Magazine Language Analysis

Example taken from Q Magazine, interview of Plan B

ANY OTHER PROJECTS ON THE PIPELINE?

"I'm working with an English singer called Delilah [not to be confused with French chanteuse Sophie Delila, who he recenly appeared onstage with] She's fucking amazing.

• Fairly open ended question
• Varied sentence lengths
• Use of swear words
• Lexical Field of music
• Use of brackets
• Opinion
• Facts
• Conversation seems friendly - long answers instead of one word answers

Features that could be included

•  Emotive language
• Pronouns
• Introduction about the appearance of the artist
• Promotion
• Informal
• Use of varied punctuation

Font Audience Feedback

UNCUT

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This is the font that my audience chose out of the four options. I do really like this font because it is contemporary and simple. It successfully portrays style and tune to the text in the flow of the curves. It is a unique style of font and should therefore be easily recognised by the audience.



Magazine Name Font Analysis

UNCUT

I quite like this font because it is simple, and slightly contemporary. The curls add a sense of style to it. I may use this for my magazine because I think that is successfully portrays style and tune to the text in the flow of curves.

UNCUT

I like this font because it is simple, clear and modern. It would be easily recognisable as a brand font because of its block colour and bold style. However it does not really portray the idea of a music magazine.

UNCUT

 I really like this stencil style font. I think it looks contemporary and bold. The style of it means that it would be recognisable and unique to differentiate between other music magazines. I may use this.

UNCUT

I really like this font. I think that the black and white outline around the text and the style makes it look ‘cut’ out. It has a stencil effect, and is stylish and bond. I think it is similar to the style of font used on the ‘Rolling Stones’ magazine and has an appearance of class. It is recognisable and will be unique in the reader’s eyes and portray not only music, but style among music.

My Music Magazine Name Choices

Shuffle – iPod phrase/variety

Uncut – not edited, includes everything

M – Stands for music

Wire – headphone wire

Icon – music icon

Amplified – music term, amp, exaggerated

Encore – play again, concert phrase

Interval – musical interval, break in a concert

411 – American phrase meaning gossip

‘Uncut’ is the magazine name my focus group chose.

Music Magazine Names

Music Magazine Name & Connotations:

·         Heat – ‘hot’ news

·         Now – current news

·         Look – you’ll see what you want to see/easily remembered

·         Instyle -  up to date

·         Glamour – tackier edge/fashionable/clothes off

·         Shout  - loud news

·         Mizz  - teenage/youthful

·         Rolling Stones - music

·         Vogue – high fashion/glamorous/fashion houses

·         Kerrang – guitar term/reflecting sound/font

·         Q – from Men’s quarterly/unisex/opulence/answers/forming a queue/worth 10 points/difficult letter/unique/musical Q

·         Cosmo – 21^st century name/handbag size (A5)/diverse content

·         Elle – feminine/for women/French for ‘she’/positive/beautiful

·         NME – changed name/contemporary

·         Woman’s Own – just for women/relevant content

·         Nuts – body/sexuality/outrageous

·         FHM - for him magazine/radio

·         OK – accepted/up to date news/positive

·         Hello – speaking to the reader/

·         Closer – closer to lives of celebrities/relationship

·         Pick me up – easy to pick up/

·         Grazia – posh/glamorous/opulence

·         Tops of the Pops  -only the best music/positive connotations/younger audience/radio + tv show

·         Take a Look – look inside for news/gossip

·         Bella - young beauty/Italian culture

·         Men’s Health – just for men

·         Smash Hits – 70’s phrase/hit music of time/charts

·         Woman’s Weekly – just for women/will have relevance

·         Country Living – information relevant to living in the country/help make your life better

·         Horse and Hounds – upper-class/related to hunting

·         Red – ‘hot’ news/easy name to remember

·         Marie Claire – for women/glamorous sounding/delicate

·         Radio Times – upper class connotations/

·         You  - information just for ‘you’/something everyone will be interested in

·         Bazaar ­ - glamour/opulence connotation

·         Gentlemen’s Quarterly – 4 times a year/

·         Lucky – lucky to be able to read this news

·         Shape – health related/can help, encourage you to get in shape

·         Nylon ­ - fabric of fashion/fashion main contents

·         Vanity Fair – opulent connotations/fashion/upper class women

·         Newsweek ­ - news weekly

·         The New Yorker – a magazine for people living there/relevant topics + information

·         Yorkshire Life  - relevant to readers who live in Yorkshire/improve your life there

·         Good Food  - the magazine will only be relevant/decent/positive connotations

