TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF EXISTING TEXTS

Task: Do a textual analysis using media terminology of TWO existing music magazines, similar to what you

would like to create.

VIBE

Front CoverMASTHEAD- The masthead takes up majority of the top of the page , in a large, bold and white font. It also sets the housestyle for the magazine.

COVER LINES- The cover lines present additional features to the magazine. This is used to attract the target audience, as the audience do not only look at the main image but other features as to which they would want to read inside the magazine. This creates a houstyle and professional look Thy are presented in bold black fonts, to suggest the importance. The bigger and bolder the font, the more significant the information.

MAIN IMAGE- The main image is usually of the person/band in which the magazine has a major article about. This will be the greatest and biggest selling point and creates a overall theme and mood for this issue. This image is very plain, which may have significant connotations of simple reading, without anything to complex, it may also convey the magazine only including important and significant information.

BARCODE- This is conventional and is displayed in every issue of a magazine

SELL LINES- this is the second biggest font on the page, so therefore the audience may see this directly after the main image and masthead. The sell lines are in black and therefore yet again conveys significance to the article, and suggests this will be the main article, normally on the first Double Page Spread.

COLOUR(BACKGROUND)- the black ground and colour theme is black, white and blue. This suggests both male and female audience. It also conveys the magazine speaks for itself.

ContentsCONTENTS TITLE- This keeps the house style. As a conventicle feature the readers are then aware of the information to be found on this page and the unique layout of the word ‘CONTENTS’ are broken up into three lines, this then adds a ‘edge’ to the page and helps suggest the ‘unique’ style of this magazine.

LAYOUT- The simply layout which uses the Rule of Thirds, to keep the text to the right third and the image to the left third. The layout allows all the contents features to be visible to the readers.

MAIN IMAGE- The position of the singer is placed left of the page. The image is simple, and the stand up position conveys resentfulness jut like the genre of this magazine. The only use I of colour on this page, I when a arms comes over the front of the singer and hodles what looks like a hear, to the left of his body. This reinforces the no-hearted look to the magazine.

CONTENTS LIST- is very simple and to the point, with very little use of subheading. On this page, there are only two subheadings, which are categorised into significant groups. This again sets the housestyle throughout the issue. The lack of colour normally would look boring however in this genre of magazine, the plain colours and fonts suggest maturity and seriousness .Therefore the target audience may take this approach when reading this magazine.

Double Page Spread (DPS)

MAIN IMAGE- the min images on this Double Page Spread, covers the whole right side of the DPS. The image is very clear and the singer is holding her hand to her mouth, with may convey there is a secret with in the article which is important. The singer is looking directly towards the camera and therefore the image is a mid shot.

LAYOUT- The layout is yet again simplistic, and helps convey the maturity of the article, with not signs od childish features of immature font or colours. The layout is very spatial and avoids any contact with overlapping or any form of disorganisation. Both text and images are clearly identified from one another. The subheadings section each part from one another, in order for the readers to understand and know what they are reading about. The subheadings also helps highlight key information.

BACKGROUND- The background consists of greys, blacks and white, which yet again suggest the maturity of the article.

COVER TITLE- The cover title of the article helps give vital information to the reader, and informs the reader what the article is going to be abut.