Textual Analysis of a Music Magazine front cover
Vibe is an R&B/Hip Hop magazine. The denotation of this image shows a mid shot of Eminem and Dr Dre. Both Artists have similar costumes, which are suits and a lab coats. This connotes Eminem and Dr Dre is representing scientists in a lab.
A Masthead is the name of the magazine displayed in a specific typeface. It is usually done with a specially designed typeface in order to make it recognisable and unique. In this magazine, the masthead is called ‘VIBE’ written large in yellow with a dark background. The text size is large scaled and positioned top of the page. However the type front is simple and straightforward. The masthead has contrasting colours with the mysterious dim background, which makes it effectively attractive and eye catching.
Coverlines are pieces of text that attracts an audience to the contexts of the magazine. They are often distributed around the main image. Coverlines usually have two parts, such as a ‘kicker’ in bold fonts with an explanatory line. This magazine has several coverlines. For example ‘Diddy’s commission’ followed by ‘Welcome to the Darkside…’ This text is smaller than the masthead, coloured and circulated around the main image which makes a coverline. The mistake in making this coverline over lapping the main image and parts of the explanatory text have similar colours with the background image, rendering the word invisible and unreadable. Also texts such as the explanatory which follows this coverline is too small, which are illegible.
Another example is ‘15th Annual Juice Issue’ followed by ’42 Power Players you need to know’. This is also small, and positioned around the main image which makes a coverline. Both coverlines are boxed in the colour which helps separate the different coverlines. This coverline has no overlapping the main image and no similar coloured text with the background, therefore the text is readable.
Dateline should always be on a magazine front cover. The month and year of publication is often with the price or barcode. This magazine’s dateline is below the barcode, bottom left hand corner, ‘AUG | Sept 2010’. With a dateline on the magazine, the audience can identify if the magazine is valid or outdated, etc.
A Barcode are used by retailers so that the sale of the magazine can be registered quickly during its purchase. This magazine’s barcode is at the very bottom left side. If this magazine did not have a barcode, this magazine will be difficult to register.
A Selling line is a short, sharp description of the title’s main marketing point or perhaps a setting out its editorial philosophy. For instances, this magazine’s selling ling is ‘Kanye’s Homecoming, Ne-Yo’s big Review, 50 Cent Confesses, 15th Anniversary Juice Issue’. Although it is situated above the masthead, the text font is smaller, and too long to be a masthead which means it is a selling line.
The main coverline is the largest coverline on the front cover. Its purpose is to display and promote the main featured articles in the magazine. For example is ‘What are Eminem and Dre cookin’ up?’ This coverline is also coloured in yellow and in bold large texts, however the text is not large as the masthead, which makes it the main coverline. However, this coverline could be argued in having a mistakes made, such as over lapping the main image. But in my opinion, the main coverline is perfectly position, a fair amount of spacing from other coverlines, preventing any mix ups. The text written is self-sufficient and independent, rhetorically questioned, which insists the audience to purchase it and read more.
The main image is the most important part of the magazine cover. The consumer magazine editors worry more about the cover than any other pages which is why the main image is most important to attract the audience. This magazine’s main image is a mid shot of Eminem and Dr Dre, both with similar costumes, such as the suits and lab coats. The needle is Dr Dre's prop. Their body language is strong and shows fearless. Through Dr Dre's and Eminem's facial expressions, they both show strong seriousness. The headphone and forceps clamp holding the music symbol cast are Eminem’s prop. His facial expression shows that he is highly focusing on the music symbols. The headphones are Dr Dre’s very own creation, build for music entertainment. This prop is expertly used to symbolise the theme of the image and show contrast, stereotypically saying it’s unusual to see a scientist at work with luxury accessories on, such as these headphone. The lightings on this set is high key meaning that the lighting is set to be bright, clear and free from dark shadows. The depth of field is wide meaning everything in the image is evenly focused.
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