Analysis of the magazine Vibe

The magazine front cover "Vibe" relates to the music genre Hip Hop/ rap. We know this because the main image is of  a famous hip hop artist. Also, as one of the strap lines along the right hand side, it says " Hip Hop's new superwoman to the rescue" also implying it is a Hip Hop magazine. The audience of the magazine are teenagers from the ages of 14 to the age of 21. We know this because most teenagers enjoy Hip Hop music and the setting of the magazine is animated implying it is for teens.

The main image is of a famous Hip Hop artist, Nicki Minaj and is relevant to the genre as her music is current at the moment. The image has strap lines and has animated scenery around the main image in order to frame it. The main image itself is very cartoon like, as it is meant to portray a "superwoman" therefore, her outfit and posture show this as she looks very superior and is dressed like  a super hero. Most people know Nicki Minaj as being a barbie doll, therefore by her outfit being pink, it shows that this is her signature colour reflecting her personality. The animations below compliment the main image as they make it obvious that Nicki Minaj is meant to be a super hero as super heroes are animations are  fiction. The use of bright colours also shows this as they link in with her outfit, making the magazine look professional.

The magazine name "Vibe" reflects the content of the magazine as it is a positive feeling you get; "A vibe off the music" This emphasises the feeling the audience get from the genre of music; Hip Hop/ r n b. For the masthead, upper case lettering has been used in order to make the magazine and title of the magazine stand out. This is in order to draw the audience in by the title, as everything else such as the strap lines is in lower case letters. There isn't much text used on the front cover, showing a limited use of strap lines. This is because the main story revolves around Nicki Minaj, therefore the main image compliments the strap lines about her. The size of the text is quite big compared to the other text, especially when talking about Nicki Minaj. This is to show she is the main attraction of this issue, therfore everything is revolving around her. Also, there are two other strap lines which are also in the same size font and are at the top of the magazine to show that they are just as important. As you go down the magazine, the strap lines get smaller, indicating the importance of each story.

Analysis of the magazine Gramophone

The magazine front cover " Gramophone" relates to the genre classical music. We know this because the title has the connotation of being an antique record player which is used to compose classical music. This magazine is targeted at the older generation; women and men over the ages of 50 as this is the genre of music they enjoy best. Also, because the music is quite slow and string instruments were used along time ago, therefore relating to their generation.

The main image is a long shot of Joyce DiDonato in a traditional opera singer outfit. This relates to the genre as opera music is usually classed as classical music, therefore her outfit compliments this. She is wearing bright pink and green in order to match the copy on the text.The colours are very vibrant, therefore may be reflecting the singer's personality as well as making her stand out.Her hand is placed on her hip and she is stood at a slight angle in order to show she has power and dominance. The image is framed with strap lines along the left and right hand side in order to anchor the image, showing the main image is the focus of the magazine. As Joyce DiDonato is traditionally dressed, this allows the audience to recognise what is being feature in the magazine. Furthermore, if other's looked at it and didn't know who Joyce DiDonato was, they would be able to recognise that she was an opera singer, just by looking at her outfit.

As the typeface mathces the colour of the image, this shows that the magazine is professional as the colour scheme is linked in order to compliment the image. Also the colour white is also used for the strap lines and mast head. This is to outline the important text on the page, again allowing it to stand out. The main story about Joyce DiDonato is placed next to her on the right in order to show the story is about her. This is obvious as the colours pink and green are only used for her story and the size of the copy is much larger, showing she is the main attraction of the magazine. The colour yellow is also used, however only slightly in order to give the magazine a bit more colour, as the background is dull.

Analysis of the magazine NME

The magazine front cover “NME” does not relate to a specific genre as it features a variety of music from different music artists each month. This is to show that the magazine ranges from different types of music; for example from pop one month to rock the next. This is shown by the name of magazine “New Music al Express” as it shows all the latest music from every genre. The title is abbreviated as “NME” and sounds much more catchy ad it easier to remember, and is bold and appealing to the audience. The target audience can range from both women and men form late teens onwards. However, on the front cover of this issue, it shows the rapper Jay Z standing next to former rock singer, Ian Brown showing  how diverse the magazine is as both hip hop/r n b and rock are completely opposite.