·         Good Housekeeping  -life improvement/self-help/positive connotations

·         Bliss  - positive connotations

·         Diva – attitude/youthful

·         Playboy  -for men/sexual reference

·         Entertainment – energetic/relevant content

·         Empire ­­-  grand/opulent

·         New York – city stories

·         People -  for everyone/about everyone

·         Reader’s Digest – digest information given to the reader

·         Jackie - big sister/for younger audience

·         Forbes ­ ­- upper class connotations/appeals to men/wealth

·         Private Eye – contemporary/political events/view of what is going on/alternative opinion

Magazine Research Analysis

The style of music magazine I am going  to re-create is the style of 'Rolling Stone'. I like the vintage style of this magazine and how each issue appears to have a colour theme. The main image on the front cover acts as a background and there is only a pale colour behind the image or non at all. The cover lines are kept brief - neat and tucked to the side separated by lines. 'Rolling Stone' tends to shoot images for their front covers in a raunchy, sexual style and this striking style really attracted me to the design of the magazine. The style of magazine is basic and therefore there is nothing to distract the audience from the main image.

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Q Double Page Spread

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Q Double Page Spread

　

　

There is a border around the article going over the gutter of both pages.

The border which goes around the article is creating cohesion between the two pages. The pattern of it goes all around the edge yet the main image on the left overlaps it showing the dominance and power of the photograph.

　

The whole page conducts a negative, plain white background.

By giving the article no colour for a background and simply using a negative white, it makes the feature appear clean, fresh and modern. The text and the main image stand out against this somewhat boring background, and therefore it gives the image the attention of the article.

　

The main image on the left has been cropped.

The main image is cropped at the legs and it overlaps the border at the bottom and the top. The powerful stance the artist is photographed in represents the artist herself. She is posing in a seductive manner, and wearing very little clothes - this radical appearance reflects the artist and her music. The artist is wearing one of the main colours featured - black - this contrasts with her skin and the background making it stand out vividly to the reader.

　

The only three colours featured are red, white and black.

The combination of these three colours is featured throughout the magazine. The red is the brand promotion of the identity of the magazine and is the main colour which stands out over the two pages. Q wants this colour to be a constant advertisement and reminder to the reader that the magazine they are reading and have chosen to purchase is Q.

　

The statements the interviewer makes are in red, capital letters.

The statements are in red so that they stand out and by using capital letters the reader can distinguish between the statements and the answers of the artist.

　

The article is set out in three main columns with no full stops at the bottom of them.

By arranging the interview in columns it makes it easier for the buyer to read as a full page of text can be off putting. Breaking it down into short paragraphs makes it far more approachable as a piece of writing everyone will want to read. By not ending with a full stop at the bottom of the each column it means the reader has to go to the top of the next one to continue reading the article.

　

The website of the magazine is on the bottom left of the right hand page.

The logo is featured three times over the double page spread. Q does not want the reader to forget they are reading and enjoying their magazine. By placing it where the article concludes it makes it the last feature the reader sees before they turn the page.

　

The magazine logo is in the bottom left corner, bottom right corner and straight after the full stop which concludes the article.

By featuring the website it is another way of Q showing they are up-to-date with the media and the most recent events. They are advertising yet another way the reader can get involved with the magazine and feel a personal connection to the writers and its contents by explaining how they can easily subscribe.

　

　

The pull quote is centred within the article in the middle of the right hand page underneath a thick, red strip.

After the reader has first noticed the main image the feature that stands out most on the right hand side is the pull quote in bright red capitals underneath a thick, red strip. By showing the pull quote they have chosen central to the article it makes the buyer want to read the interview - the magazine will tend to choose one of the slightly more outrageous or enticing statements from the interviewee to feature as a pull quote to encourage readers to read on.

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Q Contents Page

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Q Contents Page

　

　

　The magazine logo is in the top left hand corner on a red strip - the issue number is on the right hand side.

The magazine logo is brand promotion - they do not want the reader to ever forget they are reading and enjoying their magazine. The strip is red which is the same colour as the logo and as it goes over the gutter of the magazine it creates a sense of cohesion between the two pages. It is a thick strip and is bright compared to the plain white background therefore, the reader’s eye is drawn to it. The shade of red is a sign of brand identity.

　

There is a large photo on the left hand side with a page number written on it larger than the other numbers.

By making an image dominate the left side of the two pages it is showing to the reader that the artist featured in the photograph is included as one of the main articles in the magazine. They have placed this image on the left side as this column of pages is headed ‘Features’ therefore these stories will be individual to this issue and might be slightly different to their usual content. The photograph is the same shade of red as the logo therefore it is achieving cohesion with the brand identity of the magazine. By making the page number larger it is showing it is one of the main articles and a longer, extra special feature.

