TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF EXISTING TEXTS

Task: Do a textual analysis using media terminology of TWO existing music magazines,

similar to what you would like to create.

TOP OF THE POPS

Front CoverThe MASTHEAD covers most of the front cover at the top of the page, however the masthead is partly to the left of the page. This implies that the magazine has a housestlye and has a constant and repetitive masthead each time a new magazine is issued. In addition the masthead is white. White represents innocence and immaturity, which significantly helps the magazine sell to the target readers, which are young female teenagers. The font is also bold, to stand out from the rest of the magazine mastheads on the shelf. The ‘S’ is very feminine and helps with the stand out of the masthead.

The MAIN PHOTO on the front of the magazine, normally consists of the most popular band or signer at that time. In this issue, two boys from two different bands (UNION J and DISTRICT3). In addition the boys on the front of the magazine, apply to the female audience and therefore girls will want to buy the magazine. Also the photo takes up the majority of the page, to convey the importance of these two boys. The image is a front shot and it lets the reader see the photo form directly ahead.

The SELL LINE happens to be located in the centre of the page. Sell lines display a little of information which will be included within the magazine. This sell lines helps convey to the reader, about the most ‘important’ article out at the moment. The word ‘fittest’ has strong connotations of what boy looks most attractive, which most teenage girls are attracted to.

The Font and Colour Scheme is a critical part of the magazine. The colours help determine the target audience, in order for the appeal of the magazine. The magazine front cover includes a lot of pinks and yellows to imply a female audience. The fonts are all in bold, which convey the importance of the celebrity gossip.

Contents PageThe MASTHEAD of the magazine contents page is very informal, it reads ‘Inside the mag’. It is informal because the readers will most likely be teenage girls and if the masthead was to be formal, the magazine wouldn’t appeal as much to them. The font of the contents masthead is written in ‘handwriting;. Handwriting font is used to make the magazine or article more personal to the reader. In each issue of TOP OF THE POPS, the contents masthead is always the same, this then immediately conveys to the reader of a ‘housestyle’ and the teenagers will always be able to recognize the qualities of the magazine.

The SUBHEADINGS are top help indicate clearly the different aspects which are in the magazine. The subheadings are also there to generally help the target audience to read which parts of the magazine interest them first. The font again is in handwriting, which implies the personal touch to each individual reader who buys the magazine. The colour of the subheading is black which stands out clearly. However the text box, in which the subheading is in, is pink and white which yet again suggests a feminine reader.

The VISUAL PICTURES help included a more laid back and informal vibe to the magazine. The pictures also acted like a sell line and helps state what is to come up in the magazine issue.

Double Page Spread (DPS)

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS- In the magazine, the article either an interview or interview questions are commonly located on the Double Page Spread. The interview questions gives the reader more a personal intake on a certain celebrity /singer. The questions are also more personal to the celebrity who are answering the questions. In addition this has a dramatic effect on how the perceives the singer.

Quote- The quote takes up the majority of the top hand corner of the DPS. The colours pink and black stand out to the rest of the article to draw the reader in. In addition the size of the font is also really big, which signifies the importance of the article.

MAIN IMAGE- The main images takes up the whole of the right side of the page. This implies the importance of this specific singer, and conveys to the reader that this article is worth reading.

Colours- The colours of the DPS are mainly pink and white, to help appeal to the female teenage readers. The colours are feminine and girly too.