Mock-Ups

Practise Shots

Front Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Double Page Spread

This is an example of a double page spread from NME magazine. I would like to use a similiar layout.

Contents Page Text Suggestions

Images

I intend to have one main image of a male artist on the contents page. The image will be a medium shot of the male wearing a pair of headphones. The header and body copy will be placed over the image. The masthead and the word 'Contents' will be placed in the top centre of the page. The Editors Letter will be placed on the left hand side. Including an Editors Letter is a personal and intimate attribute that a female target audience would appreciate and find endearing. The features will be placed in the bottom right hand corner.

The main image:
The male artist stands facing the camera, with wildly curly hair, wearing a big pair of black headphones. The wire of the headphone is in his mouth. This image represents the production of music, the wire is plugged into the persons mouth and the person represents the music generator, the creator. The music travels through the headphones, which indicates the reality of the musical production. This links in with the article being set inside the recording studio - which is where albums are produced!

The Artist
The name of the male artist is "The Bedlam". The definition of the word 'Bedlam' is 'Chaotic situation'. This links in with the fact that this is a music magazine and it relates to the mise-en-scene of the image and the type of music the artist creates - which is synth-pop. I have chosen to use a male artist on the contents page to show readers that even though this is a magazine that focused on women, it still includes male artists and bands.

The Editors letter
In the Editors Letter I would first like to welcome the readers to the magazine, state what it aims to achieve, state what is inside the magazine and then thank the readers for buying it. Here is what the editors letter will say:

Hey! Readers, welcome to the first issue of FRANK magazine! Here at FRANK, we aim to update our indie girls with everything fresh on the alternative music scene. In this issue, we have an exclusive interview with 'KaytieKat'! A special feature of the Top 20 Female Artists to look out for in 2010! We pop into the studio with 'The Bedlam' and we also track down the style-trends of week in the world of music, can your music icons dress aswell as they perform? There's only one way to find out! Thank you for buying the first issue of FRANK, let this be the beginning of a beautiful magazine relationship! From Jess x

Features
The features will be situated in the right hand corner and will be layed out like this:

Page 17 - IT'S ALL ABOUT THE VOLUME.
We talk to the synth pop artist that is 'The Bedlam', about gigs, groupies and electric glockenspiels.

The title: 'it's all about the volume', is a reference to the image of the artist.  The big headphones link in with the idea of loud music and reflect the meaning of the artist's name successfully. This feature description is about an artist called 'The Bedlam' who creates synth pop tunes. Frank magazine joins him in studio creating his debut album. The interview consists of the artist talking about the thrill of playing gigs and his embarrassing experiences with female fans. 'Electric Glockenspiel' is apart of the sell line to create an alliteration, and because it is relevant in relation to the music he creates, as electric glockenspiels are used to create synth pop music!

Page 6 - Top 20 Female Artists of 2010
Frank supplies you ladies with a countdown of female artists that you NEED to have on your Ipods ASAP!

In this description the TA is established with the use of direct addressing and reference to modern technology. It also relates to their main interest: music! The word 'NEED' is in captial letters and indicates the urge for new music. It uses language that the TA would use such as 'ASAP'.

Page 20 - KAYTIEKAT
Is she as "catty" as we're lead on to believe? Or simply just a modern woman with an opinion, we dish out the dirt over tea and cigarettes.

The use of a rhetorical question makes the readers feel involved as they are being addressed directly. The 'cat' references link in with the name of the artist and the image the media portrays.

Page 28 - Best Dressed Musicians of the week.
Florence in florals, Pixie Lott in hot-pants and Marina.. err, wrapped in the USA Flag? See which of our indie girls makes the best dressed spot this week!

Iconography is established by referring to the styles of artists. Florence Welch from Florence and the Machine is known for her use of flowers within her clothing and on set of her performances and the same can be said for singer Pixie Lott who is known for prancing around on and off stage in hot pants! These artists are recognised through music and their sense of style. The magazine refers to artists by their first names because it speaks the same language as the reader, who would also use abreviations for bands & duos and refer to solo artists by their first names. The magazine does this because it knows the TA will know who they are referring to.
"Marina... err, wrapped in the USA Flag?" is about Marina Diamondis aka Marina & the Diamonds, and is a reference to her latest release, where in the music video she is wrapped in the flag of the USA. The TA would understand as they watch music videos and would be a fan of her.

Top: Florence & the Machine,
Middle: Pixie Lott
Bottom: Marina & the Diamonds

Front Cover Texts

The first issue of FRANK magazine will feature a female alternative/ indie artist on the front cover. I have already considered the style of the artist, their costume, hair and make-up and the locations and mise-en-scene. Now it is time to give the artist a name, to decide on the main sell line, and the other sell lines that will feature on the front cover as well as conventions that will be used.

Naming the Artist

I have decided to call my artist 'KaytieKat'.

Why?

Well...

-For a musician to have a stage name that involves their own name accompanied by the name of an animal, the stage name is given an air of wildness and unruliness. This shows the style of the artist as a performer, providing them with a fierce and feisty exterior and association.

-The association with cats: Cats are elegantly-moving and mysterious creatures; these are qualities that I would like my artist to embody and express through the images and content of the article.

