The image is the largest, most eye catching part. The star is the unique selling point and one of the reasons fans will buy this CD. The horns give a clue as to the nature of the stars perceived image: Rebellious, satanic, evil etc. the fans like to see themselves in this way too

The CD cover flatters the audience and makes them feel special as the ‘real’ fan will deconstruct the image, colours, lettering and initials and realise who the artist is. It excludes people who aren’t fans: they aren’t part of the exclusive club! This refers to the ‘uses and gratifications theory’: people use the media to make sense of the world and like to feel that they ‘belong’

Gothic font: this gives a clue about the genre

of the music.

Not the artist’s full name: the fan will recognise the image and the initials

There’s Archaic, religious language, linking in with Goth rock imagery. Font isn’t neatly done either: seems jagged or slashed…

Use of colour black for border: this also gives clues to the music genre

Parental advisory sticker: industry regulates itself. This gives a warning to whoever buys this CD that there may be language and content that could cause offence. This is always seen in the bottom right hand corner, on the front of a CD cover.

The star has pale face, dark eyes and lips. He isn’t smiling; this gives a ghoulish, ‘un-dead’ feel to the picture. It would go against the stars image to smile! The picture isn’t stereotypical in terms of sex appeal or attractiveness!

Abstract images: the artist likes to defy convention and exclude an air of mystery

Religious imagery: the devil. Suggests rebellion?

The left eye is clearly seen. In Manson’s videos and pictures he wears a contact lens to make him look unusual: he again defies convention and his fans will recognise this as part of his image. The make-up (big dark lips) is also part of this challenge to convention.

The spine has the name of the album and the artist’s name: practical reasons for when it is on a shelf. The clenched fist logo is a universal symbol of power and protest which reflects the band and the album

Image: a magnifying glass perhaps suggesting the band is looking closely at issues, or is socially aware?

The font style is block capitals and looks a bit jumbled to reflect the punk genre: non-conformist?

Parental advisory sticker: the industry regulates itself. This gives a warning to whoever buys this CD that there may be language and content that could cause offence

Bands logo: not complex, part of the bands use of red and black. Looks like a warning sign. Fans can decode the ‘danger’ element. This fits with the bands rebellious protest or

political edge.

The use of colour is very basic: black, white and red. This suggests that it isn’t a pop album! The colours are reflected in the bands clothing too and are part of the image. The lack of polished, glossy designs fits with the rebel or punk idea that the band are trying to put across.

The production details: in small print as this isn’t so important to the fans. It contains the necessary details and legal information such as copyright, production team, and record labels etc. the bands web address is slightly larger and uses red font as fans may want to access this: another part of the way bands can be marketed today.

The word ‘Circus’ suggest to the audience that this album will be entertaining, lively & fun. However, the word also has connotations of “freak shows” & perhaps is to indicate that Britney feels the public have looked upon her like a clown at a circus or at a freak show

Star border: Britney surrounded by multiple stars. Ties in with the circus theme but also sends a message to the audience that Britney is still a ‘star’. And the colour blue is a cold colour though perhaps suggests that Britney’s stardom has gone cold recently. Thick border makes her look trapped. Connoting her celebrity life which is crazy and ‘circus’ like

Red border & font: the font is reminiscent of old circus posters, tying in with the whole theme.

Image: dressed in a pale pink which is an overly feminine colour. The fabric is net & chiffon, materials often associated with ballerinas subsequently linking Britney to vulnerable & sweet little girls. Her hair is blonde & wavy, mermaid-esque again linking her to the feminine.

Title: set out like an actual circus title. Connoting that she’s the star and she’s ready for her curtain call. The way the title goes up and down could connote the ups and downs of her life such as the public breakdown

Body composure: makes her look like she’s begging for a second chance to show the world she’s not as crazy as they think she is. Her true fans will still see her as the innocent Britney and look past her meltdown.

The bold red font could symbolise her strength to carry on after her whirlwind career and the little yellow outline could symbolise the little bit of happiness she has left in side. Could link to her facial expression? She has a half smile, not too happy and not too sad…

Genre: The bright colours link to the genre of music she represents which is ‘Pop’. Britney herself is a representation of Pop itself; you wouldn’t expect her to be doing any other genre.

Image: She’s behind the piano keys connoting that she only lets the good side show & she uses the piano to help her through the bad time. Also the lighting on her body & face is bright and her skin looks flawless almost like an angel.

