Album poster analysis

This poster is very simplistic yet it has

powerful symbolic and semantic codes and

connotations. The two band members with

joints instantly suggests drug-taking. The

showing of a bare arm could be a reference

to heroin use. They also look drunk.

The font is very reminiscent of the 70’s

punk era, which is similar to their genre

and style. It also gives the impression of

anarchy and non-professionalism. It looks

like a reference to the Sex Pistols, who

used this font on their album.

The picture is bit over-

exposed, giving a sense of

non-professionalism – this

idea is further provoked

with the image of tattoos

and the fact that they

aren’t wearing expensive

or designer clothes.

The smaller, secondary font is in a

‘courier’-type font, similar to that of

a type writer. Again, this has ‘punky’

connotations, linking to the band’s

musical theme.The text isn’t all in

line, again suggesting anarchy and

non-professionalism.

The band members are

very close to each

other, representing the

closeness of the band.

This is probably in an

ironic sense, as a lot of

mainstream artists take

themselves seriously,

and The Libertines are

just mocking

themselves. Again,

this links to punk

characteristics of

bands like the Sex

Pistols.

The photo on this

poster (and also the

album cover) is very

candid as if it was an

everyday photo – not

like it was done at a

photo-shoot.

Professional editing

hasn’t been used to

make the subjects look

more ‘glamorous’, but

instead basic editing

has been used to make

the photo look raw and

‘punky’.