-There is a link to cat-like behaviour. My Artist is a feisty female who will defend her domain, which may lead to cat fights with certain musicians in the industry. This also links in with the ethoses of FRANK magazine, as it focuses on the modern woman, being able to defend herself and voice her opinion, whilst still maintaining a degree of elegance and mystery... just like a cat!

The Main Sell Line

Next to the image of the artist, it will say “KaytieKat” The sell-line description will say “We talk to Kaytie over tea & cigarettes. The klaws are out!”. This sell line establishes that the main feature of the first issue is about this artist and that FRANK magazine has interviewed her over ‘tea & cigarettes’. These are two items which relate in terms of class and reflect the reality of British culture. The idea of ‘Klaws’ being out, refers to the artist’s feistiness and ‘catty’ behaviour on the music scene, e.g. arguing with opposing bands and musicians! Frank intends to find out who the real Kaytie is, whether the rumours are true. Is she just another rock’n’roll wild child OR that is she simply just a confident, outspoken, strong-minded and opinionated woman? Considering FRANKS admiration of wise, powerful and elegant women, maybe the public has received the wrong impression of KaytieKat and FRANK’s intends to change that.

The Sell lines

I want to avoid the cluttered look by using only three sell lines on the page. These will include:

-“Female artists to look out for in 2010”

FRANK is a magazine that focuses on the talent and success of female artists, so in the first issue they dedicate a feature to introducing fans to new bands and artists, whilst immediately informing the TA that this a female orientated magazine.

-“Gigs, Groupies & Electric Glockenspiels”

This artist is an up and coming male synth-pop artist working on his debut album. FRANK talks to him about his rising success, the thrill of playing gigs and his embarrassing experiences with female fans. He also speaks of his love for his electrical glockenspiel. The use of a male artist shows the TA that although the magazine focuses on females, that it does also include male artists and bands.

-“Trend Alert! Best Dressed musicians of the week”

This sell line shows the involvement of an additional interest of the TA: Fashion! Showing the best dressed artists further promotes the idea of this being a music magazine aimed at females.

Other

-I intend to include a puff on the front cover that will read “FREE DOWNLOAD: ELLIE GOULDING & MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS ”

The style of the artists used in the puff, expresses the kind of artists the TA listen to, confirming the publication as female targeted.

-I intend on using a thin banner along the bottom of the front cover listing the artists featured in this issue. For example: “Mumford & Sons/ Laura Marling/ First Aid Kit/ Grizzly Bear/ Passion Pit/ Temper Trap/ Bat For Lashes"
These chosen artists reflect the style of the magazine.

Collage of Music Magazine Front Covers

I have made a collage of music magazine front covers so that I can become fully immersed with the norms of these particular publications.

I have noticed that every artist being featured on the front cover, always pulls a quirky expression. The expression depends upon the type of message the artist is trying to portray; it also reflects the content of featured article which basically reflects their current mood, attitude and outlook on life.

I have also noticed that alot of music publications tend to use the colour red throughout the magazine. I believe this is a colour refference to the passion and the love of music, which are emotions often associated with the colour red. Also, the colour links in with the colours of the Union Jack, which indicates pride, love and passion of British Music.

Powerpoint Presentation of Contents Page Ideas

I have created a powerpoint presentation outlining the ideas for FRANKS' contents page.

       

A to Z of Artists and Bands

A list of Artists' and Bands' my magazine would include...

A
-Amy Winehouse
-Animal Collective
-Arctic Monkeys

B

-Bat For Lashes

-Biffy Clyro
-Blood Red Shoes

-Bloc Party

C

-The Cribs
-Cystral Castles

D

-Delphic
-Devon Sproule

E

-Editors

-Ellie Goulding
-Esben and the Witch

F

-Florence & the Machine
-Feist
-First Aid Kit
-Friendly Fires

G

-Gregory & the Hawk
-Grizzly Bear

H

I

-Imogen Heap
-I Was King

J

-Jack Penate

-Jamie T

K

-Kasabian

L

-La Roux
-Lady Gaga

-LadyHawke
-Les Corps Mince De Francoise
-The Libertines

-Lily Allen

-Little Boots

M

-The Maccabees

-Mumford & Sons

-M.I.A

N
-New Young Pony Club

P

-Passion Pit

-Peggy Sue & The Pirates

-Pixie Lott

R

-The Ravonettes
-Regina Spektor

S
-Simian Mobile Disco

-She Keeps Bees

V

-Vampire Weekend

W

-White Lies

-White Stripes

X

-The XX

Y
-Yeasayer

Z

Even though the magazine focuses initially on British female musicians. Male musicians are also included, as are artists and bands who are international.

Visual Ideas of Costume & Locations for Main Artist

Here is a home-made movie that I created, of images and descriptions that visually and verbally explain the costume and location ideas for the featured artist of my music magazine, FRANK. These include hair styles, make-up styles, clothing, accessories, locations, props, facial expressions and types of body language that could potentially be used for the front cover, contents page and double page spread of FRANK.

                             

I chose the song "Fashion" by David Bowie for the first half of the video because the first set of images show uses of hairstyling, make-up, clothing and accessories. I then chose the song "Let's Dance" by David Bowie because the last set of images linked in with the idea of body language and movement!

Costume Ideas

What to wear? what to wear!

