UNCUT analysis

UNCUT magazine analysis

Front Cover

In this issue of Uncut magazine the magazines main story is based around Jimi Hendrix, who is an iconic musician and widely know. Uncut magazine is based around the genre of Brit-pop and rock, which is shown in the magazines construction. 

Masthead

The masthead of Uncut magazine is quite plain and written in a serif font says just "UNCUT" with it's placement across the full top of the magazine but starts on the left third, which because it have quite a defining serif look to it makes it obvious to regular readers which magazine it is . The masthead never changes from issue to issue apart from it's colour to tie into the house theme. The masthead like the other magazines I have analysed are quite bold but in one complete colour which gives a statement about the music and the front cover's design; it is rock/punk and Brit-pop.

Lead Image

The lead image if of singer-song writer Jimi Hendrix and it is a black and white photograph of him shot at a close-mid shot allowing the all facial detail to be seen. The photograph isn't extravagant nor enthusiastic but it is casual and fits in with the music and personality of Jimi Hendrix; smooth, calm and different. The shot allows you to see the clothing he is wearing. He is in a smart suit with a paisley shirt and a pocket tissue made of what seems to be silk. These clothes don't look changed or altered by the photographer therefore showing him as how he is in real life. Also in this image he is looking down into the camera and blowing smoke out of his mouth which implies he doesn't want to abide by the rules, and he won't.   

General

On the front cover you can obviously see the house colours are yellow, red and white (along with the black and white imagery). These house colours are used to enhance the cover lines which are placed either side of the lead image to not take centre attention from it. The lead line for Jimi Hendrix's article reads "Jimi's last trip, Woodstock and beyond". This has been written in the white and yellow/ gold which captures the attention of the readers and represents him as an iconic artists. Plus it is placed on the left third which allows it to be seen be the audience and it is likely to catch the eyes of Jimi Hendrix fans.

Uncut have made sure that this front cover is quite minimal to keep a very 'Jimi' theme of smooth and calm. They have added the lead lines in almost columns down either side in alternating colours of red, white yellow/gold which makes them blend in. Also which is a peculiar set up is the fact they have placed the masthead over the top of the picture, but in doing so they have managed to frame his face inside of all the lead lines, masthead and even the bar code. 

Finally in the top right hand corner they have placed a small flash box saying "Free CD" which grabs the attention of the readers to find out what freebie there is, but doesn't pull eyes away from the lead image. 

 Contents

The contents page is divided into one large image and the features, regulars and reviews section to the left of the page. The image shows another main article in the magazine and allows to readers to get curious about not only the lead article (DPS), but the one about Marc Bolan too. The division between the regulars and the features is made very clear by the fonts used to represent them both. In the feature articles they have used large numbers in grey and red writing which have a larger font to pull the attention of the readers to the main contents that is exclusively in this magazine. Plus the feature articles have a small amount of writing to almost advertise what they include. Then in the regulars they have been placed into a very small section which is stated as regulars by a small banner saying "regulars" in white against black.The regulars don't give a small detail about what they are, they only have a catch name and a page number scaled to the same size as each other which implies they aren't as important as the features. In the very bottom section of the left hand column they have coloured in a light beige box which is separated from the regulars by a small banner saying "reviews" and they have been set up in the same style as the regulars which implies that they are of slight more importance to the readers than the regulars.

At the top of the page they have made the heading of the contents page simple reading just "contents" which ties into the of the masthead being bold but simple. Plus in this contents page all the colours used for the writing tie into the house theme of red, yellow, black and white. Then to make sure the readers have the critical information of the magazines date and issue the have placed it right above the information in the top left column. 

The DPS is split up into two parts; one page filled by an image of Jimi Hendrix and the other has a a large title and a copy and underneath that the byline. This DPS of Jimi has a large image at a mid shot which allows all of his clothing to be captured from the waist up. He is wearing an eccentric outfit with lots of colourful accessories and clearly displays a gun in the centre of his chest inside a leather holster. This image is bright and makes him seem very free spirited and original which has already been implied by the other imagery of him, but this image more-so than the front cover's lead image emphasizes the idea of him not abiding to the rules and doing what he wants. Also you can see his posture and position in this image and he is standing with one hand on his hip and another on a different gun which makes him look smooths and cool, but strangely calm, and this representation fits into the type of music he used to produce.  

