Thursday, 25 February 2010

Analysis of Q magazine



This is an issue of Q magazine, from January 2010. On the front cover of this issue, Cheryl Cole can be seen looking slightly different to the way she would normally be seen.

Colour --
The colours used on the front cover of this issue is mainly red, black and white. The contrast between the black and white bounce off of each other and make the magazine extremely eye catching, whilst the red stands alone but the boldness of it allows the cover to stand out a lot more than most. The black creates an almost gothic feel to the magazine; this creates contrast with how Cheryl Cole is normally perceived as a person and also clashes well with the white rain. Red is a slightly sensual colour; it can indicate love, passion or anger and this can relate to the emotions that Cheryl Cole has been feeling through throughout her career.

Design ---
Keeping it's normally used design, just like most magazines usually do, the editors of Q have decided to keep everything on the front cover in it's normal position. This can sometimes be a good idea with magazine covers as there is less of a chance that readers will get confused with what magazine they want to buy when looking for it.
The masthead is in the same place is always is, with the bar code and price easily seen underneath it and the designers of the magazine have chosen to put the more important details and words in slightly bigger and different fonts to highlight the key point of interest within the magazine; this allows the audience to get a much better idea of what they will be reading about inside. Important details of what is going to be read and seen inside have also been highlighted in red or white to make them stand out a lot more.

Images ---
The image on the front cover is a major close up picture of Cheryl Cole on her own. The fact that the picture is of her on her own illustrates contrast, as she is normally seen with her band members and not by herself. Also, the fact that Cheryl Cole is such a well known and admired celebrity will attract more consumers, male or female.
When looking at this picture of her, she looks fairly different to how she is normally seen. Sporting a more rebellious fashion in contrast to her stereotypical girly self. Her change would also be another reason for people to want to buy the magazine.
Cheryl's makeup as been vamped up and her hair is soaking wet as if she does not care what she looks like. Her black eyes go well with the colour of her hair and the red lipstick makes it stand out a lot more. Her tongue has been edited to almost match the colour of the lipstick and this clashes well with the her extremely white teeth.
The fact that Cheryl's picture is the only one to be seen on the front cover indicates that the magazine is obviously mostly about her.

Pose ---
Cheryl's pose on the front of this magazine is slightly sultry and rebellious, and this could be seen as attractive to some people. Her pose shows contrast to how she is normally perceived in the public eye as she looks quite dangerous and mysterious; this could attract a male audience as well as a female audience and makes the magazine more known. Connoting that she is not shy at all, is the fact that she has her tongue out in quite a mischievous fashion; again, this could attract the attention of a male audiences that admire Cheryl.

Words ---
The masthead is a bold white on a bright red background, and the fact that it is just the one letter "Q" makes it stand out just that little bit more and the boldness of the font and the capital letters highlight the title and make it a lot more eye catching than it would be if it was in a smaller size.
Above the masthead the words "The UK's biggest magazine" can be seen, and although it is written in a smaller font it is still easy to read and see. The fact that this is written on the front of the magazine and has been given permission to have it illustrates that the magazine is obviously very popular and that it might actually be true. This comment could make people want to buy it even more, because everybody else is buying it and it must not be missed.
The strapline can be seen underneath the image of Cheryl Cole, reading "3 words; Cheryl Cole Rocks!" This is a pun, as '3 words' is the name of her new album and this could also be seen as advertising and the word 'rocks' is indicating that Cheryl is cool. Cheryl's name is written in bold and in a large font. This makes it extremely eye catching, and her admirers will see her name and most likely want to buy the magazine.
Everything else that is included inside the magazine is advertised on the front cover. Some words are highlighted, some are in bold and some are just in different colours to make them more eye catching and they all suggest a wide variety of subjects that will appeal to different kinds of buyers. This can also create a larger fan base and make the magazine more popular.

Language ---
The language used on the front cover of this magazine is a mix between formal and informal. The slight fact that they have chosen to use the word "rocks" to describe Cheryl Cole makes the magazine sound quite friendly. Also, young readers can relate to the language used.
The rest of the words used on the front cover are quite formal and simple, as they are describing what else can be read inside the magazine, so they have to be easy to read and understand.
The block capital technique of highlight certain words to make them more eye catching has been used on certain words just like it is normally used in other magazines.




