Double page spread 3

This is a double page spread from 'Q magazine'. It focuses on an audience interested in pop music genre because it involves a famous pop star; Lady Gaga. The chains wrapped around her chest combined with her seductive pose and facial expression creates a sexual concept to the page, which attracts the male audience and convinces them to buy this magazine. The vibrant red and black typeface reinforces this concept because red symbolises strong emotions and seduction and the black shows power and dominance, however the white background contrasts with the concept as it symbolises purity. This justifies her seductive expressions as pure and innocent.  The white background of the image also makes the content of the double page spread and the details of the image clearer for the audience. The use of only one image of the artist on the double page spread makes it stand out. This shows that the double page is focused on this particular artist. It also represents the artist as an iconic and well-known figure. Having just one image on the spread makes the page less cluttered, keeping it looking neat and sophisticated and so appealing to a more mature audience.

The layout of the page is well organised as it has used conventional grids to align text and images in fixed positions. The main image takes up one half of the page whereas the copy takes up the other half making it easier to read and follow. Although the layout is simple it looks less cluttered and gives the double page its mature look which appeals to the target audience of adults. The title is the biggest font on the page and takes up nearly half the page so it grabs the audience’s attention. ‘She’s the man’ complements the image of Lady Gaga as she is shown to be revealing her upper half of the body and the bottom half covered, this form of exposure is common among the male gender but not female as they tend to show their upper half to attract the opposite sex.  Moreover, as you go down the words they become darker so ‘She’s’ is in bright red ‘the’ is in dark red and ‘man’ is in black the colours are used to convey meaning, the strong red colours is used to convey a seductive woman with a lot of strength and control, the black is used to represent the man. This implies that Lady Gaga is a seductive yet strong woman; her strength being portrayed by the image is what makes the article state that ‘She’s the man’ as men are stereotypically seen as the ones with strength and control.

The actual copy of the page is very little which shows that the content is very straight to the point and will attract a mass audience because it does not require a lot of time to read therefore more people will likely read it. The artists name ‘LADY GAGA’ is written in capitals and is highlighted with a similar red colour to the title. Her name is the only two words in the sentence that are in capitals to show the superiority of her name over all other text, which highlights her importance, it is highlighted so that it stands out from all other text and grabs the audiences attention. The same colour scheme has been used throughout this prevents the page from looking unprofessional. The colours also match the colours of the logo of the magazine ‘Q’, this relates the double page spread to this specific magazine. The colour scheme also suggests that the style of magazine is targeted at an older audience as the colours used are very powerful, dark and mature. 

Double page spread 2

This is a double page spread in the 'Billboard' magazine, it includes the popular teen pop star; Miley Cyrus who in the image is positioned in the corner of an empty room with a concrete wall behind. The background is suitable as it makes Miley Cyrus and the text stand out. The emptiness of the room sets the mood and reflects on the way she feels. The concrete wall and wooden floor creates isolated, cold atmosphere in the image. The image has been taken in a way that it does not need to be edited and therefore is easier to use during post production.

The masthead placed across the centre of the double page says 'Girl, you'll be a woman soon', as if comforting her and Miley is positioned between the two words which connotes that she does not belong to a specific category but is split between being a girl but nearly woman at the same time. She is sitting in the corner to symbolise that she is segregated and vulnerable because she is neither 'Girl' neither ‘woman’. It is in capitals and looks modern and stylish, which suggests that Miley is part of the new generation of pop stars therefore is modern and is stylish in her music and clothing. ‘Girl’ is in pink symbolising femininity and innocence whereas 'Woman' is in black, which connotes power and elegance. This suggests that the two words contrast therefore it is impossible for Miley to belong to two different categories. However her outfit is black which shows her transforming into a ‘woman’. The lighting is on Miley Cyrus this suggests that she is at the moment the centre of attention in the music industry with her latest album 'Can't be tamed', which explores a new aspect in Miley making it gain lots of attention as it shows a transformation from the ‘Disney Hannah Montana’ to the new ‘Cant be tamed, Miley Cyrus’. The page initially seems simple however it has a lot of depth and symbolism.

The copy is very small this makes it easier and faster the read therefore the page will attract a mass audience. It also suggests that the image and the title of the page is of greater importance and is what will attract the audience to the page the most. The artists name ‘MILEY CYRUS’ at the start of the sentence is written in capitals to show her importance. The text is aligned according to the conventional grid making the page look neater and more organised which makes it look more professional. The text is in white to make it stand out on the grey background which makes it clearer for the audience to read. Also, the magazines name is placed near the page number in small; it is in a small font because it is not as important to the page as it is to the front cover. The reader by now has already established what magazine they are reading therefore the masthead is irrelevant however it is found on the page to relate the double page spread to the magazine. 

Double Page Spread (Smash Hits Magazine)

The title ‘Lady Gaga Live’ corresponds to the main image of Lady Gaga in a live performance.  This shows that the image is complementary to the topic being discussed. The title of the article is the largest font on the page and is shown in block capitals so that it captures the audience’s attention. Also the picture is quite dynamic; it attracts the reader’s eyes to the page encouraging them to read the article. The red, black and white colours match the house style of Smash Hits magazine and show a consistent theme. There is bright lighting on Lady Gaga which connotes that she is the highlight of the image as she takes up three quarters of the page. A low angle shot is used to make her seem superior which fits in with her idol-like image that is an inspiration to others.