　

The pages are listed in columns with red lines between each one - on the left hand and right hand side of each page.

By separating the columns into ‘features’ and ‘regulars’ it is showing to the reader that the magazine is consistently bringing out different articles to their usual issues and featuring more ‘special’ stories to other competing music magazines. The brand identity and cohesion is once again featured by using red lines to separate the page numbers and their stories.

There are smaller images with larger page numbers pulled out from the list.

The page numbers that are larger than the others and placed on small photographs are showing the reader that these articles are features of the magazine and are therefore longer, more important or on the front cover. For example the Lady Gaga article - she is featured on the cover and by placing an image of her on the contents it means the reader could skip straight to reading her article as some buyers may often just purchase the magazine for the cover stories.

　

Next to the issue number there is a small version of the front cover with a page number on it.

By featuring a smaller image of the front cover next to the issue number it is used a reference for the reader to pick out if they wish, the main cover stories they would like to read first (maybe). The contents page is about advertising what is contained within the magazine and the layout appears busy and the page is made full of text and images to show the reader just how much is featured in the magazine.

　

The date and page number is in the bottom right hand corner.

By placing the date and the page number in the bottom right hand corner it is showing that these pieces of information are not the most important features of the contents.

　

The text on the page is considerably smaller than the images featured and the headlines of the columns are in bold and capital letters.

By using photographs of features within the magazine the page is made to look full and appear exciting to the reader. The titles of the contents are in bold and capital letters - against the white background this makes them stand out and therefore it is a quick one or two word summary of the articles within the magazine. The contents page is clear as some readers may have only purchased the magazine for something advertised as a cover story and wish to find where it is in the magazine quickly.

　

The main colours of the page are red, white and black

The combination of the three colours featured (red, black and white) are considered chic and appear up to-date and modern. By contrasting these bold colours on a plain white background without leaving a lot of negative space helps the text and the images stand out more. By only using these three colours it creates cohesion over the two pages.

　

The website of the magazine is on the bottom left of the right hand page.

The logo is featured three times over the double page spread. Q does not want the reader to forget they are reading and enjoying their magazine. By placing it where the article concludes it makes it the last feature the reader sees before they turn the page.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Q Front Cover

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Q Front Cover

　

　　

The magazine logo is a white capital Q on a red background and is in the top left corner.

By using a large white capital ‘Q’ on a red background it makes it stand out - the red colour is all about the brand promotion of ‘Q’. The red is a strong part of this front cover and is therefore a constant reminder of the magazine you are reading. By having the image overlapping the logo it is showing that the brand itself is well known enough to be covered slightly and still recognisable to the reader.

　

The photograph that is the main image is taken at a long shot angle.

By taking the photo at this angle it gives the whole image a sense of domination - the stance of Jay-Z is very severe and powerful, representing his position in the magazine and the music industry itself. The three artists photographed are the three main cover stories as they are the main focus of this issue of the magazine. By overlapping advertisements and cover story headlines and quotes over the image it shows that the artists are well-known and recognisable by the readers.

　

The barcode, issue number, date and price are in the bottom left hand corner.

By putting the barcode, issue number, date and price in the bottom right hand corner it makes them out of the way to the reader. They are not an important part of advertising on the front cover, therefore not a lot of focus is brought towards them.

　

The cover’s main colours are red, black and white.

By having this combination of colours as a theme on the front cover it gives it a sense of cohesion. The red is apparent all over the cover - by being the same shade as the red of the logo it is another form of brand promotion. Red, white and black are considered to be quite chic colours and together portray a modern, up to-date look. This combination of colours shows the reader that Q will be up to-date with everything that is going on and that the features of the magazine will be relevant to recent well-known events.

　

Along the top there is a strip advertising the main article in the magazine.

By advertising in a black strip along the top of the magazine it draws the readers eye towards it as it immediately above the main image. The strip is black and therefore contrasts well against the plain, white background. Attached to the strip is a star shaped box with ‘Exciting People’ written in black, block capitals. By using this type of advertising and including small segments on what is featured within the magazine it makes the reader want to buy it so they can read on.

　

There are three cover stories on the left hand side of the magazine in capital letters.

The three cover story headlines are in red, down the left hand side of the magazine. These sections of text run alongside the main images of the artists featured. The red again connects the page together and achieving cohesion. The red also contrasts against the white background.

　

The background is plain white.

