Analysis of a Contents Page

The contents page that I will be analysing is Glamour. Glamour is a fashion, beauty and gossip magazine that is aimed towards teenage girls and Women. This is the specific target audience because they are the people who are devoted to things such as: Fashion and beauty related topics.

On the contents page it contains a variety of different options which will intrigue the reader, as there is a drop-down column which gives the reader a chance to look at what the magazine will contain breifly before they properly look inside. This also gives the reader an opportunity to look at the article/topic that interests them the most on the column first. There are also inside scoops into the latest gossip etc. within the column which will attract the younger generation, as they enjoy things like gossiping.

The main aspect of the Contents page is the bulky photograph of Emma Watson, which is placed in the centre of the Contents page on the right-hand side. It is what will meet the reader's eye first, and explains to the audience that Emma Watson is the main article as she has her own large advertisement (feature article photograph). This advertisement contains a caption on the left side of the photograph, which gives the reader a rhetorical question advising the reader to reveal ‘Emma’s Style Secret’ which will intrigue them to find out about the celebrities secret, and beneath this quote, the magazine gives you the page number in brackets, explaining to the reader that this is the main article as they are advertising it heavily on the contents page with the image and the quotes, etc. This may attract the reader into turning to that page straight away, to see if it is as good as what the magazine has hyped it up to be with the advertising. The colour of the large photograph next to the quote is presented in Black and White, which suggests to the reader that the photograph was professionally taken, crafted and edited, which would appeal to the more sophisticated audience of Emma Watson and Glamour. The image is also in Black and White because it will not attract Women to the photograph as women do not want to see exposed women etc. This is the reason the editor has presented this in Black and White, so that it displays a plain, grey and dull colour which will not draw women to the image at a high extent, and focus more on what is behind it, e.g. her 'style secrets', which is displayed on this photograph, further explaining that this picture was specifically used to advertise her style, before the reader actually reads the main article ,to get an in-sight into what they will be reading about. 

The image also breaks up the drop down column/ text, with the image breaking up the text which suggests to the reader that the magazine contains more images than the text itself, and that the image is more important than the text. Although, there is not a lot of information in regards to this image, which will intrigue the reader to find out what the image/article represents, and what it is about.

The colour scheme of this contents page is:

- Pink
- Orange
- Green
- Black
- White

The colour scheme is attractive to women, however, it is presented in a mature way so that the colours contrast each other well. The use of the green and orange used on the title/masthead stands out on the page as it is luminous, giving connotations of the Autumn season which is upon us, as the magazine is the Autumn issue. The text colour 'green' symbolises and gives connotations of nature, etc. to represent e.g. the natural beauty products that they promote in their magazine and the orange symbolises the sun for bright, exposed inner beauty, which would include the models etc. which they use within their magazines. The colours distinguish well with the plain white background and give a sense of maturity and professionalism. The pink used suggests the more feminist side to the magazine, and also the fashion and beauty which is contained inside. On the contents page they use four colours which are more than enough for a content page as it is not the most important part of a magazine. If it contained extra colours then the contents page would be extremely bright, and there would be too much going on for the reader to focus on the main information which is given, and the useful parts to the page.

Analysis of a Front Cover

 

Analysis

Target Audience - The target audience for the Kerrang magazine would be the people aged between 16 and 30, because they are the people who enjoy the latest rock/heavy metal bands which the magazine advertise, and are not affected by the use of explicit material etc, in this type of music and the information in the Kerrang magazine itself. For example: Green Day, who are promoted as the main article on the front cover, relates to the 16 - 30 audience as they are a band that fits into their generation and age group. The magazines target audience would also appeal to the niche audience, because it concerns topics and themes that are relevant to people who listen to and are interested by rock music and its background. They would have to be individually minded and independent of thought and musically experienced, just like the magazine and the rock stars etc. that Kerrang promote in their magazines.

Mast Head - The main title is presented at the top left, as people begin to read from that side. The font is large and bright, with a luminous yellow colour so it will be extremely visible and attractive to the people in sight of the magazine. The letters that spell out Kerrang are jagged, with scratches on them to represent rock and violence etc. The word Kerrang also ends with an exclamation mark, which gives the impression that it is shouting at the reader, attracting them to buy the magazine. The Kerrang title is overlapped by the head of the lead singer of Green Day, explaining to the reader that the magazine is well-known as the title does not need to be entirely visible, as people already know what it is. This will also attract many different audiences, as Green Day itself is a highly popular rock band. This will catch people's eyes from a shop window/shelf as the artist is displayed largely on the front cover, along with the brand name. Both Kerrang and Green Day mixed together on one cover will attract audiences alike, as they are both well-known and relate to each other.