The title on the left page read "Cry Freedom" is both tied in with his song "Freedom" and the idea that he was a very hard working musician. Plus the imagery on the right page shows him looking very 'hippy' and as if he is taking a stand in the world. This DPS doesn't have many features that eye-capturing on the left hand side which makes the imagery they've picked stand out even more than it originally would. The main features of the left page is the colours of blues and blacks used to tie in with the photo and keep a colour scheme on the DPS, and the use of 'white space' to create a look of "freedom", white space does this well due to the idea people have of white being godly and a peace call. 

NME Magazine Anlysis

NME Magazine Analysis

Front Cover

The NME have a house colours of red, white and black like Q magazine, it is aimed at lots of different genres but mostly rock, electro and metal. On the front cover this is presented by the design of the page and the imagery.

Masthead

The masthead of NME is quite basic and just says "NME" in red writing. It is positioned to the top left below the banner and is profound and loud which directs the customers to believe it is a rock-type music magazine.

Lead Image

The Lead image is of Crystal Castles, a two person band with an original twist. The photograph is of the two band members on a white background, quite simple but powerful enough to be on the front cover, one is at the front (the girl) looking straight into the camera and one is at the back not joining eye contact with the camera, so this shows the readers who takes the lead role in the band. It is a medium close up and is angled at eye line. The band members are in a casual position but strange actioned position which captures them as unusual and almost punk-like. They are wearing punky clothes and one of the band members has brightly coloured hair which emphasises their punk attitude.

General 

The front cover has lots of cover lines placed around the outside of the page so that it doesn't crowd over the lead image and they are all in the house colours of red, white and black which keeps continuity. The lead line goes across the image at the bottom left side of the page in bright red bold writing and says "I've never bunched anyone who didn't deserve it" and underneath that it says that Crystal Castles are back for round three which makes it sound like a wrestling match, so that states what Crystal Castles are like (probably quite boisterous and loud mouthed). 

At the top of the page they use a banner which creates extra space to put information about the features of the issue, again in the house themed colours. And around the sides are also some flash boxes about interviews and freebies that can grab extra attention from the audience. 

There are quite a lot of cover lines displayed on the front cover in a loud style which implies that the music magazine is quite daring and fiery and this is done too because it is all in reds and blacks that jump out at you. Everything that isn't music or logo orientated like the bar code and the date are made small and almost unimportant, so this amplifies the fact that they want the attention to only be about the music. 

Contents Page

The contents page is presented on only one page. The features are all stated clearly by them having pictures tagged to the information about them, this makes them look a lot more important than the regulars, so that helps direct the readers to what is only present in the specific issue. And the regulars have been made very small and placed in a column named "Plus", in plain black writing and not much information given about them. It is not only the regulars that have been placed into columns, the whole page is separated by thin black lines which helps to direct the readers around it and give it more structure. 

The colours of the page are again the house colours red, white and black and they have used mostly black to cover the writings and headings, which makes it look solid and bold. And then used red for the feature numbers to make it clear where they are and also to direct the readers to where the more important areas of the magazine are. 

Also there is a flash box with a subscription offer at the bottom left corner which advertises them before a reader has opened the magazine too far, so this could attract the attention of people who may have only been browsing too. 

Double Page Spread

The double page spread is of Crystal Castles. The photograph is of the two band members in the same stance as the lead image on the front cover. The girl is in front of the guy and she is looking directly at the camera and the guy isn't, which makes it clear which member has the lead role in the band. And yet again the lead member is doing a rebellious action to add character to her status in the music industry. The image takes up half of the double page spread (one page) and the other page is filled with a huge title  saying "twisted firestarters" with backwards letters. All of this is presented on a white background and because the lead image is bold and they have bright colours presented in their clothing it works well and grabs attention as people flick through the magazine. Also the title twisted firestarters is quite a big statementing title, so that grabs attention of the readers too. 

