Text analysis front cover

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This presentation will include textual analysis of 2 magazine front covers. One of each page will be from NME and one from Q, because these are the conventional magazines I hope to base my own on.

Transcript of Text analysis front cover

Page 1: Text analysis front cover

This presentation will include textual analysis of 2 magazine front covers. One of each page will be from NME and one from Q, because these are the conventional magazines I hope to base my own on.

Page 2: Text analysis front cover
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House Style This cover is much busier than the Q cover, although they still use four main colours of yellow, red, black and white which would appeal to both genders. There are many more framed pictures, text and splashed making the magazine seem full of content.

Language The language doesn’t elaborate on headlines as much as in Q. They include mostly titles of musicicans/bands and aim for these alone to appeal to the target audience. Q uses more informal language on the cover whereas NME uses basic summary of much of the content inside the magazine.

Image There are many images crowded together on this issue. The main image is a mid shot of a very popular musician looking similar to a fashion photography shot – her costume and makeup fit these conventions as does the prop of flowers around her. The smaller framed images are effective; a mixture of posed shots and action shots and a mixture of genres will attract a large possible fan base.

Strap lines The main headline across the splash suggests that the reader will gain information on a lot of music from this ‘special’ issue. The graphics are effective on the splash as it looks like a torn page. They include many photos of bands suggesting that the magazine is very full and up to date. The PLUS at the bottom effectively includes more information in a small space. Underneath the main headlines there is smaller text trying to attract the audience further, making it slightly mysterious.

Masthead The NME masthead is conventional; simply a font across the page. The black, white and red are effective colours for a music magazine. They use a banner textbox over the logo, fitting it into the design where it doesn’t necessarily have to be at the top of the page, which I think suits the crowded look of NME.

Tattoo On show to highlight the ‘edginess’ of NME.

Splash Much of the text over coloured boxes or circles, ensuring that text does not get lost in all of the photographs and graphics.

Bar code, price and edition date All are essential in professional magazines, therefore I will remember to include these in order to achieve a professional look.

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House Style This cover uses a simple house style, with four constant, neutral colours which would appeal to both genders. It is continued throughout the magazine to create a consistent theme. The Q logo is repeated throughout.

Language Bestial language seems to be a recurrence on this cover to coincide with the photograph; “beast” “tiger”. The language is informal and conversational (good lord), appealing to the particular target audience. Simple, abrupt language is used to convey a lot of the magazine’s content without losing the simple style of the cover.

Image Only one main unframed image used. No framed smaller images, focuses audience attention on the musician featured, which is effective due to her huge fan base and success. The long shot allows Lily’s conventionally attractive shape to be emphasised, attractive female readers who admire her and males who are attracted to her. The props used are unconventional, giving the photo an edgy and individual tone. They carry connotations that Lily is fierce and there is a mysterious side to her, attracting the reader further through curiosity. Only grey and black are used for background, costume and props, which give the cover a ‘dark’ atmosphere. The part nudity shows this magazine’s use of content which may not appeal to some of the public – a kind of informality. Their target audience being young individuals who accept controversial images.

Strap lines Short, simple sentences focusing on band names by making them bold, hinting at what is inside. Audience gratification > information about musicians an audience is interested in propels them to buy the magazine. Attracts large potential audience due to popularity and quantity of bands mentioned.

Masthead Q’s masthead could be said to be unconventional due to the logo appearance, as opposed to the horizontal text commonly used. The bold red background attracts attention and the colour fits into the house style. Lily is superimposed onto the masthead slightly, suggesting her importance and fitting editing conventions. The small font in the masthead “a different take on music” suggests the magazine’s individuality. The date of edition is included in tiny font so as not to make the magazine seem crowded with text.