Price - The price on the magazine cover is centred on the barcode, however it is presented extremely small. This is because the company are a popular brand and will not want to attract the reader to the price if it is too high. It might not meet the expectations of the buyer, which may put them off purchasing the magazine and would result in Kerrang losing out on a lot of the magazines main/key audiences.

Feature Article Photograph - Kerrang immediately clarify to the reader that Green Day are the main article/topic of the magazine, this is because they have their own large advertisement (photograph) as the front cover, which stands out the most above the rest of the illustrations and information on the page. The feature article photograph consists of the lead singer from Green Day, and Kerrang promote them by covering the front cover with a large image of him, who is focused as the main protagonist of the front cover because he dominates the whole page, and will be the first thing the reader notices on it. He is also looking directly at the audience, this is known as the 'direct mode of address', as it draws the audience in because it is almost as if the artist is addressing you personally. The photograph will attract multiple teenage girls/boys to the magazine, as Green Day are known to be highly popular amongst the younger generation with their latest songs and image. This will have the teenage audience engaged, as a well-known band is the main article and may want to purchase the magazine to read on about the latest gossip involving Green Day, which is also an advantage to Kerrang with the help of them being a well-known band internationally. This will especially attract the teenage girl sector as he could be, for example: An idol, or teenage celebrity crush, so with him being the main photograph on the magazine could make a strong impact on girls and also major fans, who may find him an attractive/very famous man, etc. The Kerrang magazine itself contains many rock bands and material which are designed to attract a lot more men rather than women, so by promoting young, attractive and famous celebrities as their front covers also explains to the reader that their main audience isn't based on just one particular gender, as they know how to please both, and ultimately tells the reader that the magazine is not gender-biased.

Main Cover Line - The main cover line is the text that reads 'GREEN DAY', which consists of only two words but will attract the audience almost instantly. This is because Green Day is one of the most influential and famous rock bands of our generation, so Kerrang would know that this would make a big impact on their fans and sales. The words 'GREEN DAY' are the overview of what the magazine will contain the most because it is the main article, so the audience are informed on what to expect throughout the majority of the magazine. The two words stand out the most, even above the Kerrang title itself, to outline the bands importance to the magazine. It is presented in a bright, red colour on a white background. This will attract people's eyes instantly as the colours contrast well together, and the lead singer of Green Day is holding up the sign in a flamboyant way. It will engage with men especially, as they're known to be heavily attracted to the colour 'red' which is presented a highly bright, coloured red, written in a crayon style, which can also describe to the reader that Green Day are lively and ebullient, by using creative, exuberant fonts and colours to advertise them.

Cover Line - An example of a cover line is the text below the 'GREEN DAY' main cover line, which reads "answer your questions" and "Bille, Joe, Mike and Tret, on musicals, make-up, punch-ups, riots and more!" This is extra information which is added, so that the reader can grasp a sense of what the main article will involve and contain. It also interacts with the reader by giving them an option to do something by using the word 'your', which can attract audiences as they can get involved in activities which are included within the magazine. The font for this cover line is slightly smaller in size compared the main cover line because it is not as important, and is presented in a dull, black colour. However, the font is this size specifically so that more information can be given to the reader.

Plug - An example of a Plug would be the quote in the middle of the right-hand side, that reads "What are Paramore shocked at?" which is the selling point of the magazine. This is because the quote concludes with a question mark, which will engage the reader and persuade them to purchase the magazine to find out more about that certain topic, so it is almost as if the magazine has done this on purpose. It also helps to be even more engaging when the plug includes famous bands such as 'Paramore', as people may want to catch up on the latest news on celebrities. Below the plug is a small image, however it does not explain the full topic so the reader would have to look inside to find out more, which will persuade the reader to purchase the magazine at an even higher extent. The picture underneath the Paramore quote consists of a famous star in a 'Celebrity Scandal', with an arrow pointing toward the hazard. To actually find out what it is, the reader would (again) have to purchase the magazine, concluding as the overall selling point.

Puffs - The front cover uses Puffs by using attractive and powerful words, such as: 'Ultimate', 'Rock' and 'Phenomenon'. This will attract the audience, as they make it sound as if Kerrang is as dominant as the words and information that is used, which will persuade the reader to buy the magazine.