The colours that the band members are wearing has been tied into the text so that it keeps the whole article looking punky and like the artists personalities, so to the readers this would look appealing and not overdone with both house colour AND  the artists colours. 

At the bottom of the page next to the page number they have kept the date and the name of the magazine, but this time it is written in black so that it can tie in with any type of article.

Q Magazine Analysis

Q Magazine Analysis

Front Cover

Masthead

The masthead of Q magazine is a very well known logo/ masthead. Every issue is kept exactly the same and to the same house-colour theme; red, white and black. They keep it constant and in the same place; top left corner. Which gives a solid statement about the magazines status; respected, popular and well designed. 

Lead Image

In this issue of Q magazine it is an image of the band Muse, which is shot as a medium close up, which is angled low so that they are looking down at it and placed in a stance to help that, which gives them this dominant like status to the readers/observers so readers can expect that they are big in the music industry even if they haven't heard of them. They have also been dressed in dark clothes that are not over the top, which also blend in with the background of the lead image; starry sky, or space, so it makes them seem smart, but with a dark twist to them that helps hint to their music too.
The picture in the background is of space or a starry night, so it makes the picture what it is because it makes them seem quite mysterious and as if they know what they are doing and they do it well (music wise).

General

Along with Muse on the front cover there are a few cover lines and a flash box, these all kept in the house style colour though to keep continuity in the design and are either right to the bottom of the page or placed in a banner along the top right so that the lead image isn't interrupted by lots of other stories/info. They are mostly just in writing with tasteful borders to breakup the stories, not many are actually put into a flash box or a banner, but even the two that are, they are placed in the house colours and kept refined to the top and bottom of the page. 

Although the lead image has taken up most of the page and there is quite a bit of detail about the contents of the magazine, it doesn't look crowded at all which is to do with the colour of the lead image; it is dark but still powerful so it lets the other colours stand out around the side which almost separates it and keeps it spaced and professional. 

Contents Page

With Q magazine the contents page is spread across two pages and has the features and regulars going across both pages. Each feature story has it's own image linked to it to which emphasises that it is a main article/ feature in the magazine. It is presented on a white background and his its house theme colours of red, black and white throughout and uses them selectively with the writing to give it structure. It is all broken up into different sections with borders to that helps with the structure; the images/features are bordered of tastefully with a thin line and there is a completely separate border between the other features and the cover story. At the top of the left page it states that it is the contents page clearly with black writing saying "CONTENTS" and underneath it adds the logo "Q" with the date of the magazine, which also appears at the bottom of each page next to the page number. Also  to keep with the house style it uses the same design of the logo "Q", red background and white writing with the page numbers next to each content. 

Double Page Spread

The double page spread is evidently Muse that is presented with a photograph of them which covers two thirds of the page. The photograph is at a low angle again but is showing them from a long shot so that you can see them from head to toe, looking down at the camera in a stance and spread apart from one another. They are looking down at the camera with confidence so it amplifies their status in music and because of the size of the image it will attract the readers attention compared to the other articles. 

The writing is placed on a black background too so the writing looks bold and courageous, mainly it looks courageous because of the font that was chosen; basic letters with a 3D affect added, so it looks springy. 

Although it is the cover article Q magazine have still stuck to the house theme colours of red, black and white, so all the writing is orientated around it. But they have added unusual fonts and shadowing which links in with the artists (Muse's) music/genre. 

In conclusion to what I have said above, Q magazine keep a very clear house style throughout the magazine and make it tie in with the articles that they have in the issue. The magazine is very well designed and the photography is suiting to the type of artists and style of Q magazine.  

Magazine Inspiration

Magazine Inspiration

The images/logos/double page spreads are what I would like the use as my inspiration for my magazines design. Of course I will not completely stick to what I have presented above, but it will be a guide to what I will do with my magazine. 