The focus as established before is mainly the image rather than the text because the image is what will really grab the audience’s attention. The paragraph is very small however is very effective and grabs the readers interest, it refers to the image as it states “No one puts on a show quite like Lady Gaga” and the image supports this because she seems very enthusiastic and unique compared to other celebrities.  The article carries on to the next page therefore there are arrows used to inform the reader. Because this is not the full article it is important that the language is very effective and will make the reader want to carry on. Therefore, linguistic devices such as alliteration is used to make the language effective, it lists the “crazy costumes”, “frantic fireworks” and “the delectable dancers” which highlights that Lady Gaga is a very professional artist who performs memorable and exciting stage performances. The adjective ‘crazy’ and ‘frantic’ emphasis’ the word it is describing, making it more effective and less dull than just listing the “costumes, fireworks and dancers” which makes it sound less interesting and unique to other stage performances. The language makes the article more exciting and makes the reader want to read on. 

The page is composed according to the conventional grid which makes the page look organised and easier to follow. The image is placed towards the left hand side of the page and takes up three quarters of the page to attract the audience’s attention. The copy is placed to the right hand side so that is easier for the reader to follow. There are lines used to separate the title from the paragraph which makes the outlined title stand out and makes the page look well structured and the text does not look randomly placed at the side. 

Music Magazine Research 2

'Q' is a British monthly music magazine- it appeals to a wider audience because it includes different genres such as rock and pop.  'Q' and is taken from the word 'Cue', it is shortened to make it easier and more memorable for the audience. The masthead does not limit the music genre of the magazine such as ‘Top of the pops’ magazine, this allows the magazine to cover articles on popular genres such as rock and pop, drawing a larger audience. The magazine cover consists of three dominant colours; white, red and black. The black and white are classical and stylish colours suggesting that the magazine is aimed at an older audience of both genders. The red makes it more sophisticated suggesting that the magazine could be aimed at an older, more sophisticated audience.

The main image is of Katy Perry who is very unique and has released many worldwide hits such as ‘I kissed a girl’ and ‘Hot n Cold’, which matches the strap line ‘The ultimate playlist’. She is looking directly at the camera which involves the target audience and makes them connect with her, making them want to read on. It relates to the very wide genre of music because Katy Perry is a pop artist. A cropped long shot shows her figure and what she is wearing. Her costume is black matching the colours of the magazine. Her posture makes her look confident and seductive which links with the pug ‘I cannot be stopped, baby’. The ‘baby’ makes the sentence informal which connotes that Katy Perry will be more honest and comfortable therefore we will find out Her dress is tight highlighting her figure and making her seem glamarous and idol-like. The background for the main image is plain white to make Katy Perry’s dominant black hair and dress stand out against the light background.

The magazine does not include as much text as ‘Top of the Pops’ which makes it less sophisticated, however it is easier to follow and more appealing to its target audeince. ‘Katy Perry’ is the largest text and in bold to grab the audiences attention, which suggests that she is the selling point of the magazine. Name of other celebrities are aligned to the left side of the magazine cover. These names are highlighted in red so they stand out to the audience, it is written in white and highlighted in red to match the colour scheme of the magazine. The typeface is quite formal and blunt which shows that it is targeting a older audience, it is all in capitals to make the copy stand out and grab the audiences attention.

This music magazine focuses on popular music. This suggests that it is based mainly around pop genre but also refers to any other musical style accessible to the public. Therefore, it has a mass audience because it covers all music genres that are popular and that many people share an interest in. The overall cover of this magazine suggests the target audience of this magazine is more female than male, which is clear from the cover artist and the colours used, also by some of the content, e.g. an article on Katy Perry, where a female audience would more likely be interested in than a male. On the other hand, there are articles on Metallica and hip-hop music, whose audience is dominantly male. The age of the target audience is shown to be based around late teenagers to young adults. The target audience cannot be any younger because there is an article on marriage and because the cover has a more sophisticated and mature appearance in comparison to ‘Top of the Pops’ magazine which appeals for a much younger audience. It also would not appeal to people much older, because the content is not that of interest to them e.g. celebrity gossip. The cover is appealing to its target audience mainly through the colours and the well-known artist used for the front cover, as she is an idol to young female audience.

An image of a famous pop artist; Katy Perry, is the main image of the front cover, and the only image included, which shows that she is important, iconic and the main selling point of the magazines issue. The magazine includes genres which are common and can attract a larger audience, and amongst them is the pop genre, therefore the image relates to the music genre of the magazine because the well-known pop star Katy Perry appeals to the audience. Having one focal point is important so that when you look at an image your eye will generally need  something of interest to really hold it. Therefore, having too many focal points loses the, but rather attracts the consumer to one central point appealing to a more mature audience. Katy Perry is in large and positioned in the centre of the page, which makes her stand out and shows that she is the centre of attention. A mid shot shows Katy Perry in more detail whilst simultaneously creating a space around her to insert other elements of the magazine during postproduction.  The positioning of Katy Perry in the centre of the frame allows text to be inserted on either sides rather than all to one side. This creates an even balance of text on the page so not all of it is scattered to one side. Also, a well thought of image like this does not require a huge amount of cropping and editing to do during postproduction. As a result, the magazine appears more professional and realistic.