Every item of clothing represents the artist; the colour, the material and the texture reflect the personality of the person, the style of music they create and the content of the featured article. Therefore every detail of the costume requires consideration. Here i present to you a range of costume ideas that have blown my wardrobe worries away...

This outfit contains:

-Casual plain white t-shirt

-'Trophy' jacket

-Black PVC leggings

-Tan leather ankle boots

-Ruby 'statement' earrings

This outfit contains:

-Jumper with sequin embellished shoulders

-White and navy blue striped jumper

-Grey jumper with shoulder pads

-Ripped pair of 'skinny' jeans

-Black Doc Martens

 

This outfit contains:

-Leather Jacket

-Chiffon blouse

-Fringed Suede boots

-Bangles

The outfit contains:

-Denim and Checked shirts

-Sequin Beret

-Ripped Tights

Including Props:

-Tea Cup

-Cigarette

Every outfit suggestion will contain mixtures of different style elements. Plain and simple clothing items allow the outfit to look casual and 'dressed down'. They provide the outfit with a boyish and Indie look which reflects the genre of music the artist creates and the genre the magazine promotes. Materials such as Leather are associated with Rock'n'Roll, giving the outfit edge; making the artist appear dominant and in-control. This is the exact representation of women, that FRANK wants to portray through every aspect of the magazine. Accessories or embellished garments provide the outfit with a feminine touch; vintage pieces allow the outfit to appear romantic, which reflects the sensitivity of the artist. The glitz relates to the idea of being a star, standing out and shining in the music industry.

Reconnaissance

Conventional Locations

 

The first step to creating ‘Frank’ magazines’ front cover, contents page and double page spread, involves research in locations that will be used. I have studied the pages of Alternative music publications ‘NME’ and ‘Q’ to develop a thorough knowledge of commonly used locations in images. I chose to look at these magazines because they are music magazines that can relate to ‘Frank’ because they are all based on Alternative music; ‘Frank’ can be seen as a female version of these magazines, which includes the same content but portrays it through a classier and more feminine perspective.

In ‘NME’ and ‘Q’ magazine, bands and artists are often photographed:

- On stage/ backstage at gigs, festivals, concert stadiums

- ‘jamming’/ relaxing in recording studios

- Against neutral coloured backgrounds e.g. mostly white, black, grey and beige walls

- Against material walls e.g. pine wood walls, leather walls, brick walls

- In vehicles e.g. cars, vans, tour buses

- In and outside homes e.g. bedrooms, living rooms, gardens, sheds, garages

- In natural areas e.g. in fields, forests, on benches in parks

- In industrial areas e.g. behind warehouses, against cityscape, near roads, near car-parks, high streets.

- In communal areas e.g. pubs, cafes, coffee shops, bus stops, train stations

Fans are often photographed:

- At gigs e.g. meeting bands/ artists, in the crowd, backstage

- At festivals e.g. meeting bands/ artists in the crowd, near the tents, fighting in the mud

- With artists and bands in communal places e.g. randomly meeting them in pubs, both on stage at gigs/ festivals/ concerts

- At album signings

Magazines use images of artists and bands at gigs, festivals and concerts to visually express the magazines involvement in live music and the target audience’s passion for it. Images of musicians in recording studio’s give the readers an insight into where exactly the music is born; it is a personal attribute which shows a different kind of performance from the artists, one that the target audience can only see through the pages of a magazine. The locations used for front covers are often against neutral backgrounds, such as plain white walls; backgrounds are simple because the attention is diverted towards the artist and the text on a front cover. Materialised walls are often used in images depending on the artist, their style of music and the type emotion or opinion the article is trying to reflect. Bands and Artists are pictured in vehicles because the TA are male and as well as music, they may also be interested in cars and so the two are combined. Domestic areas are used for article images, musicians are photographed in their homes, perhaps on their beds in their bedrooms, having tea in their living room or kitchen or ‘jamming’ in their garden shed. These type of locations connect with the concept of the interview, which is to portray an insight into their personal lives, and this is further depicted through photographs. Bands and artists are pictured in natural scenery such as hanging out in fields, forests or on benches in parks, these type of areas appear very green and murky, yet authentically British . It’s a sincere expression of the style of music and culture. The same can be said for images of artists that have been taken in industrial areas, for example against cityscapes. It shows a more contemporary style of the musician being photographed. Communal areas are used, such as pubs, cafes or coffee shops for article images to express a sense of intimacy to the readers. The artists are seen having a pint of beer or a cup of coffee and they’re seen as relaxed. The TA are interested in seeing their favourite musicians in and out of their performance zones.

Potential Locations for FRANK magazine

Front Cover Background
-White brick wall
-Plain white wall
-White Fence
-Neutral wall paper
-Neutral coloured curtains
-Pine wooden wall

Double Page Spread
-Plain white background

If the front cover included an outdoor background:
-Garden
-Field


If the front cover included an indoor background
-Living room
-Bedroom
-Kitchen
-Inside a cafe

Codes & Conventions of Alternative Music Magazines

Collage of Images that are associated with the alternative/ genre:

 

Analysis of Existing Media #2

Front Cover Analysis

‘NME’

I have chosen to analyse this front cover of ‘NME’ because it features Florence Welch from the alternative rock band, Florence and the Machine. This front cover is relevant in relation to my own alternative music magazine as it features a female artist of that genre.

