Micro Analysis

Daniel Gripton

MicroFront Cover

Analysis

The cover of Q magazine always keeps to its original four colours of gold white black and red, and never changes it even for the holiday months.

The masthead in the top left is located in front of the main picture, it is in clear white and isn’t embossed as it’s already clear to see on a red square (the only other block of background colour other than white), clearly arresting the audiences attention to the magazine title.

There is only one image (a long shot) on the front cover to arrest the audiences gaze. It appeals to both sexes as the magazine isn’t biased (it doesn’t degrade either sex). It also brings to attention the target audience as Guy Garvey (the model) is dressed in a suit, thus the audience being middle class.

The more significant the text the larger it is. For example the coverline ‘Great British Songwriters’ is the second most important article in the magazine as is indicated by the size of the text compared to the main coverline which is Elbow, indicating the main article within the magazine.

The magazine also contrasts colours against the background for readability and to distinguish the important text (coverlines), which use black, from the captions, which use red and gold. Only making an exception for the main coverline, which is distinguished by its white text.

The coverlines highlight other articles within the magazine, these range from gossip to countdown lists,and cover a range of major (R.E.M, Elbow) to up and coming bands (The Vaccines) to draw in their older and younger audiences. The cover also includes a quote from the main article to entice their readers (“I always wanted to get noticed…”) .

Line blocks are also used to separate articles, but are also used for the aesthetic of the magazine. The lines help deliver the sophisticated design for the magazine. The text also delivers the minimal and bold design that the magazine uses. The less significant text is however in a classic style font indicating the age and class of their readership.

The main coverline is also spaced across the width of the magazine, showing its significance compared to the cramped style

of the rest of the text.

The masthead also has a tagline, placed beneath it, which tries to push it’s readership even further boasting that the audience will ‘Discover Great Music’.

MicroFront Cover

Analysis

There is little consistency throughout the year for ‘Rock Sound’ magazine, except of course the masthead which is the logo for the magazine. The layout is always similar with the bands featured inside listed down the left hand side and the coverlines listed down the right. Although the main coverline doesn’t always overlap the middle of the main image.

Dave Grohl, the cover model, attracts a primarily male audience due to him being an inspirational rock star, thus not degrading either sex. The image isn’t sexualised either as he is dressed scruffily in a blue plaid shirt and black t-shirt. The image is used as a mood board that the rest of the cover bounces off (hence the blue, red and white shirt and black t-shirt/ hair & beard).

For this particular issue the consistant colours are blue, white, yellow and black with an occasional splash of red. In the case of this magazine the significance of text is signified by the font used and the size as well. For example the band name ‘Foo Fighters’ is branded in their promotional text, and is significantly bigger than the other covers lines but significantly smaller than the masthead.

The bright colours, canted angles of text and the distressed and shadowed look of the main coverline, shows that the target audience is young but doesn’t really display significance on class. The masthead uses rock iconography in the form of an amplifier switch around the ‘R’. The masthead overlaps the main image on the cover, thus being more prominent and the image is used as the background for the magazine rather than being on green screen.

The coverlines are separated by a difference in colour. For example the ‘All Time Low’ coverline is set upon a white background for both a stylistic change and to distinguish it from the other coverlines. Stylistically it’s dysfunctional and intentionally unkempt, thus applying

to its target audience. The skyline lists bands, like those that are listed down the side thus meaning they have only a bit of news compared to the major bands (Foo Fighters, Funeral for a Friend, All Time Low and Panic! At the Disco)

The image on the front is a medium close up of the lead singer of Foo Fighters, the member with the star power. The image shows the singer pulling a face rather than a stern models expression, thus attracting a less serious more immature audience. Thus targeting a younger audience.

MicroFront Cover

Analysis

NME magazine has a consistent colour scheme of four colours. These being yellow, white, black and red. Consistency is found through the font type, the rest of the magazine layout changes on a weekly basis. Items like the colour scheme, shot type, the way the text is laid out and even the text above the masthead changes weekly.

