Codes and conventions of a Rock contents page

Courtney McKay

All Layouts

Firstly, the layout of a contents page is neat and easy to direct around. Although the page is usually busy filled with images, information and advertisements. This page carries the normal codes and conventions of every genre magazines, such as: page numbers, variety of shots, headlines, descriptions, sub headings, titles and relevant image links.Page numbers are mainly on the bottom right of the page easy for the audience to navigate around. Also the page number next to the titles are seen on the left of the writing.Column layout is important to a contents magazine, there are normally 3-4 columns included so the page is not over loaded too much.

4 columns

3 columns

Mis-En-SceneBackground:The images used on a rock contents page are all relevant to the head lines that are in the particular issue. The images usually contain the celebrity/s, the back ground of these images are mainly from a studio, and they are dark as a connotation the theme. Some backgrounds are shown to represent the personalities of the artists.

Figure/s:The artists/s are usually shown to have direct mode of address with the audience. This mean the celebrities look into the camera as they address the audience. Sometimes this may not occur when in a band.

The artist are shown to wear the clothes relevant to them and theme. Rock clothes are usually seen as dark or even loud.

The figure/s will usually been shown as a photo-shoot image, or the artists playing live. When posing for a shoot, the body language and make up shows the theme and personality of that artist to resemble them.

For example on the NME magazine to the right, the main image contains a band playing live, showing what they do and instruments they play.

Props: Props shown in the scene are usually things to resemble the artist or celebrity. In most rock magazines, guitars are a popular especially within this rock genre. Props can also include accessories, albums or merchandise from the artist themselves.

Mis-En-Scene

Lighting:The lighting usually includes high key lighting on the artiest so you can see the full detail of the artist, although the backgrounds vary from high key lighting and low key lighting.

Codes and conventionsHeadmast:Headmasts are usually bold and fit in with the company's house colour and logos to look professional. Rock magazines usually have the colours: red, black or white. Therefor the headlines stand out to that particular audience and is recognisable.

Page numbers and information:The page number is usually seen on the left of the page information so it is easy for navigation.

Regular Content:This includes features that every issue of the magazine will have. E.g charts

Featured content: This includes content that is exclusive and new in each issue. E.g specific band or artist pages and Exclusive interviews.

ImagesThe contents page is usually seen as busy, filled with text and images all around. There is usually one main image which could be the most covered artist and there image will be the biggest. All the images are linked and connected to the text making them all relevant. Again its easy for the audience to navigate around as they can see without reading who is going to be featured in the issue and can look for their names to find.

Images will mainly be of an artist or anything relevant to a specific artist. You may also see logos to social networking sites and subscriptions. Also seen on the content pages are advertisements, so images will be shown for them, for example maybe a prize up for grabs.