Different Mastheads That Will Inspire Me To Create A Presentable Masthead

After researching different rock magazine mastheads, I have found out that most rock magazines use the colour red or black to emphasise their genre ‘rock’. This are the two colours I will be using for my magazine.

Front Cover Of A Magazine Analysis(Comparing)

These are two front covers of the same rock magazine(Kerrang). Kerrang magazine appeals to a specific target audience, who listen to alternative music such as rock and heavy metal. My magazine which I will create after my research and planning will appear to a similar target audience, but for those in sixth form who listen to rock and heavy metal.

Firstly, Kerrang’s masthead is similar for both magazine because Kerrang uses the same font for every magazine they have published since. So it will give the audience a sense of familiarity and they will recognize the magazine. The font used for the masthead is portrayed like a shattered glass which not only relates to the term ‘rock’ but for the artists lifestyles featured in their magazines. Also the main image also relates to the theme of a stereotypical rock artist. The artist is portrayed to be represented as a dark and mysterious character and he is wearing a dark shirt which is barely visible because its a close up shot of the artist. He also has on dark and green eye makeup which makes his eyes stand out more and look more frightening to readers because he’s giving the audience a direct mode of address. Also the main image  relates to the theme of a stereotypical rock artist.  Also the artist has dark black hair which fades with the setting which is the same colour. This is a stereotypical ‘look’ for a rock artist. In addition, the artist is also smoking but the cigarette isn't shown in the image but the smoke is, which relates to his rebellious theme Kerrang are portraying in this image.

On the other hand, the lead singer of machine head is an older artist compared to the other artist, and that is why he is portrayed differently. He has light brown hair which isn’t stereotypical of a rock artist. The typical definition of a rock artist would be the lead singer of HIM. Whereas machine head has an older look, however he does have a nose ring which symbolizes him being a rebel and his ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle. He’s also giving the audience a direct mode of address like the other artist. I have connoted that most rock artists give the audience a direct mode of address instead of an indirect mode of address. This shows rock artist want their readers or audience to be intimated by their look, this is shown on Machine Head and HIM’s facial expression. They are represented as frightening and rebellious at the same time. This makes readers interested. When taking photo’s for my own magazine, I would want my model to give the audience a direct mode of address.

Both magazines offer ‘Free Posters’ which is a typical convention of a magazine. This engages audience and allows them to avert their eyes to the free merchandise. I have used this convention for my flat plans and I would also use if for my final piece. Both magazines don’t have many cover lines which is one of the key elements I will use for my own magazine.

Content Page Analysis(Compare NME and Q)

These are two contents page from two different content page from two popular rock magazines(NME and Q). I’m comparing both content pages to help me with me when I create my own contents page.

Firstly, Q’s content page uses the same colour scheme throughout: red,black and white. Q uses this for mostly every front cover, double page spread and contents page they have ever published. This gives the audience a sense of familiarity and they would immediately know they are reading Q. The masthead ‘Q’ is at the top right hand corner of the contents page, that is there to remind readers what magazine they are reading.

NME also use a similar colour scheme as Q which is: red, black and white. The colour scheme relates with the rest of the magazine, because NME use this colour throughout like Q to also create a familiarity for their target audience( who are usually adults but with an exception of younger adults). The red text of the ‘Band Index’ stands out for the readers because it informs readers of the bands featured in the magazine with the page number next to it. Also NME uses bold lettering for ‘NME THIS WEEK’. This automatically tells the readers that NME issue their magazine weekly.

Q also uses this feature on the right hand side of the magazine but its in bigger font then NME and shows less bands. But its more clearer and easier for the reader to find the important articles Q listed. Q has also added a box ‘Oasis Special’, this connotes that the magazine is features more about Oasis, and they are the main image of the contents page. Also the box is a different colour which reflects on the title ‘special’. Also the contents page shows a long shot of the band Oasis standing on top of a hill. The image automatically connotes that they are a rock band because of the costume they are wearing, they are all wearing dark black jeans as well as different coloured T-shirts. By their costume, you can connote that they are a ‘laid back’ type of band and this again tells us they are rock band. Also the main leader is wearing a prop which is sunglasses which tells the audience that he wants to stand out from the band with sunglasses, and his hands in his pockets.

However, the other contents page doesn't use a band as their main image, but instead subvert that conventional feature, but show a old building instead. This might attract audience because NME use a different type of image, but it does say below its a ‘photo tribute to three decades of gigs’ which might interest readers.