By having the background plain white it has a very modern, clean effect. The simplistic background means the other features on the cover needn’t strive to stand out and catch the reader’s attention to want to read within the magazine. The red and the black contrast violently and therefore the cover seems bright and energetic. The ‘chicness’ of these three colours combined creates a modern, stylistic effect.

　

The headline quotes from the main article are in black.

The headline quotes being in a black text not only mean they stand out against the background but it means the reader can differentiate between those and the headlines of the articles. The quotes are snippets from the interviews (in this case) and therefore by choosing exciting parts of the interview it makes the reader want to buy the magazine as they will want to read the rest of the interview.

　

There is a red circle saying what else is featured in the magazine at the right of the cover overlapping the main image.

By making the circle red it immediately stands out to the reader and it is advertising an important feature of the magazine therefore it needs to be made one of the first items the reader will look at on the page. It is advertising how many reviews are within the magazine - the number will draw the reader in as it sounds large. By displaying these extra features in an exciting they are just more simple means of advertising what is within the magazine and trying to grab the reader’s interest before they have even opened it up.

　

　

　

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Kerrang Double Page Spread

Denotative & Connotative Analysis of Double Page Spread - Kerrang

There is a border along the top with the band name.

The border along the top with the band name is not only to advertise the band but, because it goes over the gutter of the magazine it creates a sense of cohesion between the two pages.

The whole page conducts a plain silver background with white and black writing.

The plain silver background exaggerates the subject and the main image of the band. It is not too fussy and reflects the content of the article. It is showing the laid back, simplistic attitude the band has about their careers as it mentions the lead singer (Matt Bellamy) sees no separation between the band and their audience – no hierarchy.

The image of the band is large, and stretches across the gutter of the magazine. The lead singer is slightly in front of the other two band members, and he has his hand on his blazer in a strong stance.

The large image of the band is what your eye is first drawn too on this double page spread. By stretching across the gutter of the magazine it creates a bond between the two pages. By showing one member of the band slightly in front of the other band members it shows that that person is the lead singer. By making him pose with a firm stance and his hand on his blazer it gives a sense of power. The expression on their faces is stern and reflects the sincerity that goes into their careers.

The headline of the article is in white capital letters fading into grey.

By putting the headline of the article in this font it makes it stand out on the grey background. The contrast of the text on the plain background enhances the cohesion as the three colours are modern shades.

The title of the article also stretches across the gutter.

The title of the article is in a swirly, classic font and covers the main image – this again achieves a sense of modernity and cohesion.

The beginning of the article opens with a drop cap on front of a star.

By opening the article with a drop cap it immediately draws the reader’s attention towards the beginning of it. It separates it from the main image and is in the bottom right hand corner. By not ending the section of text with a full stop it means the reader has to turn the page to read further.

There is no negative space on the pages.

By not having any negative space on the page it keeps the article flowing and does create a sense of cohesion and modernity. With the clean lines of the border and the effect of overlapping the gutter makes the reader read on.

The size of the font of the text of the article is considerably smaller than the other text on the page, in black.

By having the text of the article considerably smaller it shows that there is going to be a lot to say about the band. The large fonts are to grab the reader’s attention – when the article has the attention all the reader has to do is start reading the smaller text of the main bulk. The larger text performs an eye-catching job and the article text is there simply to be read for a purpose.

Denotative & Connotative Analysis - Kerrang Contents

Denotative & Connotative Analysis of Contents Page

There is a picture at the top of the page of a crowd and a singer pointing the microphone into the crowd.

The picture of the crowd shows that this is an article which is going to be in the magazine and makes the photograph look energetic and exciting making the reader want to read it.

It says the word ‘contents’ in large, capital, yellow letters with the same sort of cracked effect through the text. There are yellow small titles within the list of the contents in the same style. There is a black band in the middle of the page showing the name ‘Kerrang’.

This contents page is all about pushing the brand name of ‘Kerrang’ and using cohesion in the text as often as possible to link all these ideas together. The yellow is a theme on this page and links all the different stories together.

There is an editors letter and a photograph of the editor in the bottom left hand side within a strip of negative space.

By including a short section on the editor it makes the reader feel involved in the magazine, and gives the contents a personal touch.

The page names and numbers are listed in four columns.

The page names and numbers are in columns because this is how the articles are laid out within the magazine therefore this is linking the contents as a main part of the magazine.

The lower half of the contents page is white, with black and red writing on it.

The colours yellow, red, black and white work together quite well and create a sort of grunge, rocker look to the page. All of the colours blend together to create a flow of consistency.