The masthead is the largest piece of text on the page and reads ‘NME’. This stands for ‘New Music Express’ which informs the Target Audience (TA) that this publication is about contemporary music. The Letters of ‘NME’ are in uppercase and the type face is in display font. The colour of the masthead is red and outlined in black with a space of white between the two colours. All these aspects of the masthead give the impression of masculinity and strength, which reflects the personality of the TA, informing us that this is a male orientated publication. The use of the colours red, black and white relate to the colours of the Union Jack, indicating that the magazine is about British music. The main colour is red, which is a primary colour that is often associated with men because of it’s simplicity and boldness, the use of red indicates that ‘NME’ is aimed at a British male TA who are passionate about music.

A medium shot has been used for this image, which is conventional for a front cover. However this particular shot type almost fits in between a medium shot and a long shot, as the top of her thighs is visible. The background is of a brick wall that is peeling white paint, this aspect is in-keeping with the mode of address as ‘NME’ usually use gritty, British locations and props in their images to capture the essence of British culture. Florence has been dressed in what appears to be a black lace blazer and a sequined embroidered top and skirt. The outfit is formal yet glitzy; the use of the colour black suggests class, whereas the use of the silver and black sequins suggests an air of glamour. Florence has been accessorized with a gold necklace and chunky rings, over her shoulders she holds in place a long flower chain of lilies. The inclusion of jewellery to Florence’s outfit suggests an interest in detail which can be applied in relation to her music. As for the lilies; lilies are known to represent rebirth and so the flowers are a symbol to the TA that this band are bringing Alternative music back to life. The symbol could also reflect the style of music as having spiritual and religious components. The outfit on a whole combines different elements of style, which reflects the genre of music Florence and the Machine create.

The make-up of the artist has a classic theme to it, with the combination of her snow white complexion and red lips, the idea is to create a natural look with one dominant feature, and in this case, the dominant feature is the woman’s lips. This draws attention to her mouth which relates to sound, on some level this could refer to her abilities as a singer. Her hair is wild shade of orange and has been swept over her left shoulder, looking intentionally dishevelled. Which is a style preserved by the TA of ‘NME’, for example ‘bed head’ hair is a hairstyle commonly worn by the ‘indie kids’. Florence’s facial expression is poised and her body language is composed, Florence appears earnest as she wants to be taken seriously by the music press. The inside of her left arm has been deliberately placed in a way that shows off her tattoo. Although there are elements of her attire that appear feminine and lady-like, for instance the flowers and sequins, there are also elements of masculinity in which have to be applied to the artist, in order for the female to still appeal to the male TA in a non-sexual way. The use of the colour black, the blazer and the tattoo all establish an interest or taste of the TA whilst coordinating with conventions of ‘NME’.

‘NME’ tend not to clutter their front covers with too many sell-lines and article related images, but focus on the main subject matter of the issue. ‘NME’ like to play around with conventions of music magazines. This is a special issue of ‘NME’ celebrating new music and ties in with ‘NME’s brand values. This front cover shows what the issue will be focusing on and to not take away from the importance of this, only a few conventional features are used, the masthead, the main image, a banner, article related images, a main sell line and a puff. This issue shows that the TA is eager to learn about new bands and artists and be informed of the latest culture trends in the music industry. For example, a sell-line at the bottom of the page states: “SCENE REPORTS: DANCE, HIPHOP, METAL, INDIE”. This issue appears to be about Florence and the Machine considering she is part of the main image, however, she has been placed to the far right of the page and considering the rule of the left hand third, Florence is the last feature the wandering eye would notice. We are informed that perhaps she is not part of the main feature, but considering the purpose of this New Years issue, her presence of the front cover informs the reader that Florence and the Machine are one of the top bands to listen to this year. The banner across the centre of the page dominates the front cover and the edges have a torn effect, this suggests enthusiasm and impatience, which fuels the urge of the TA to read about new music. This is the focal point of the magazine and the banner is placed largely in the centre to state its significance.

Contents Page Analysis

‘Q Magazine’

The contents page of this issue of ‘Q’ is spread out over two pages. Many images are sporadically used to visually inform readers of what is inside the magazine. In the top left hand corner there is a small medium shot of Caleb Followill from the Rock band ‘Kings Of Leon’ being pictured at a gig, he is holding a guitar and microphone which indicates the involvement of concerts in ‘Q’ magazine. Beside this sits an image of Keith Flint, the lead vocalist of the ‘Prodigy’. This image dominates the page through its size and narration and it is also a visual reference to the main feature of the magazine. A long shot has been used for this picture; Keith Flint stands with his feet spread far apart and his back is slightly arched as he leans back his neck and head. He is holding a megaphone above his face and his mouth is stretched open in the direction of the instrument – it is clear that he is yelling into it. His knees are bent and so he appears to be squatting slightly, his posture indicates that he is putting all his energy into the source of this megaphone. This image expresses the style of music the ‘Prodigy’ creates and with references to volume (megaphone) and strength (the strain in his posture and facial expression) it is clear that their music has a powerful effect on its listeners and is largely based on volume. The megaphone could also be seen as a source of knowledge for the reader, where they gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of the band members in the interview. This particular image suggests Flint is feeling angry and for men violence is often an intrigue. This image oozes with testosterone and so it appeals to the TA, making them want to continue reading.