On the other hand, Q has another box below ‘Oasis Special’, it says ‘Every Month’ which shows different games such as crosswords, then there’s another box next to it which says ‘Reviews’  which gives reviews on different books and music. Q features many things, and this shows its different from NME, NME who feature conventional things in the magazine such as ‘Subscribing’.

After analysing both content page, I would use Q’s layout and be inspired by it because it isn’t typical and conventional like NME but shows a variety of different articles not just about music.

Double Page Spread Analysis(Compare Q AND KERRANG)

These two double page spreads are from two different music magazines: Q and Kerrang. These two double page spread will help me to create a double page spread for my rock magazine. Both magazine have inspired me to create my flat plan so it will probably aspire me to create a simple double page spread.

Firstly, the double page spread from Q magazine has a simple and typical layout with the main image on the left hand side of the page and the article on the right hand side of the page. This is the type of layout I would use for my magazine because its conventional however I would add additional photo’s like Kerrang’s double page spread. Q has Lady Gaga on the left page of the double page spread which dominates the whole page rather then the text, which shows the audience a medium shot of her. Lady Gaga is portrayed as promiscuous and a ‘sex object’ because she exposes her torso however the metal chains does cover most of her cleavage. The artist wears little costume because this creates more of a male audience for the magazine, as well as a sexual image for the magazine(‘sex sells’). In addition, her hair style is portrayed as wild and eccentric, this reflects on the artists personality because in the media she is seen as wild and untamed wearing bizarre costumes such as the meat costume. However this would engage the audience and would be interested in her strange style.

On the other hand, Kerrang also has a simple layout but it adds different images of ‘My Chemical Romance’ on the bottom right and left side of the double page spread. Kerrang uses this formats in most of the double page spreads they have issued. The main image of the double page spread is the main leader of ‘My chemical romance’ which they have featured in the article. The main image is a low angle shot of the male artist, he dominates the whole page and this tells the audience he’s the main leader. He wears more clothing then Lady Gaga, his costume is a denim jacket, as well as denim jeans. He’s portrayed as a typical rock artists, wearing all black which reflects on their genre ‘rock’. His hair covers his entire face except for his mouth and nose, this again is a stereotype for rock artists but then again he’s looking down instead of giving the audience a direct mode of address like Lady Gaga. The props used in the image is a microphone and this connotes that he’s a artist.

The bold letter ‘L’ which is positioned in the middle of the article that covers most of the text, the ‘L’ reflects back to the style ‘Q’ uses on the front cover of the magazine. Also ‘L’ could stand for the artist Lady Gaga but Q don't usually use bold letters to cover the main article. This also makes this double page spread unique and different. This could be a new element they haven't added before. Also the colour scheme is minimal, with the black and white image of Lady Gaga, as well as the bold red letter ‘L’.

However, Kerrang also use the colour red for their sub-heading and for most of the text, this connotes that most rock magazine use the colour red because it symbolizes the term ‘dangerous’ as well as ‘rock’. I would use this for both my front cover of my magazine and the double page spread because its a conventional or typical colour used in rock magazines. Also Kerrang uses the colour black as the setting for the main image as well as the whole page. Black is also a common colour used in rock magazines because most rock artists wear black clothing, black eyeliner etc. I would also use this colour for my magazine, seeing as its typical.

Also, each image featured in the double spread of Kerrang has been edited to create a black and white theme like Lady Gaga’s image. The black and white theme also reflects on ‘My chemical romance’ style and their music. The colour red also reflects on their band’s style because red symbolizes red, danger and blood. The font used for the quote from their interview ‘‘We’re being the best MCR we can be!’’ which relates to their style again. The quote ‘We’re being’’ and ‘We can be’’ is in red whereas ‘'Being the best MCR’’ is in white and is in a larger and bolder font.

Both double page spread use different features, or similar colours on the page. Q has a more typical and simple layout wheras Kerrang uses a more complex format. However I would like to follow and be inspired by both double page spread’s. I would feature my artist on my double spread on the left side of the page, also I want it to be a medium shot. Also I would additional photo’s like Kerrang’s and edit it to reflect on my theme. Also I would issue the interview as the article as well as facts on the artist with extra news on top of the image.

Album Cover Analysis

I have decided to analyse and compare The Killers(Sawdust album) and Muse(Absolution). These two bands are usually compared to when it comes to their music. They’re genre of their album is rock which is the genre I’ve chosen to use to create my magazine. The target audience for both albums is an older audience with an exception of young adults.

