Salford City CollegeEccles CentreAS Media StudiesFoundation Portfolio

Masthead The masthead is in black font which has connotations of power and mystery also has connotations of authority, suggesting that the contents of the magazine are dark types of music. The jagged edges on the letters of the masthead suggest a sense that the magazine’s contents will include grunge type music. The smashed and cracked looking masthead has a sense of onomatopoeia like a smashed symbol and so therefore connotating the style of music the magazine contains therefore attracting the

target audience who the music genre is aimed towards. And with the contrasting colours of the black masthead on the white background the masthead stands out and so therefore attracts the audience. The black colour is associated with males who are the target audience of the magazine.

Main image

The main image features popular band that are associated and are established musicians of this particular genre. The positions of each one of the band members are spread across the magazine cover and so this suggests to the audience that they are the main focal point of the magazine. The band members are all wearing regular clothing suggesting that they are all regular people portraying a realistic feel that they are also relatable. The rule of thirds appear to have identified the man in the centre as the lead singer defining him from the rest of the band and so our attention is mainly drawn towards him. The direct address from the three band members makes them identifiable as if we have a personal connection towards them and thus attracting the audience to the magazine. The main image is situated over the masthead this is because

the magazine is a well-established and is easily identifiable.

Model credit:

The model credit is situated across the middle of the magazine and the band members, this suggests that they are a well established band and can sell magazines based on just their name. The text is large and appears to have bullet holes in some of the letters connotating the hard grunge genre of the magazine. The font is in a bold red colour connotating passion and so therefore we can identify that the band are passionate about their music.

Coverlines There is a unique selling point to this magazine as there is a cover line saying ‘Win! A three smartphone and free credit!” this attracts the audience to buy the magazine as the audience would feel as though they are getting value for their money. People could buy this magazine just for the possibility of winning an item; this is also seen along the bottom of the magazine with the ‘poster special’ attracting the audience to buy the magazine for the free item. Also another cover line includes ‘The pretty reckless’ this is another band who the target audience would be familiar with and so therefore attracts the target audience who are interested in this particular genre. ‘Faces the K! QUIZ” is a housestyle and so therefore familiar readers who are the target audience of the magazine will relate to the regular features and also this makes the audience interact with the magazine as they can also partake in the quiz.

Main cover line: The main cover line is situated below the model credit and is a direct quote from the interview, this attracts the target audience to want to purchase the magazine and therefore read more inside to read the full context of the quote. The consistent colour scheme of the magazine also helps to establish the genre of the magazine and also the use of the word ‘masterpiece’ is a buzz word and so therefore makes the article more appealing towards the audience who would want to read about what in particular is a ‘masterpiece’.

Typefaces

The maintypefaces are all sans serif and therefore have straight, blue edges; this is to connotate the genre of the magazine and so attracts the target audience to purchase the magazine. The main headlines are in a larger font such as the main cover line; this is to draw the attention towards the main article. The typeface of the masthead differs from the rest of the typefaces; this is because the masthead draws your attention towards it and so is in a more grunge typeface.

Photography Lighting

The main image has high key lighting this is to make the main band stand out against the harsher masthead and also draws the audience’s attention towards their faces this also suggests that the band is quite normal and average guys therefore making them more relatable to the target audience. The drummer who is featured on the leftside third is covered in tattoos and is wearing his cap backwards this relates him with the rock genre and therefore identifiable to the target audience. The lead singer who is situated in the centre is wearing a dog tag necklace, this relates to the connotations of punk rock with violent connotations.

Design Principles Used?

The design principles are used as in the primary optical area features a cover line and also the band’s main image then in the strong fallow area features the band again as they are spread across the page along with a banner across the top identifying the contents to the audience. In the weak fallow area features lesser important coverlines which include posters this is because these articles aren’t important towards the audience. The lead member of the band is features in the middle as he is the focal point of the magazine identifying him as the main interest of the magazine.

Colour:

The magazines main colour scheme is red, white and black with blue occasionally. This is because the colours red and black and blue are usually associated with males who are the target audience of the magazine. The white colour is quite neutral and so therefore generates a wider target audience, possibly appealing to females too.

HOLLY TAYLOR