Flint is dressed in a white tank top, two brown leather buckled belts, black slim fit jeans and trainers. He has been accessorized with two necklaces; an angular shaped white watch around his wrist, chunky silver rings on his fingers and many hooped earrings is his ears. His arms are covered in tattoos. We are given the impression that the artist has a tough exterior what with the exposure of his muscles, his body art and piercings and his stance and facial expressions. This image is going to appeal to the target audience (TA) considering ‘Q’ is aimed at the older generation of music buyers. The TA are likely to be fans of this band and considering they formed in the 1990’s, the TA would have grown up listening to them. Keith Flint’s appearance in this image reflects the boisterous and vociferous characteristics of the TA.

On the bottom of the left page there are two small images of newspaper prints, the first shows a small image of a man with the title “Rock Idol Kills Lover”. The second image contains two photographs, one of Whitney Houston with the title, “The Weird World of Whitney” which is a reference to her alleged drug addiction and the other a picture of Britney Spears shaving her head, the title reads “The day Britney Lost it”. These images on the contents page show the readers that in this issue of ‘Q’ there is an article on the celebrities who have succumbed to the pressures of fame. This is an interesting attribute for the TA who may be aspiring musicians to be informed that being a ‘rock-star’ does have its downfalls.

On the second page, the top left hand corner there is an image of Billie Armstrong from the pop rock band ‘Green Day” at a gig. This is another example of the magazine being largely involved in live music. To the right of this image are two snippets of the articles that feature in this issue, an interview with the band the ‘Beastie Boys’ and the other with Rick Wakeman. These tease the reader and make them want to continue reading. Below this is a feature article image of the Alternative band ‘Friendly Fires’ in what appears to be a ‘mug shot’. The three band members stand with masks over their faces and name plaques in their hands. The masks hide their appearances and the names reveal their personal identities. The concept suggests the bands rise in fame, yet without readers being able to see their faces, are just the names of the band members enough for fans to recognize them? For the real fans, it’s more than enough. This reflects the true interest in music that the readers of ‘Q’ have. However, even if readers aren’t entirely aware of this band, the reformatory theme and hidden identity is still appealing to the TA, making them wonder who they are, urging them to read on. The theme links in with rebellion, which is something that you would associate with the TA. Below this is a subheading that reads ‘The Q Review’ and below it is a feature article image of Florence Welch from the Alternative band “Florence and the Machine” pictured on stage at a festival.

The ratio of text and image is moderately even; this is because it is a male targeted publication. Specific pages have been sub-headed throughout the two pages, for example, page “10: Sting. Rock’s Mr Modest on why New Yorkers aren’t threatened by a man of his stature.” Or page “81: Pop Babylon: Britney removes her hair, Whitney quite literally cracks up, Brian Harvey runs over his own head, and further tales of mayhem, murder and madness.” All the text on the page is in sans serif, which indicates this is a formal magazine; the readers are highly educated on music and maintain a mature approach to it. The largest text on the page is the title: “Q Contents Issue 280”, all the text except the word “contents” is in white; brand identity is established as the masthead is used on the contents page. The word “contents” is in black to differentiate from the other words. On top of the larger images on the page, numbers have been printed to associate the image with a page number, on these images, captions are not used because the image and page number is dominant and powerful enough for the reader to realise what article is about and where it is located within the magazine. The colour scheme of the test is red, black and white. These three simple colours are often associated with men in media and red is a particularly popular colour used within music publications because the colour is associated with love and passion, and so it links in to the idea of passionate music fans. Brand identity is established through use of colour and font, as the masthead uses the same sans serif font and the colours red, white and black throughout the text on the contents page.

Double Page Spread

"Kerrang!"

I have chosen to analyse a double page spread (DPS) found in Kerrang! magazine. It features the artist Hayley Williams, from the pop-rock band Paramore. This particular DPS seemed relevent in relation to my own magazine, as Hayley Williams is a strong and dominant female figure within the music industry. Let us begin with an analysis of the costume and make-up. The artist is wearing a red floral, 1950's inspired frock and in her hair, two curling rollers have been placed. This look suggests that the artist is a well behaved, respectable, typical and traditional girl. Her hair colour is of a wild orange and her dress is vividly red, the strong colours suggest she has a strong personality. Which links in with her body language as she pulls the muscle tensing pose in image one, in the second image her fist is clenched as she 'punches' the camera. The makeup and clothing gives the idea that despite her wild and boyish persona, there is an element of femininity and purity to her (this also links into the content of the article, where Hayley speaks of her religious routes). The image also reflects her attitude towards the public, as she punches the camera, she symbolises an attitude of determination; almost as if she's fighting back her critics, showing that nobody can get her down.

The header states: "Just a girl" which links in with the concept of her being a normal girl with normal morals and values, despite her musical persona. The typeface is in serif, suggesting an air of formality to the article. The font also contains swirly lines and bobbled edges - making it appear feminine and girly. The body copy is in the left hand corner. The text is in capital letters and the typeface is in sans serif, which is layed out to grab attention. The content of the body copy is basically a breif introduction of the artist and what she says in the interview about love, pregnancy rumours and about not wanting to be a role model. The font colours are white; linking in with the purity of the artist as well as standing out against the grey background. The colour of the background is grey to maintain the dark, gritty, rocky element of the magazine.

