Analysis of Magazine Covers
Magazine One
Rap Up- Urban Music Based
Colours*
What mood/impression do the colours create?
The ways in which the magazine I have analysed has a specific mood and impression on a specific audience will be explained below by the use of colours it has used and how they may contrast or clash to give the magazine a different effect.
Firstly, there is a clear background which is in full white and deepens with shadows, this therefore makes the vital pieces of information that is trying to attract the audience the most to stand out and contrasts with which includes ‘three well known artists within the urban industry’. The cover lines are bold and colourful, these colours and bold lettering represents the magazine to be exciting and a happy magazine to read. This is once again by the bright ‘feminine’ colours, outstanding writing and the ways in which the models are represented by colour is that they are happy, youthful and funky which is also put together to suit with the urban music.
Design*
How do the words and images fit together?
What fonts and styles of lettering have been used, and what do they suggest?
The typical and central design of the magazine ‘Rap Up’ is that the main heading connects with an image/illustration of the main heading.
The three women on the front in a full wide long shot which have their ‘full artist names’ added in front of one of them with different colourful writing and bold which once again contrasts among the three women, ‘Teyana Taylor’, ‘Keri Hilson’ and ‘Solange Knowles’. They are all dressed in a unique way, different from each other but all match the urban theme as being funky.
The styles which are represented and shown to the specific audience who read this magazine is a young teenage urban group of girls who listen to this type of music and frequently want to be updated by reading about their ‘favourite artists’. That is why designing a magazine is important as the correct steps need to be taken to draw in their accurate audience.
The text and font of the design which is used is modernised and an up-to-date fun writing. If there was an old fashioned italic writing it would not be a useful factor of the magazine as people may decide not to buy it as it may not appeal to them by the design at first glance.
Images*
Who or what is featured, and what does it represent to their specific audience?
There is only one image shown which is a main wide long shot of the three young women and this shows there full body, clothing which shows the full fashion side linked to urban music. They are very popular music artists in the urban industry and therefore are represented as fun, fashionably dressed and their hair is also unique. This will attract the young teenagers to buy as they will see a popular and well known artist which they may be fans of or would like to read about.
Pose, style of hair, makeup*
The pose and image shown of all the girls is by firstly starting with ‘Teyena Taylor’ on the right is doing a unique pose to the other two girls, they are both pulling the same pose by putting both hands up and leaning back which also creates a 3d effect which once again makes the style of the magazine look and seem different to other magazine images and designs of models or colours. This will then appeal back straight to the young teenage girls who listen to urban music.
Their hairstyles yet again are also fun, and unique hair which will appeal again to teenagers who may look up to these specific music artists and for their fashion side also.
The makeup worn and clothes worn makes a fashion statement as all the girls are wearing brightly unique coloured clothes, however their makeup is neutral and not brightly coloured which makes the main part of the magazine stand out such as the main aim of attracting young teenagers because of music by aiming more at fashion and music rather than a cosmetic and ‘girly’ magazine.
How are words used on the cover?
The title/heading is bold and the writing connects with the illustration of the word ‘up’. This shows a different and unique image once again. There is a plain white background which makes the heading stand out so the audience can read from distances and this is very important.
They add in other headings to show the different popular urban artists which are going to be shown inside and some information of what is inside.
Size and layout- are they big enough to be read from a distance?
The magazine’s size and layout is made big enough and attractive enough to be read from a distance, and this will therefore attract the specific audience they are aiming at. This is all connected to the points made in previous paragraphs.
Language*
How does it address the reader and grab his/her attention?
What language features can you identify?
The ways in which the magazine is addresses to the reader to grab his/her attention is by adding short and snappy headings which means they are quick and efficient for the reader and audience to read before purchasing so they can make their decision and not be disappointed once they have bought it.
The language features used are ‘slang’, even though proper informal bits of language aren’t used its still not a formal magazine such as pop or other types of magazines as it is aimed at young teenagers who listen to music which attracts them different to pop or other magazines.
Overall impression*
Does it have a good indication of what is inside?
The overall impression of this magazine is that it has quite a small indication of what’s inside, it only informs the reader of artist’s names not what it will be about.
It also finally aimed altogether at a young teenaged audience who listen to urban/hip hop music.