Furthermore, mise en scène is used in the front cover to make it more effective and eye catching. For example, her costume is very colourful and brightens the mood of the image; it is also revealing which matches the 21st Century fashion suggesting that she is glamorous and stylish. Additionally, the bright lighting and the white backdrop make her seem very stunning and angelic which suggests that she is extraterrestrial and rare. Moreover, the white background makes the colours of her costume and text stand out more making it clear for more attractive to the audience and easier to read. The shadowing around her figure makes the image more realistic and seem as though it has been set with the original background. As well, the colours in the image have affected the general colour scheme. For instance, her black hair fits the black colour of the masthead and some of the text on the cover. Also the pink in part of Katy Perrys’ costume complements the colours used in the text, as it been taken out and used in the text, which is necessary because it shows the image is specifically related to this magazine issue. This issue of Blender consists of three dominant colours black, white and pink. The colours are bright, young and fun which suggests that the magazine is based around the genre of pop, which will probably attract a younger audience who have an interest in pop music. The hot pink colour attracts mainly an audience of females and creates a brighter mood to the cover. White and black contrast therefore the white colour is used to make the features stand out, the black is used to make the text and fonts stand out against the white background so it is readable.  The colour scheme is relevant to the magazines content as it is colourful and fun, which is similar to pop music and the fun content that would interest an audience of young people, such as the main article, “Katy Perry kiss ‘n’ tell with pop’s bi-curious babe”. The text ‘Katy Perry’ is in two different colours; black and hot pink. This is to make each part of her name stand out and appeal to the audience who are interested in Katy Perry.

The texts purpose is to report the latest most interesting news that can engage a mass audience; it achieves this through linguistic devices that make the audience want to read on. The magazine is called ‘BLENDER’, which refers to a mixture. This reflects the genre and target audience of the magazine because it blends different musical genres into one magazine therefore attracting a wide range of audience. There are two different types of font used in the cover, one for the masthead and one for the rest of the text on the cover, which includes the content. The advantage of using a similar font throughout is that it keeps a consistent style making the cover look simple, uncluttered and clear to the audience which avoids confusion. Moreover, it allows the audience to distinguish between the important headlines and the less important headlines. For example, the masthead is a different font to the rest of the cover, which portrays it as separate from the rest of the cover, also makes it stand out more. The font that has been used for the cover is plain, bold and has curved edges, therefore has a very ‘pop’ look, which relates to the theme of the magazine. It makes it appear fun and feminine, which is in contrast to e.g. a heavy metal magazine masthead, where the font would be very harsh, with sharp edges giving it an unsettling look. All the text is clearly visible on the page, as the font colours are either hot pink or black and complement the white backdrop.

The typeface of the magazine cover varies, so that the bigger the text is the more important and the smaller text is of less importance. The consumer is drawn more to larger fonts quicker than smaller fonts because text elements with a larger font have a higher level of interest to the reader. On the Blender cover, the masthead is the largest size, because it is the most important part of the magazine and is what the consumer is first attracted to, eventually leading to the purchase of the magazine. With the strap lines and content on the front cover, some fonts are larger than others. For example, the names of the famous singers such as “Katy Perry” is emboldened and the second largest font on the page to make it more eye catching as she is the main selling point. This shows an artists importance and dominance over other text. It is also used to attract a larger audience because she is what people want to read about. Perry's name will most definitely get a larger audience than if the word 'BABE' or 'kiss n tell' was the largest font because this does not have any significance or importance hence why it is necessary to pick the right words when changing the typeface. The strap lines also reflect the content of the magazine and its genre. Celebrities are included in the strap lines such as Katy Perry who belongs to the pop genre along with T-Pain; a hip-hop singer, which once again suggests that although the magazine is mainly pop theme it can include other genres to interest a wide range of audience.

The alignment of text is according to the conventional grid; however the text seems to be also slightly aligned to fit the artists’ figure. The purpose of this is to attract the audience from reading the text to the image of this iconic figure. The text seems to be controlled or attracted towards her also conveying that she is the most important part of the magazine. The purpose of a conventional grid is to give the reader a comfortable vision pattern. It makes the magazine look more organised and professional. The head of the artist covers the masthead, which adds layers to the cover and makes the cover artist stand out the most. The feature bar also settles in top of the image of the artist. This is probably because the feature bar includes a promotion “Free downloads! 10 hot new tracks”. This is a major selling point as people that read the magazine are interested in music and so would benefit from free downloads therefore attracts the audience to purchase the magazine. Moreover, the price and the barcode are not included in the front of the cover. This may be because they are not important, or because the magazine is well known and so the magazine does not need to be promoted as cheap to attract its audience.