Analysis of front page and contents page.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS

Masthead…• Mast head is in block capitals and I have used a bold font which is white this colour contrasts

well with green background making it stand out more – typical codes / conventions of any magazine.

• The mast head of a magazine is the magazine’s trademark and it makes the magazine easily recognizable to the audience by using a unique font.

• The masthead is at the top of the page covering the whole side and it is on top of the image showing that is important – another code and convention of a magazine as shown in example 2.

• I have adapted this from the previous magazines which I have looked at because this is typically recognisable in any magazine and it makes the title stand out the most.

• All of the examples have helped me decide how I should create my mast head.

Box–out…• There is a box–out which is a coloured box behind some text at the bottom of the page.

This makes the text stand out more because it is different from the rest of the page.• The box-out usually has writing which attracts people to read the magazine. In the box-out I

have an exclusive story. It’s important that this part stands out more because it’s something that links only to that magazine. This also breaks the page up more by giving you something else to focus on. • I have also done this with a circle to attract the reader to something which I think they may

be particularly interested in. The circle is something different and adds affect to the page by giving the reader another thing to focus on again.

I have made the box bolder, unlike this example where the opacity has been reduced. This makes the box-out stand out just a little more which was the affect I aimed to create.

Tag…• The magazines I have looked at all have an element of something that is

exclusive and that is only available in that magazine. This is a tag word and another code and convention which I have taken into account and I have added into my magazine. • I have used the word ‘EXCLUSIVE’ to entice people in because it

suggests that its an item published by only 1 source and that only this magazine institution has published this article. This means that no other magazine institution has covered this story. This word is a promotional item which acts as a magnet to the story.

Main Image…• Every magazine has a main image. The main image dominates the front cover. It is usually

a medium close up, or a close up. I have chosen to use a medium close up, taken just above the waist. The main image uses direct address to the reader which makes the magazine more personal as it could be suggested that the magazine is just for the reader currently reading.• The main image can either be a person or a building. I’ve used a person because I feel

that it makes the magazine more personal and the audience can relate more to it. • This image may be placed in the middle or to the left. I have used the rule of thirds and

placed my image slightly to the left.

Typography…• Each magazine has an iconic look, this can be identified by the typography of the magazine. This

means the fonts used are genuinely the same throughout. This makes the magazine institution easily recognizable and when people see this font they will associate it with the magazine company. • This is another code and convention of magazines because it makes the magazine more

recognizable and people will think of it when they see it. • A magazine company may have 2 main fonts, like me. I have used a bolder font for the mast

head, then a subtler font for the story head lines. The writing I use for titles will the same as the mast head as this is the font that stands out the most. The font I use for the articles will be different as they wont stand out as much because they will be in smaller font and won’t be something that introduces the reader to the particular story, encouraging them to read on.

The main writing – introducing what the page is about – they’re in the same font which is iconographic of this magazine institution.

The smaller writing uses a smaller font that is subtler and doesn’t stand out as much. I have used this for the contents page stories, where I have written the main headline in a bigger front, then information on the artlicle in a smaller font – this is another code and convention as it gives more detail as to what the article is on.

Colour scheme…• Many magazines stick to a colour scheme, again this means people can associate the

colours with the particular magazine institution. • I have chosen a green colour scheme because this links in with the mast head – green

army. I have used a variety of different greens which closely links to the word ‘army’ because army colours are greens / browns. Also the uniform that the student is wearing is green as that is the colour of the sixth form, therefore the colours links very closely with the person on the front cover.• The green is iconographic of my magazine institution because it is a colour scheme which I

will be incorporating throughout and a colour scheme which I will stick to.

Layout…• I have adapted a similar style layout for both the front cover and contents page for my

magazine. • Firstly, I have placed the mast head at the top, the main image to the left, writing on the right

(because people read from left to right, therefore will be taking in the information), I have use a box-out at the bottom. This is a general layout for the front page. I have looked at many magazines & the majority have a layout like this, or similar to this. • Secondly, for the contents page, the word ‘contents’ so the mast head is placed at the top and

it stands out the most. I have a coloured box to the right, with text stating what is in the magazine and then I have images to the side with page numbers which correspond to the image. The images break up the text and give the reader something else to focus on. Page numbers make it easier for people to get to the pages in which they’re most interested in.

REPRESENTATION

Front cover…• The magazine has a clear primary audience:

people currently in sixth form, the model on the front reflects this. • To start, the model on the front is using direct

mode of address, making the magazine more personal as if it is made for that specific reader. The smiling connotes happiness suggesting that the person in the image is in a happy place being at the sixth form. The person in the image creates a positive representation for the school because of her facial expressions create affirmative vibes of the school being a nice, welcoming place and that she is enjoying her time there.

• The word ‘army’ represents the school as being a communal place because in an army, everyone works together to achieve their goals. This creates positive vibes as it reflects the sixth form because it puts forward the idea that all the students work together, helping and supporting one another.• Also the army is a large group of people genuinely doing the same things, again this

reflects the intended audience as they are all one group doing the same thing: studying, and generally following the same day to day routine. • The colour scheme used links closely with the mast head, with the word ‘army’

because I have used colours associated with the army (greens, yellows). Greens connote growth suggesting that people in the sixth grow every day as a person to help them be successful.

Front cover…

Green colours link massively to ARMY theme.

Front cover…• I decided to use a folder in the picture because it

suggests intellectualism suggesting that pupils of the school work hard to get the grades they deserve. The folder represents a good work ethic as it suggests hard working pupils. • The bright colours (pinks) contrast well with the

green and suggests kindness which again creates positive vibes because it promotes the idea of the school being a friendly place. If darker colours had been used, this could have suggested a harsher feel to the school and a negative message.

Front cover…• The school putting on hairspray, represents the

school in a positive way – it suggests the school is adventurous and they like to be different in the extra curricular activities which they provide.• This represents the school as having a fun edge

by putting on shows and getting students from different years involved. It is giving people a chance interested in performing an opportunity to get some experience – this suggests that the school offers lots of different doors for people and that there are a wide variety of activities which pupils at the school can get involved in.

Contents page…• The picture of chairs in the common room on the

contents page represent that the students have more freedom which suggests that the school is more lenient with the older years.• This promotes the idea that the school has a fun

element and that it is a place for people to socialise as well as learn. Also this is somewhere where people can relax more. • The 2 girls laughing around again represent the

school as being a fun social place. The girls facial expressions suggest that they’re enjoying their time at the sixth form.

• Then the picture of someone getting a textbook out of a locker represents the hard working students that the sixth form has and the textbook shows the resources which are available to students which will further their education.

• The picture of the boy on the contents page represents the sixth form as being a multi sex sixth form and offers the education to both boys and girls. The facial expression of the boy also suggests that he is happy even if he is in school that only has boys in years 12 & 13.

Contents page…