The main coverline is the largest piece of text, the caption for the coverline is in a different font and there is also a quote. The less significant coverlines are in the same font but are a lot smaller, however the captions are the same size as the coverlines. Difference can be found in the colour of the font - all the coverlines are in yellow.

The main image on the front cover is of the band ‘The Horrors’. The image is a mid shot of the band. The lead singer is at the front because he is the ‘celebrity’ of the band. Mise en scene wise they all have relatively long hair and are fashionably scruffy. They are either wearing shirts or parka coats (made famous in rock by Oasis). The colours that they are wearing are neutral e.g. beige, khaki and black. The background of the image is brown which goes with the bands often pessimistic and depressive music. The image isn’t biased towards either sex e.g. women aren’t objectified and neither are men.

The secondary images on the front cover are the Reading and Leeds logos, used to advertise a competition within the magazine. The skyline is where the competition is situated, thus complying to magazine rules. The coverlines are similar to the headline on the cover, if there is any significance to an article/competiton it is usually outlined with a bubble or is placed elsewhere on the magazine (e.g. above the masthead)

The coverlines give an idea as to who will be featured in the magazine. The cover always features well known artists to entice readers hence why Amy Winehouse, Noel Gallagher and Nirvana are featured on the front (three major British artists).

The coverlines which aren’t linked to the main image never overlap the faces of the band or obstruct the image. The coverlines are spaced around the edges of the magazine, like the three at the bottom and the competition above the masthead. The second most significant coverline is displayed with a quote and is at the top of the magazine thus being the second thing to attract the audiences gaze.

The text within the contents page is consistent with the front cover in terms of style however the colour system changes in order to suit the colour of the images that it overlaps.

Articles are signified by both images and by text. The article type is signified by a heading in green for the text articles and the images have a heading in white.

Within the text there is a description of the article and what to expect from reading it. This is to give a better insight into the magazine, thus persuading the reader to buy into it.

The images on the contents are used to give an insight into the magazine and give an idea of the articles that are inside. For example we can expect some humour from the pose Jordan Pundik from New Found Glory is giving (top right).

In Rock Sound a logo is used throughout the magazine to give it a brand identity that the audience can relate with. It is also used on the website and TV channel.

Page numbers are also stated so that the reader can locate the article, rather than having to rifle through the magazine. On the images the page numbers are in the biggest font signifying how important they are for the reader

Also there are deals and offers within the magazine to promote up and coming artists of interest to the readership. It also, in turn, persuades new readers to buy into the magazine for future issues and offers.

The structure of the contents reflects the audience. It’s alternative and different which also reflects the type of magazine it is. This is shown by the distressed logo and the images aren’t square with one another.

There is also an editors letter, which gives an introduction and an even better insight into this issue and the issues to come. The editors letter is used to inform a prospective buyer about the content in more detail.

Three colours are consistently used throughout the magazine. The three being red, black and white. This is to give the audience something to relate to and so they can recognise the magazine stylistically.

Page numbers are signified by a red square, the size of the page number relates to the significance of the article. For example, Kasabian are the cover stars so they have the biggest image and red square. This is to entice readers into buying the magazine, bringing the most attention to the most popular artists. There are also pictures of Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) and Amy Winehouse.

There is also an advertisement to persuade a prospective buyer to become a long time member of the magazine, buying into the franchise of Q.

The articles are listed in the contents if they are important and are going to engross a prospective reader. For example there is only one review article listed but it is the most anticipated, as it’s a former member of Oasis’ new band.

The structure and text is consistent and coherent, thus appealing to the magazines more mature audience. Importance is given to features through size (‘The 10 most…’, far left) and colour (The Q Review). This is t highlight the best parts of the magazine and to entice / persuade a prospective reader.

There is a list of the regular articles for the returning readers who buy the magazine. Thi9s is to give the returning readers a sense of belonging and so they feel at home with the magazine.

The contents is signified by the masthead ‘Inside This Week’.