Layout: The header is at the top of the page,the artists head has been placed inbetween the 'Just' and the 'A'. The image of the left page is a long shot of the artist. Her right arm muscle is tensed, as her fist sits under the header; this suggests she's balancing the title of being a normal girl as well as a rockstar. The body copy sits under her elbow, in the bottom left hand corner of the page. A reader turning the page onto this one, would end up looking down towards the body copy as that is where their finger would be, holding the page. The second image is on the right page and it is a close-up shot of the artists face. Both images suggest strength and power as they dominate the page.

Analysis of Existing Media #1

Front Cover

"Classic FM"

I have chosen to analyse the front cover of the classical music magazine, “Classic FM” as I find the interpretation of women to differ from other such musical publications. Women are not presented in a way in which they would fall into one of the four stereotypical categories, but women are featured based on their talent and success. For example, throughout the pages of heavy metal magazine, “Kerrang!”, women are only ever featured in the form of a fan or a ‘de-feminised artist’ (where the artist embodies male qualities and traits). Other examples being, pop magazine “Top of the Pops”, they portray women as ‘girly stereotypes’ (where the artist exaggeratedly feminine) and the R&B magazine “Vibe” whom depict women as ‘sexual objects’ (where the entire image of the artist is sexual and provocative).

Let us begin with the masthead of the magazine: the masthead dominates the page with its size. The font type is in bold and uppercase letters, which gives the impression of masculinity and assertiveness. This is a clear indication that the Target Audience (TA) are male, as men also, embody these characteristics. However, the masthead does not contain the rough and raucous type of masculinity, like a magazine such as ‘Kerrang!’ would, but holds more of a refined and composed mannerism. This aspect strongly reflects the style of music that this magazine promotes as well as the style of the TA. The letters of the masthead have been broken up by colour, the ‘class’ of ‘classic’ is in black, whereas the rest of the font is in white. This highlights the fact that this magazine is aimed at the elite. The use of black and white reinforces the idea that this is a male dominated magazine. The colours are of course, classic, traditional and elegant. As for the ‘F’ of ‘FM’, that has been coloured in red and is in italic. The colour red is seen to symbolise love and affection and the use of Script font adds to the idea of this. Script is a font type that inserts the feeling of intimacy and personality into a piece of writing. Therefore the colour red, mixed in with the black and white, suggests that classical music is not only an interest of the TA, but a passion.

The ethoses of “Classic FM” are to provide its audience with a printed organ of classical music. They want the TA to use the magazine as a source of relaxation from their hectic work fixated schedules and grandiose lifestyles. As a typical reader of “Classic FM” is likely to be middle aged, have had an opportune education and privileged upbringing. They now have prosperous and fulfilling professions, as well as the desirable family and home. Life is bound to get tough for the TA and so, “Classic FM” is the perfect definitely

Moving onto the image: the camera angle used here is called a medium shot, whereby everything from the waist upwards, is in view of the shot. We have a clear picture of the woman’s face, which is conventional for a front cover of a magazine. The background is plain white; the simplicity relates to the idea of purity, innocence and elegance which reflects the classical music genre. Also, the use of this colour creates and clean and fresh expression of the magazine.

The woman is wearing a salmon coloured cotton blouse and her pose is confident yet modest. The colour scheme is neutral, which refers to the woman’s natural beauty. Her hair, make-up and clothing allow to her appear feminine and womanly. Without revealing any flesh she appears respectable. “Classic FM” avoids using females on the front covers of their magazines that appear in any way artificial, as it would appeal to the wrong type of TA and promote the wrong impression of the magazines content and the style of music. However, the woman here remains poised, appearing reputable, which represents the character of the TA. Her body language appears friendly and non-intimidating. There’s a degree of pride in her expression, yet there’s no trace of conceit or arrogance in her appearance, which the TA may find endearing. They are likely to admire her illustration of natural beauty and find themselves attracted to her because of her expression of charisma and talent.

Sell lines: The main sell line states “’My Musical Mission!’ How the presenter is winning new friends for classical music”. This sell line refers to the main image of the woman and her name is Myleene Klass. She is originally known for being a contestant on the talent show ‘Pop idol’ and for winning a place in the pop group ‘Hear’Say. Klass has a history in the mainstream music industry, but today she edges more towards the genre of classical music as she plays the piano. She is recognizable to the TA because of this and also because she participates in other types of media such as television presenting and advertising. This sell line indicates what the main feature is about, and for those who only recognise Myleene Klass as a presenter are being informed of her skills as a classical musician in this issue. This in particular may be tempting for fans of Myleene Klass who would not normally read “Classic FM” – this is a way of attracting a different TA and/ or expanding on the same one. The main TA of “Classic FM” may find this issue tempting, as her involvement in the magazine may be surprising considering she is commonly associated with television and this sell line would intrigue the curiosity.