Strapline - The strapline is at the very bottom of the magazine cover and explains more about the brand to promote it, by adding on extra information. For example: 'PLUS: THE CULT.' This is to explain to the reader that the magazine offers more than just one main storyline, and includes other articles that are involved around different, famous celebrities etc. For this issue of Kerrang, the Strapline would be beneficial to the readers who dislike Green Day who are promoted as the main article, because the reader is informed that there are many more storylines and activities that he/she can appreciate. 

Target Audience - Key Media Concept

Target Audience - Is a specific group of people, who are aimed at a product. This can be formed by people of a certain age group, gender, family status etc. An example of this would be from the film 'Confessions of a Shop-aholic', which would be aimed at teenage girls and young women as they are known to excessively shop, so it relates to them the most.

There are two kinds of target audience:

Primary Audience - Is the 'main body' of viewers, which is the average. For example: New and improved baby nappies, which would relate to the parents with their babies.

Secondary Audience - Is the viewers who fall outside of the primary sector, however make up a large enough percentage from the test audience. 

Genre - The different types of categories, which are set in a stylistic criteria. Such as: Soap Opera, Reality T.V. Mystery and Comedy.

Examples:

Action Films - Dangerous weapons, Car chases, Explosions, A friend that dies often, Shouting, Hero, Villian, Love interest, Revenge, Heavy/Loud Soundtrack and fast-paced scenes.

Romance Films - Couple, Boy meets Girl storyline, Terminal illness (often), Passionate scenes, Problems to overcome, Splitting up, Concluding in either love or death, Romantic soundtrack (Occasionally a main theme song e.g. Titanic and Celine Dion), Slow and settling scenes with beautiful environments, e.g. Sunsets, and a beach.

Codes and Conventions:

Convention - Is a feature of a typical media product, all within a given genre. This is usually in most, or all products.

Code - Is a way of conveying meaning, without using words.

These codes can be divided into two categories:

Technical - Codes which are all the ways that equipment is used to tell the story in a media text. For example: The camera work in a film.

Symbolic - Codes which show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example: A character's actions show the audience how the character is feeling.

Magazine - Key Media Concept

Mast head - The Mast head is the main title. It is usually at the top left, as many people begin to read from that side. It will be bright, bold and the largest font on the front of the magazine cover. It is easily placed so that your eyes meet with it, and also to display good advertising so that it will stand clear to other people in, for example: a shop window/shelf. This is because the title exposes itself from the other magazines/newspapers etc, which may be cluttered around that particular magazine, as the title is displayed at the top.

Price - It is hidden on the magazine, an extremly small statistic. This is because the brand does not want to attract the reader to, for example: an extremly high price, as some people may disagree with it. The person could change their mind about purchasing, which could lose a lot of the magazines main audience.

Barcode - Every magazine contains a Barcode, so that the reader can purchase the magazine.

Feature Article Photograph - This instantly clarifies that it is the top story, as it has it's own large advertisement. It immediately explains to the reader that it is the main article throughout the whole magazine as it stands out the most, above the rest of the information that the reader is given on the front cover, explaining that it was obviously slapped on the front page for a specific reason. This can be to attract the key audience. For example: A large photograph which covers the front page with Batman, to promote 'The Dark Knight'. The Batman Saga is highly popular, and this could connect the fans of the audience to the magazine, as they're attracted by the photograph.

Main Cover Line - Bigger/brighter fonts with less information, to give you a quick overview of what the magazine will contain from that certain weeks main issues, and gossip etc.

Cover Line - Extra information which is added onto the front cover, to show the reader that there is more that you can do, e.g puzzles and quizzes. Although, the cover line is presented smaller, as it is less important information. The magazine would tend to concentrate mostly on the main article, however the extras may still intrigue some of the audience, so they would have to keep other options availabe to acheive a broader and successful audience.

Plug - Is a selling point about what else could be in the magazine. For example: the magazine cover could contain a quote, which ends as a question or with an exclamation mark. This leaves the reader feeling engaged, wanting to purchase the magazine to find out more about that certain topic.

Puffs - Using powerful and attractive words, which will atrract the reader to the magazine. For example: 'exclusive', 'hot', 'new' and 'incredible'.

Strapline - This gives more information about the brand, to promote it.

Typeface/Point sizes - Fonts, colours etc.

Sans Serit - Smooth and formal writing.
Serit - Points, and sharper writing. Found in e.g. Newspapers.