Title of the album on the front cover is a typical convention of a CD cover along with an image of the artist and name of artist even though it’s in the title.

Front cover: only has info of her and what her fans know her by. This allows her fans and wider audience to see her head on when they see the album on the shelf in the shop

Sticker: this gives the buyer a glimpse of two of the songs that will feature on the album. It also reminds the fans what they came to buy the CD for in the first place which was for the hit single. And in turn they’ll be rewarded with more songs on the album.

The piano represents the genre of music the album belongs too. She’s an RnB, Soul artists therefore her music will be mellow and soothing

Audience: people (her fans) will buy this album if they want to have a calm day to their selves (escapism) etc. And because the album is called ‘the diary of Alicia keys’ its definitely going to have slow songs on it because people go through hard times in their lives, celebrities don’t have it easy

Facial expression looks like she’s scared. Her mouth is open slightly, connoting that she’s finding it hard to speak so she decided to put it into a diary of songs, hence the title.

The typical conventions of a CD back cover are present on this album such as the track names, order of tracks etc.

The layout of the track list is like how you would write in a diary or any book. It goes from left to right. Everything is linking in with the title.

Image: a piano that looks good on one side and broken on the other side. Ties in with the front cover image of the good and the bad side of Alicia keys

The production details: in small print as this isn’t so important to the fans. It contains the necessary details and legal information such as copyright, production team, and record labels etc. Alicia keys’ web address is in small print as fans may want to access this: another part of the way bands can be marketed today.

Lettering/font: like the front cover, all the font size of the track list is in lower case and not in bold or anything fancy. Could mean that she’s stripping her celebrity image and telling it like it is. No gimmicks just plain truth.

The colours are basic: dull colours like brown, grey, and white

The spine has the name of the album and the artist’s name: practical reasons for when it is on a shelf. Also has the record label on it aswell. These can be seen on both spines

This is the back of the booklet that’s inside the Album; the front cover of it is the face of the album. The image is the back of a book (diary) which also has the production details embedded on to it.

Few of the inside pages of the booklet, featuring a few pictures of the artist. The brown, grey, white and blue colour theme is consistent throughout the album.

The print has handwritten parts symbolising a diary.

Mise-en-scene: the pink cotton candy cloud signifies youth and young love. Young love makes you feel like you’re on cloud 9 (teenage dream). This attracts a young audience of teenage girls which is who her fans are. Blue skies signify a perfect day.

Image: Full body shot of Katy Perry showing that she’s the unique selling point. Teens are at the stage where they explore their sexuality etc. she naked with just a piece of cotton candy covering her private parts protecting her innocence (saving herself for ‘the one’).

Image: feet are up like she’s in love. Cloud in the sky connote she’s on cloud 9 above it all. She has a sexual face expression which as mentioned before could be exploring her sexuality. Or she could also be trying to attract a male audience.

Title: bubble writing symbolises fun, the red font can symbolise the heart which links to love, anger, passion etc. basically strong emotions. It also represents the pop genre and because the writing has that balloon look to it, it makes you think of fun times like going to a theme park etc along with the cotton candy.

Title: ‘teenage dream’ is coloured in candy cane style. It’s dripping which connotes that the teenage dream isn’t all that it seems.

Parental advisory sticker: the industry regulates itself. This gives a warning to whoever buys this CD that there may be language and content that could cause offence. Also explicit content is not what you would expect to hear or see in a typical pop album or video.

Title of the album on the front cover is a typical convention of a CD cover along with an image of the artist and name of artist. There are eye catching colours.

Typical conventions of a back CD cover. Track names, image, colour and amount of tracks on the CD.

The production details: in small print as this isn’t so important to the fans. It contains the necessary details and legal information such as copyright, production team, and record labels etc. the artist web address is slightly larger and uses red font as fans may want to access this: another part of the way bands can be marketed today.

The spine has the name of the album and the artist’s name: practical reasons for when it is on a shelf. Also has the record label on it aswell. These can be seen on both spines. Spine font: bold red letters also representing the pop genre.

Back page of the inside booklet. There’s an image of her in a handmade sweet costume in a black background. This could signify the good and bad things.

One look at how the inside of the booklet looks like. The song lyrics are present so the buyer can sing along to the song and learn the lyrics so they feel special.