The main sell lines are positioned in the left hand third because it’s the first area of the page that will grab a person’s attention. Also because these sell lines inform the TA of the magazines content in this particular issue, which establishes their importance in reference to luring in readers. The page is not cluttered with too much information, but appears strategic, organised and clean. The layout reflects the mannerisms of the TA, whom are also likely to be neat and tidy.

The sell-line: “Fiddler on the surf, Aussie Virtuoso Richard Tognetti reveals his other great passion” reflects a different interest of the TA. The man in the article related image is holding a surf board. It is evident that “Classic FM” highlights other areas of interest for the TA, apart from that of classical music. In this case, the additional interest could be water sports. This may also indicate the TA’s taste in Australian traditions, which shows the TA as individuals who like to travel to experience alternative cultures and immerse themselves in the more therapeutic and composed types of sport.

The font style used for the majority of sell-lines is in Serif; this font is conventionally used for formal documents, which suggests this musical publication as quite prim and proper. The style of music is also established as the middle class are more likely to listen to classical music. Other types of font such as script and sans serif are infrequently included within the sell-lines, to differentiate parts of the text and make the content stand out. The use of colour on the sell-lines creates an attention grabbing effect, for example, all of the sub headings of the sell-lines are in large red font and the descriptions are coloured in grey. Mode of address is established as there is evidence of continual style, font and colour.

Contents Page

"Vibe"

I have chosen to analyse a contents page from the R&B music magazine, ‘Vibe’. Firstly, let us begin with the image. We are presented with a black-African woman who has been placed at the very bottom of the page and is lying on her back, on the floor. This could perhaps represent the position of which women hold in traditional, patriarchal society, or the perspective of them in music industry or simply the view of women that a typical reader of ‘Vibe’ would have. Her legs are up in the air as she creates a ‘V’ shape from the knees upwards, which represents the title of the magazine, ‘Vibe’. Behind this, another ‘V’ shape is formed but in the style of lettering. The giant ‘V’ is only noticeable through the white outline. This outline gives the illusion that strings are attached to the woman’s feet, which gives the impression that the Target Audience (TA) are the ‘Puppet masters’. On a much wider scale, this imagery presents the values and beliefs of the TA in relation to women, sex and control.

The woman appears to have long dark hair yet it has been placed in a way that is unnoticeable. I believe this is intentional as the attention of the target audience has been deliberately diverted elsewhere, to places such as her bust, waist and legs which are all areas of intrigue to the male TA. The woman is dressed in what appears to be a leotard; the material clings to her body and accentuates her womanly figure. To add to the one-piece, the woman is wearing a tight-fitting belt around her waist which further emphasises her curves. The woman’s neck and wrists are decorated with sparkly and chunky jewellery to express the idea of wealth. On her feet she wears a pair of satin high heels in order to elongate her legs and further emphasise the glossiness through the fabric of the shoe. Every item of clothing and piece of jewellery in this shot is placed in a way that will appeal to the male TA. The position of the woman – on her back and showing off her legs, links in with the idea of sexual power as it plays out the roles of women in the ‘bedroom’ – being vulnerable and under control. The woman teases the TA with the arrangement of her legs, as the rest of her body remains still and motionless, her legs appear to circulate in the air. This can have a mesmerising effect on the TA, urging them to read on.

The woman makes eye contact with the camera which is inviting, intimate and alluring. This concept of sexual dominance relates to the content of the magazine, as conventionally R&B music is based on sex, power and money. Therefore the iconography is reflecting the genre of music that this magazine is based on.

The woman’s make-up shimmers against the light, this relates to the idea of glamour and wealth, which are two things often mentioned in R&B music. The tones used on her eyes, cheeks and lips all match the colour of her clothing and accessories as well as the shades of the background and text. The theme of colour is soft and hazy yet elegantly brazen; the use of monotone creates an array of ardour, which links in with the idea of sexual desire – a common interest of the TA. The image of this woman relates to the brand identity of ‘Vibe’ as the magazine is known for its use of provocative and sexual images. There is a distinctive theme of gender dominance in each issue of ‘Vibe’ magazine: the woman is half naked, fragile yet playful where as the man is impervious and invincible.

This contents page of ‘Vibe’ uses a range of different fonts with the text, for example, the title of the page is ‘contents’ and a display font has been used for this particular word. It is in block capitals and coloured in white. Against the monotone background, the text stands out as it is the brightest attribute to the page. The word ‘contents’ is presented in an attention grabbing way with its portrayal of style and colour, because it’s the first thing that the TA should look at. The contents page is the second most vital aspect of a magazine – apart from the front cover, ofcourse. It withholds all the information that the issue entails, and therefore has the added pressure of being gripping, persuasive and alluring with its use of iconography, images and text. The ultimate aim of a contents page is to convince its readers to continue reading. The colour white has been chosen for the title of this page because it’s a colour often associated with R&B music. For instance, R&B artists are usually pictured wearing white clothing. The colour white, is traditionally connected to the idea of innocence and purity. This is ironic considering the subject matter of R&B music, as it mainly focuses on sex, power, money and violence.