Monday, 1 February 2010

Analysis of NME magazine



This is an issue of NME magazine, from January 2009. In this issue, the indie pop song artist, Lily Allen, can be seen on the front cover. This shows that the editors of NME magazine have chosen to keep to their controversial taste in music by putting her on the front page; as NME is known for writing about individual music styles.

Colour ---
The colours used on the front cover of this magazine are black and almost quite gothicy for this issue, but are mixed with the bright red that NME normally use for their title. The mix of black, white and red with a slight hint of yellow work really well together and make the cover a lot more eye catching than if a dull, neutral colour had been used. The fact that Lily Allen is wearing a black, white and red checkered shirt is fashionable and relates to the colour sequence and her black hair and eye make up match perfectly.

Design ---
The design of the magazine is the same as it normally is with NME magazine. The title colour is the same red as it always is and everything is positioned as it usually is on the front cover of NME, e.g; the picture and the title, etc.
The designers of the magazine have chosen to put the more important details and words in slightly bigger and different font to highlight the key point of interest within the magazine; this allows the audience to get a much better idea of what they will be reading about inside.
To make the front page look slighty more youthful and crazy, the writing has been almost messily spread about as if it's been scattered all over the image of Lily Allen. This certain effect will most likely attract a younger audience, as it makes the front cover look hectic, just like most teenagers feel their lifes are.

Images ---
The image on the front cover of this magazine is a close up of the 24 year old singer, Lily Allen. The picture shows her as being quite different to what she used to be and how some people might think of her as being. She has a new hair cut and different make up, and her pose is quite sultry. Not many people would have been used to Lily Allen's look at the time this issue of NME was released, so it may have come to a suprise to a lot of the magazine's audience. It is as if this issue is showing how much Lily has changed, and reader's can see this by slightly sharpened picture of Lily Allen.
Her hair is jet black and cut into a stylish, sleek bob that has been straightened and her make up includes a fairly pale face and black eye make up; and these colours work very well with the block colours used on the front cover. Also, the fact that she is showing her collar bone slightly, may attract a male audience as well as young female readers.

Pose ---
The pose that has been used on the front cover is sultry and could be seen as being very attractive to some people. Lily Allen is trying to show the change that she has made in herself in the image that has been used, so instead of being her normal grinning self that her audience is used to, she is sporting a slightly pouted smirk. Her facial expression is quite seductive and with her collar bone noticably showing, it is a way of illustrating that Lily Allen is not shy.
Another image on the front of this cover is of the legend, David Bowie. The photo is small but noticable, and is in an almost vintage black and white colour to relate to the fact the David Bowie has been around for quite some time. This will also draw a different type of audience towards the magazine; maybe an older generation of people.

Words ---
The masthead is a bright, bold red colour as it usually is. It has been made amazingly noticable and even though the last letter has been a little bit covered by the image, it is still extremely easy to work out what magazine this is. The boldness of the font and the capital letters highlight the title and make it a lot more eye catching than it would be if it was in a smaller size.
The strapline shows what the key point of interest in this issue is supposed to be and the large size and boldness of the font indicate that it must not be missed.
A quote, obviously said by Lily Allen, has been used above the tagline, reading, "I can't keep on living like this. It's doing my head in." This is another indication that Lily Allen is making a change and does not want to be what she once was and her language is quite informal, therefore some readers can relate to what she is saying.
Lily Allen's name is seen in a much larger font underneath, this illustrates that the attention should be aimed at her in this particular issue.
There is also a few other cover titles on the front cover, pointing out what else can be read inside the magazine. The titles on the front cover suggest a wide variety of subjects and can be liked by and will appeal to different kinds of buyers. This can also create a larger fan base.

Language ---
The language used on the front of this magazine cover is quite informal in the quote made by Lily Allen, but also easy to understand. The rest of the words used are formal and simple; so that it is easy enough for the reader to work out what they are going to be reading about.
A block capitals technique has been used to emphasise certain important stories within the magazine.

Overall Impression ---
Overall, the front cover of this magazine shows techniques and follows the conventions that most magazines do cover. It is not different from any other magazine but it is not the same either.
This issue of NME has obviously been designed to show the change that Lily Allen has made with herself being an artist and herself in general, and I think that this will most likely appeal to fans of her and her music.
It is not the most eye catching magazine that I have ever seen, but I think that it's use of gothicy colours give it a different vibe to what you normally expect an "Indie Rock" magazine to involve, therefore it is quite unpredictable, and that is what I am aiming for when I design my magazine cover.