they are all in sync. The main texts like the masthead and featured game are all in capital letters, exemplifying their pivotal role. All other like the puffs appear to conform to the laws of grammar.

Contents PageThe contents page of a magazine is there to inform the reader of what the magazine contains. In order to do

this, the contents page must be presented in a manner that invites the readers, so it has to be pleasant to the

eye and easy to comprehend at a single glance.

In this magazine contents page, I chose, the contents page follows a structured layout which enables the

reader to get a clear view of what the magazine contains. The page is divided into sections, with images covering the majority of the page, with the information

displayed around it. This format means the reader is immediately drawn to the images, enabling them to feel

more involved within the magazine, and be more entertained.