The lettering of the word ‘contents’ has been broken up into: ‘co’, ‘nten’ and ‘ts’. Each segment sits underneath each other, creating an edgy and urban effect, whilst reflecting the style of the magazine and its TA. Below, there are two subheadings, the first states “Features” and the second states “Fashion”. They are both coloured in black and in a script font and differs to the other types of text used on the page. It’s elegantly and tastefully presented, which represents the smart, well groomed and mature face of the TA. Below “Features” there are three specific page references which indicate the focal features of this issue: Interviews with and articles of the R&B artists, "Ciara", “Pretty Ricky” and “Robin Thicke”. The names of the artists are in bold and sans serif, where as the surrounding text is in serif. Below “Fashion” there are two specific page references which are fashion related, the first referring to an article about five male designers and their new approach on style. The second reference is about the R&B artists "P-diddy" design “Sean John” celebrating a decade in fashion. Not only does ‘Vibe’ talk about music, which is the basis of the magazine, but it also features additional aspects such as fashion, which relates further into the interest of the TA.

Double Page Spread

"NME"

A double page spread is an editorial article or feature that stretches across the two facing pages in a magazine. I have chosen to analyse a double page spread found in the music magazine ‘NME’ which features the synth-pop duo, ‘La Roux’. In this issue of ‘NME’ they include a feature on ‘The Future 50 - The Innovators Pushing Forward Music’ where they list the top 50 contemporary artists and acts that they believe are set to succeed in the near future.

This example of a double page spread uses many conventions; it includes a main image, an article headline and article subhead, a header, a pull quote, a body copy with a gutter and a caption accompanying the main image.

Let us begin with an analysis of the main image. The camera angle is a birds-eye-view shot of a woman lying on what appears to be a bed or other such cushioned decliner. I believe that this shot was used to show the Target Audience (TA) of NME, a different perspective of this particular artist. The background consists of just the bedding, as the main focus is on the reclined woman. She looks calm and content and her posture remains strong, despite her inadequate position. The image appears cold yet compelling as the woman lies on what are presumably, satin sheets of a midnight blue colour. The material gives a soft and silky impression whereas the tone creates a wintery mood. The woman wears her signature hair style, the red quiff. This artist is known for this distinctive hairdo and is therefore instantly recognisable to the TA. The make-up of the woman is fresh and bright, which gives her a pure and innocent look. Out of all of her made-up features, her eyes stand out the most having being decorated with a blue eye-shadow. To the left of her cheekbone; sit three tear-shaped droplets that have been painted on. These painted on tears give the impression that the woman is crying, this suggests the personality of the artist as being quite sensitive, and the TA must therefore feel sympathetic towards her. There appears to be a theme of the colour blue, which sets a melancholy mood. This could perhaps be in relation to the TA’s perspective of this artist or her exposure in the media. She has been presented in a way that suggests the TA must feel compassion for her. She is portrayed as a sensitive and quite isolated person because she is alone in the image and her face has been made up to look as if she has been crying. This representation indicates the style of music that ‘La Roux’ produce: ingenuous and unfeigned.

The use of clothing gives the image a futuristic yet majestic look; an indication that she is potential ‘royalty’ in popular music. The costume is lavish and luxurious as her cape boasts a beautiful embroidered pattern and the silkiness of her blouse appears delicate and sweet. Her outfit as a whole gives the impression of royalty and riches, which relates to the majestic theme. ‘La Roux’s costume here might on some level remind the reader of a stately monarch such as Elizabeth I, a Queen famed for having achieved the status of being a solitary figure of female success and triumph in a male dominated world. The same could be said for this artist in terms of her success within the music industry. There is also a suggestion of her lying ‘in state’ as a monarch would do upon their death. This could indicate that ‘La Roux’ will be a celebrated artists, who will be remembered long after her death and whose legacy will live on.

The theme of colour seems to show a consistency of black, navy blue and white, altogether creating an emotional atmosphere of different elements. For example, the midnight blue satin sheets and the navy blue cape which the woman is wearing, work together to create the assumption that this is a male magazine and that this artist in particular is quite masculine in appearance. Where as the use of light makeup gives her an innocent and fresh look. The embroidery of the cape, along with the white silky blouse and glistening piece of jewellery all create an array of femininity. Despite the fact that in some respects ‘La Roux’ is de-feminised within this image, her femininity is established and she has been presented in a fresh way that allows her success to be show cased.

Moving on from the image analysis, let us now explore the features of this double page spread. There is a combination of image and body copy with the image dominating the page which is conventional. There are uses of common features: main image, an article headline and article subhead, a header, a pull quote, a body copy with a gutter and a caption accompanying the main image.

The pull quote states, “I convince myself I am going to die about 3 times a week”. This could promote sympathy for an artist who is otherwise presented negatively by the media. The feeling of sympathy could be heightened by the almost sad expression on her face and the “tears” that are falling from her eyes. Her facial expression could also reflect the content of the article.

There are vivid uses of the colour pink on this double page spread, which is used for the text. Pink is a colour that is rarely used in NME and could perhaps suggest this countdown article being part of a special feature in this issue. The shade of pink is strong and vibrant and the use of the colour brings the article to life considering the colour scheme is otherwise dark and melancholy. The article is about the future, and by using the colour pink, the future is bright and positive. The pink suggests the dawning of a new musical era.

The number ‘10’ is also included on this page, highlighting the number at which ‘La Roux’ sits in the countdown. It creates continuity within this feature as the number is presented in the same way on each page of the countdown. The size of the number suggests its importance and the artist’s status within the countdown.