The main image is a medium shot and two shot of Ian Brown looking at Jay Z. The image represents the genre as it has two people of different genres on the front cover. This is to show that this issue relates to rock and hip hop/ r n b music. The image isn’t really framed; however the title “NME” is on top of Ian Brown’s head.  This is to show that the text anchors the image, as the image stands out the most considering there’s hardly any text on the cover. Ian Brown is wearing a dark jacket, which connotes rock and roll, relating to his genre of music, whereas Jay Z is wearing sun glasses, a white t shirt with beads and a checked shirt. This reflects his image as a rapper and allows the readers to be aware that the clothing of the artists reflects their type of genre and music, just from looking at the cover.

Three main colours have been used; red, white and black. These colours have been used as they versatile, implying that they relate to all genres. Also the colours black and white are popular colours as black can be used for rock n roll, however it can also be used for hip hop/ r n b as it’s a colour which has different connotations. The text which is red, is in bold and in a large font. This is to draw attention t o the magazine and allows the magazine to stand out as it relates the main image. Automatically, the audience will read the largest text first; the title of the magazine “NME” and the main story “Ian Brown meets Jay Z” The front cover is different to others as it doesn’t have much text, as there is one main story in the centre. This is unusual as this magazine front cover doesn’t follow the generic conventions of a normal front cover. All the text used is upper case, which stands out in order to draw the audience in. Also, the copy is designed to be quite large, as there is hardly any text on the magazine to show that the main story is about Ian Brown and Jay Z.

Final of preliminary magazine and contents

I have edited this cover, as I have made the strap lines bigger in order for the audience to read it properly and I have made the kicker stand out a lot more as there is a white block behind the writing in order for it to stand out more.

I have related the strap lines on the front cover to the contents page as I have briefly explained about them in the contents page. If i carried on a completed the entire magazines, these pages would be the main focus on my magazine.

Analysis of my sixth form magazine

The title of the magazine is “Lordswood Sixth form Centre” I called my magazine this, as it’s the name of the sixth form centre, which is relevant, as readers know which sixth form the magazine is representing. The magazine is targeting Lordswood sixth form centre; years 12 and 13. The audience know this as the title suggests it is aimed towards the sixth form pupils.  The reader interacts with the magazine as it contains relevant information for them. It involves information about the basketball academy, only for sixth formers, a trip to Spain, which is for year 12’s, cooking lessons and lockers for all sixth formers. This draws the readers into the magazine as the information relates to them and their college life.

The main image on the magazine is a medium shot of Aynsley on an apple Mac. She is looking directly at the Mac as she is supposed to be working, showing an everyday representation of sixth form life.  There are also four images along the bottom of the magazine, which are all different images of the sixth form, including a variety of colours. These pictures go well together as they compliment the main image, showing everyday life of the sixth form. As pupils who go to the sixth form are on the front of the cover, it tells the audience that these people represent the sixth form as they attend Lordswood sixth form.  Also on the cover, I have included four strap lines, a kicker along the bottom, the main image, images and the masthead. These are the generic conventions of what a magazine should include. For the masthead, I have used the font Trajan pro, which is in capitals. This is effective as it establishes the audience realise this is the masthead as it is bold and stands out form the rest of the text. The four images at the bottom are effective as they show different things, which happen within the sixth form, showing a variety of things in order to draw the audience in. The kicker is meant to be in cold at the bottom, which is in order to stand out. It is like a big strap line, but obviously the most important one as it says “ New sixthform block!” this is to emphasise the point I am making, as it may be the most interesting and dramatic. I have also used four strap lines, which relate to college life and all different events, which have happened in sixth form.

I have made my magazine look professional in order for it to look expensive and like a magazine you would at a shop. The presentation is like original magazines in order for them to blend in with the specific genre. It looks expensive, as I have used only three colours; white black and blue as traditional magazine should consists of a maximum three colours. It compares with other magazines as it has all the original conventions as looks like a college magazine. I have used four pictures along the bottom of the magazine, which are all in row next to each other. This is effective as the pictures influence the audience to buy the magazine as pictures give a better overview of things. As I have used original photography, this is essential for the front of a magazine front cover. The images I have captured are at different angles and are all very colourful making the magazine look a lot more appealing.

As the main image is of a girl, this connotes that majority of the sixth form is girls, however the pictures at the bottom also show boys showing minority of the sixth form as boys. As the theme of the magazine is college, it only relates to students, however specific articles within the magazine may interest parents such as trips and exam results.

Magazines are popular as it allows people to find out everyday information about certain things they are interested in. for example with the college magazine, it allows students to find out what is happening within sixth form and what is available for them. Overall, I think my magazine looks like a college magazine as it looks professional and expensive, like a magazine should look. Also, it appeals to its target audience and entertains the reader.