I want my magazine to be tasteful but have a lot to offer with information about the music genre of my choice, also giving it a groovy swing to it would be something I would like to include. I have chosen these especially because of the layout, the way the fonts work with the imagery and the colours.

Audience profile

Audience Profile- My official magazine

This is my audience profile for my magazine that I have made from a survey I did. The information above is going to guide me to what sort of music magazine I am going to make, though I will adjust some aspects, but within region. 

The audience profile is set up in a theme to fit all the genre responses I got, I didn't crowd it with colour and too many images or text and I made sure that it tied in most with the top three genres. Once I had narrowed down the feedback I got from the responses I also added some images that were not from the survey, but from my own opinion on what people would like.

This audience profile will give me a clear guidance to what my magazine should include, how it should be orientated with the music and audience, and what genre I should use for my music magazines aim etc. 

Mojo Magazine Analysis

Analysis of MOJO Magazine Front Cover

Front Cover

Mojo is a music magazine with the main aim of classic rock but also soul and blues. It usually focuses on the greatest artists of the genre and likes to keep a legendary look to its house theme; bold writing, classic photography and a ‘cool rock’ layout. The analysis is aimed at the front cover, which is where the above features of the magazine are most profoundly presented.

The Masthead

Mojo magazine has a very basic masthead that doesn’t have a set colour because it changes depending on the lead photograph; the masthead is ‘MOJO’ and in small writing has ‘The Music Magazine’ goes through the middle of the letter ‘J’.  In this particular issue the ‘MOJO’ is in a profound white and ‘The Music Magazine’ in grey because the lead image is in black and white. This so that it doesn’t draw attention away from the lead image or change the colour scheme that is chosen for the issue. The readers that like this magazine are interested in the music it aims at, so enjoy the fact that the magazine has a low profile masthead compared to some magazines and like the emphasise the artist and not the magazine.

Lead Image

The lead image in this issue is the band Led Zeppelin, it is photographed at a long shot- low angle presenting them standing up and looking directly down at the camera; this makes them look serious, dominant and powerful to the readers, especially because the background is made to look like they are on top of a building in a city. The choice of black and white emphasises the seriousness of the band, but also because of their status in music they look ‘old school’ and ‘classic’ and not scared of what they are doing. They are dressed in heavy boots, casual hair, minimal accessories, jeans and black upper body wear. The lead artist is placed at the front and is wearing a leather jacket which makes him seem courageous and backed up by the other two. They have not been over-dressed or changed from their normal/casual clothing  because they are a classic band and the readers of MOJO magazine don’t want to see them transformed into something else, they want to see them as who they are and hear the music they play, not change them.

General

The front cover of MOJO magazine in this issue is packed with what is included but is kept to the sides of the lead image to make sure that the main attention stays on it (Led Zeppelin in this case). The cover lines that surround the edges of the cover are either written in red or are highlighted in it along with part of the lead line so that it keeps to the colour scheme. Most of the front cover is presented enthusiastically but not in a childish way; not too many flash boxes or changes in colour, which implies that the target audience is probably late teens and above.

The cover lines are not in great detail and are mostly just shown by the name of an appearing artist in the magazine, which I feel is because the audience that read this magazine are looking for the artists they enjoy and will more likely pick up the magazine if they recognise a name, so because they only put the name on the front cover you can fit a lot more of them; which then creates a bigger audience for the magazine, so more sales and profits. 

Music magazine is from here up!

                           

Representation and self representation

Motley Crue: Self presentation

The Motley Crue have presented themselves as hard rockers who can do what they feel and get whatever they want. They have made sure they look intimidating and strong, but still fun party-like animals who have a good time wherever they go.
They have made sure that the women are seen as obeying and passive of what they do, so that they are seen to be a dominant figure. They also think highly of themselves and probably think people want to be like them and live their life.

College Magazine Flat Plan

Contents plan

CD Flat Plan

College Magazine- Contents Page

College Magazine- Front Cover