Thursday, 2 October 2014

Analysing Front Covers


Music Magazines: Front cover analysis

Masthead (title)

What are the connotations of (i.e. what is suggested by) the masthead? What kind of magazine identity is suggested? Does it use a ‘tagline’ (a phrase showing off the status of the magazine, e.g. Britain’s best loved music magazine)? Is the masthead obscured/hidden in any way, and what does this suggest about the success or status of the magazine?

Readership

What type of music fan is the magazine targeting?

What does the cover suggest about the age, gender and personality of the readership?

Dominant image

Analyse and interpret the dominant image on the front cover: shot framing, eyeline, body language, mise-en-scene, connotations and effect.

What’s the relationship between the subject of the photograph and the reader?

What genre of music is suggested from the image?

How might all this appeal to the target audience?

Coverlines (words or phrases promoting the articles inside)

Explain what they suggest and how they entice the reader to buy the magazine.

Freebies, competitions and giveaways

What do they say about the audience, and their relationship with the magazine?

Layout and composition

Explain how the different elements of the front cover are organised on the page- is it conventional?

Mode of address

Explain how the magazine addresses the reader- direct address? Formal/informal? With humour? Like a friend?

 

Remember: you need to present this analysis in a visually interesting way on your blog! You should analyse at least three different front covers.

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