The Killers album art is different then any other album they have done, they use a cut off arm which lying on a branch in the forest which is the setting of the album cover. The cut off is represented as a branch as well as a human arm, this allows the audience to be engaged because they are confused about the arm which looks like its part of the forest. Also the arm allows itself to blend with the trees and the branches, making it hard for the audience to tell if its a cut off arm or if its just a plain branch.

However Muse’s album cover is also surreal and different from their other album covers, this shows the audience that both rock bands are aiming to be unique and different. The album cover has religious themes in it because of the shadows around the main leader of the band which could represent ‘angels’ because of their body language, their arms are away from their bodies. The shadows appear to be ‘floating’. Also the album cover’s title is ‘Absolution’ which is a term related to Roman Catholic Churches, the defined meaning of ‘Absolution’ is ‘a remission of sin or of the punishment for sin, made by a priest in the sacrament of penance on the ground of authority received from Christ’. The main leader of the band is fixating at the sky, this symbolizes with the title ‘Absolution’, the high angle shot of the man connotes he might want remission from his sins and asking for forgiveness from God.

The font used in the other album cover(The Killers) is similar to the album name(Sawdust) and it also contrasts with the setting. The setting represents the season which was autumn with the leaves on the ground. However the font used juxtaposes with the setting, it looks more futuristic which again shows the audience that The Killers are unique adding two themes to the album cover.

On the other hand, the colour of the font Muse uses is white which symbolizes purity and innocence and this reflects again on the theme they have chosen which is religion.Also the band constantly use the same style of fonts for other albums they have produced e.g ‘The Resistance’. However this isn’t what catches the audience gaze, its the man who’s costume is mostly leather: wearing a leather jacket and leather trousers, he’s also holding a prop which could be a camera. He might have a camera because he wants to take a image of the strange people ‘floating’ or the thing he’s staring at above. In addition, the man’s facial expression’s look as if he’s scared and anxious about the thing above him. This makes the audience feel pity and sympathy for the man.

However, the use of tree’s, soft colours such as green,wood texture and the setting suggests the track list of their album would be peaceful and would consist of slow songs which contrasts with the album name and their band name. Sawdust is a dangerous object and this juxtaposes with the soft setting which then allows the audience to know that their will be lots of meaningful songs in the album and will be different then any other album they have done.

Mood Boards(Research&Planning)

My aim was to research as many rock bands I could find and to be inspired by them.

Also I found different rock magazines that will help me when I create my own magazine front cover.

Flat Plan For My Front Cover Magazine(ROCK PRODIGY)

 

The first one is the first draft of my magazine and the second one is the second draft and a more completed draft. I’m going to follow my plan, and take several photo’s in a medium shot for the sixth former(girl). I also want her costume to be a:leather jacket and black jeans and the props would be the sunglasses. I used advertisement to sell my rock magazine by using the words ‘FREE POSTERS’ because this would engage the audience and they would take the opportunity of having free posters. Therefore, I added additional photo’s with the ‘FREE POSTERS’.I also used quotes from interviews that will be issued inside the magazine, this would intrigue sixth formers(who are my target audience)  so they would be intrigue and want to hopefully read the magazine. In addition I used superlatives such as ‘AMAZING’ and ‘BIGGEST’ to attract the audience and so they would be excited. The masthead is different then any other magazine, the masthead has a ‘rocky effect’ also this shows my magazine will be unique. Even though the masthead is small compared to the main image, it still seems to grab attention with the ‘G’ and the fact that it also has ‘ROCK’ as the first word, the audience would automatically know this is a rock magazine.

My completed draft has all the typical conventions of a rock magazine because I used: skyline,barcode, main cover lines, cover lines, superlatives, interviews and plug. I need to improve my draft to make it more unique as well as adding conventions such as anchorage text to engage my audience more.

Lastly, I have done another draft for my front cover, however it is different from the other one, the other draft is more detailed with the main image, but this one has a different font with the masthead. The masthead’s are two different fonts and the second one is portrayed as plain and simple whereas the other one is more detailed. But the third draft has the typical conventions with the barcode&price, main image which is a medium close up shot, advertisement with additional photo’s, main cover lines, cover lines, superlative and skyline. Also the costume isn’t shown in the third draft like the second draft. Overall, after designing both drafts, I have to say the second draft’s masthead’s font is the kind of font I would like to use when I create my music magazine. Also, I’m going to use a leather jacket as a costume for my female model, as well as additional props such as sunglasses, I also want to use a guitar although it isn’t drawn in the magazine. In addition, I want to do an medium shot of the female so the audience would see the costume she’s wearing as well as the props.