Research and Planning

By Drew Allen

Introduction

I have chosen to annotate two front cover, contents page and double

page spread of two rock magazines, Kerrang and Classic Rock

magazine. Genre conventions of rock magazines are dark house

styles, ripped or scruffy writing and rock stars with tattoos showing

deep meaning and thought. rock magazines can also be defined by

people that like rock music by the rock stars in the main image the

way they are holding themselves and how they are dressed.

Front Cover

Kerrang Classic Rock

Both of the magazines above have used the informal text of Sans Serif

which is a iconic sign which is seen as a rock icon but the Kerrang

magazines text was created to look more rock by using the ripped text.

The preferred reading of the informal text would be that they are

dangerous and seen as a 'rebel'. The oppositional reading of people

that aren't in the target audience of the magazine might think that its

scruffy, dirty and quite and rough around the edges. This text style is

also used on the anchorage, cover lines, the PUFF the sky line and

the masthead.

The main image on the two magazines are pictures of rock stars smartly

dressed which contrasts with the informal text style. The images are an

Indexical sign because it suggests that rock stars are well dressed nice people

when the stereotype is that they always drunk and rude. The preferred reading

of the main image is they are role they are nice, well respected people that and

roll models and the oppositional reading of someone who isn't the target

audience might look at the eyes of Green day on Kerrang magazine and they

interpret them as being on drugs going back to the stereotype of a rock star.

Both of the magazines have a medium close-up image which allows the reader

to feel like they know the person and the magazine is personal to them.

On the Classic Rock magazine the PUFF is placed at the top of the page so

that it is one of the first things you see when you look at the magazine on

the shelf and it is promoting what you can find inside. The PUFF is an

indexical sign because unless you are a fan of rock you wouldn't know what

it meant. The preferred reading of the PUFF on the Classic Rock magazine

would be that there are topic inside the magazine that you need to read so

you buy the magazine. The oppositional reading of someone who isn't the

target audience of the magazine would be that there is nothing in the

magazine that they what to read so they don't buy it.

The Skyline on the Kerrang magazine has been put on a blocked black

colour at the very top of the page so that it is clearly seen by the reader. The

skyline on this magazine is an indexical sing because unless you know the

magazine or the music genre you wouldn't understand it. The preferred

reading is be that there are topic inside the magazine that you need to read

so you buy the magazine. The oppositional reading of someone who isn't

the target audience of the magazine would be that there is nothing in the

magazine that they what to read so they don't buy it. The PUFF on the

Classic Rock magazine does the same job as the Skyline on the Kerrang

magazine.

Contents Page

Kerrang Classic Rock

Both of the contents pages have used the informal text of Sans Serif which is a

iconic sign which is seen as a rock icon but the Kerrang magazines text was

created to look more rock by using the ripped text. The preferred reading of the

informal text would be that they are dangerous and seen as a 'rebel'. Both of

the magazines have kept the same house style through out there magazine.

The oppositional reading of people that aren't in the target audience of the

magazine might think that its scruffy, dirty and quite and rough around the

edges. This text style is also used on the anchorage, cover lines, the PUFF the

sky line and the masthead.

Both of the images are indexical signs because you need to know the band to know

who they are. The main image on the Kerang is a picture of a heavy rock band. The

picture with the text underneath is there to make you read on to see what else you can

get out of the magazine. The preferred reading would be that if Metallic can promoting

the shoes, they must be good and you must buy them. With the picture and the title in

red underneath, oppositional reading of someone who isn't in the target audience

would be that they are dangerous and we should be scared of them, which would put

them off but the shoes that they are promoting. The Picture on the Classic Rock

magazines contents page is of a less heave band. The whole of the picture has a

brown filter on which the preferred readers would suggest that they are a chilled, well

presented band but the optional reading of someone who isn't in the target audience

would be that they are an old, forgotten band.

The PUFF on both of the magazines are on the contents page to sell or

advertise what's further inside the magazine by catching eye with bright

colours. The preferred reading of the PUFF on the Classic Rock magazine

would be that there are topic inside the magazine that you need to read so

you buy the magazine. The oppositional reading of someone who isn't the

target audience of the magazine would be that there is nothing in the

magazine that they what to read so they don't buy it. Whereas The preferred

and the optional reading of the PUFF on the Kerrang magazine is that you

can win shoes if you buy and read the magazine.

Both of the images have been chosen to be done with low-key

lighting which in the Kerrang magazine makes them look scary

and dangerous, whereas in the Classic Rock magazine low-key

lighting has been used to make the band members look chilled

and calm. These are iconic signs because the colour clearly

suggests the demeanor of the band.

Double Page Spread

Kerrang Classic Rock

The text on both of the magazines is the informal text of Sans Serif

which is a iconic sign which is seen as a rock icon but the Kerrang

magazines text was created to look more rock by using the ripped text.

The preferred reading of the informal text would be that they are

dangerous and seen as a 'rebel'. The oppositional reading of people that

aren't in the target audience of the magazine might think that its scruffy,

dirty and quite and rough around the edges. This text style is also used

on the anchorage, cover lines, the PUFF the sky line and the masthead.

Both of the picture are of band members at look like they are

performing. Both of the images are indexical signs because you need

to know the band to know who they are. The preferred reading is that

they are hard working but the oppositional reading might be that they

aren't hard working and they don't do anything else as a job other than

performing in their bands.

Both of the images have been chosen to be done with high-key

lighting which makes the band members in the picture look

god-like. Both images are indexical signs because you need to

know the band to know who they are. The Preferred reading

would be that the are roll models and people look up to them,

whereas the oppositional reading of someone who isn't the

target audience would be that they are trying to hard to be

liked.

For both of the magazines the general color scheme is the

same, using a lot of back and white which goes with the

stereotype of rock music. it is a symbolic sign because is goes

with the stereotype of rock music. The preferred reading would

be that the magazine looks clear and professional whereas the

oppositional reading of someone who isn't the target of the

magazine would be that it is plain and boring so they wouldn't

buy the magazine again.