The images used in the contents give an insight into the magazine and show the attitude that the magazine has. For example from the Noel Gallagher image (top left) we can tell that it is going to be a serious interview. Also the R.E.M and George Harrison images are in black and white so they are going to be about the past.

The contents has an offer for the magazine. This is to convince a prospective buyer to invest in the magazine on a long term basis.

Structure wise the contents is more coherent than Rock Sound and so appeals more to its audience. However it doesn’t stray completely away from the alternative scene as there is a mixture of fonts. The size of the captions and page numbers make it seem more structured and straight.

The colour of the font is used so it can be seen against the background and to give the contents some consistency. Quotes are also used to give the reader a taste of what to expect.

There is a main picture of the lead singer of the band (the most recognisable member). The main image takes up the whole of the double page spread. The image is taken so that there is space for the text to go on top.

The text is consistent, and the band name is highlighted in a different colour to emphasise it. The title of the article takes up most of the left hand page, and links to the image to the right and the smaller image on the left.

The name of the journalist and the photographer are in the smallest text. This is because it isn’t the main interest of the reader. It is simply there to give the writer and photographer credit.

The colour scheme is blue. This is to emphasise the youth of the magazine, hence why bright colours are used.

The subject in the image is dressed appropriately to the genre of the magazine. Denim Jackets are in fashion and have been commonly associated with metal music. The lead singers long hair and light stubble conveys that he is in a band. The image on the left of him swearing at the camera is also indicative of the bad attitude that rockstars are commonly associated with.

The text on the double page spread is distressed which is a theme commonly used in hard rock magazines.

The main image used highlights the common stereotypes of rock music. The black background highlights the neglect and evil that is commonly associated with the genre. The women in the image are also indicative of the commonly associated ‘sex, drugs and rock’ & roll’ quote.

Mise en scene wise they look the part. They are surrounded by scantily clad women and they both have the ‘scruffy rockstar’ look, simply meaning that they both have beards and long hair. The guitarists skull shirt and suede jacket also highlight the style that many rock band emulate as does the lead singers black shirt.

The band members present in the image are the most recognisable and make the most public appearances. The band member on the left is the lead singer, whilst on the right is the guitarist.

The three consistent colours that are used on both the front cover and contents page are translated to the double page spread, to give the magazine a more consistent and stylish look compared to its rivals that are aimed at a younger audience.

Again the band name is highlighted in red to emphasise who the article is about. The journalist and photographer are also listed in less significant text just to give them credit for their work

A quote from the article is on both of the pages of the double page spread but doesn’t detract away from the star quality of the band in the image. The quote is there to entice the reader.

For people who aren’t fans of the band a red box with information about them is in the top right to explain and inform who they are. Similarly the caption underneath the quote expands to inform non-fans who the article is about and to also explain what the article is about.

The main image is of Noel Gallagher, and highlights how fashion conscious indie music is. The mise en scene of the image shows that Noel Gallagher is the subject both through him being the only subject present and the spotlight lighting him up. It also shows him to be fashion conscious through a white shirt, and his clean shaven look. The mise en scene makes him out to be more pop oriented, which he is as he breaks into the charts regularly with Oasis.

The text is situated on the left but is set upon the image. The image however is purposefully taken to leave room for the text. The text is consistent and is white so that it stands out from the background. The paragraph mirrors the spotlight to make it look stylistically better.

Noel Gallagher’s pop image is broken by the quote which states that he is listening to ‘Fucking Everything’. The language used in the quote breaks his pop-ish look and makes him seem more like a rockstar.

The key people within the article are highlighted in red (Noel Gallagher, the photographer and the journalist). Also the word ‘everything’ is highlighted in red to make the headline look more vibrant.

Like most double page spreads underneath the headline there is a caption telling the reader about what is in the article.

The quote is the sell line and tries to entice the reader to get them to read on.

The font that is used is classier and more mature than the fonts used in Rock Sound. However it doesn’t entirely pull away from a younger audience as the mise en scene and the language in the article plays to a younger market.