Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Double Page Spread

Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Double Page Spread

Colour scheme:  The colour scheme used in the double page spread is left simple and formal as the image also look relaxed and this goes well with each other.

Image:  The image is the main source on these two pages and it shows the purpose of the page, but without confusion it would have been much easier if some of the text on either side could have overlapped on to the image or the image could have been more bigger which would fill in some of the space on the other side of the page, this would have made it clearer that both pages are related to each other.

Subject name: The subject names are shown in different colour on the magazine double page spread.

Quotes:  In the magazine double page spread there would be often quotes taken by the person getting interviewed and this would be sometimes placed under headlines, pictures etc.

Headline:  For this double page spread, unlike other magazines which have there headline placed at the top of in the middle, the headline for this is places at the bottom left hand corner. The headline may not always relate to the information on the pages but could be a song written quote.

By-Line: A by-Line is where the editor’s name is placed some where on the double page spread and also the photographers

Columns:  There are mainly 2-4 columns placed on a double page spread

Strap Line:  A strap line shows what the subject is about and its also placed either the top or the bottom of the page.

Codes and conventions of a Magazine Contents page

Colour Scheme: The contents page uses the same colour scheme as the front covers so that it doesn’t look to colourful as it all relates to the same theme.

Mix: Content pages have many features on it such as pictures/photo, the heading and textboxes and these can be up to 2 pages in total.

Columns:  Content pages in magazines usually have columns so that it is easier and quicker to find information

Main Image: The main image relates to the magazine and also the front page.

Other Images:  Content pages also have smaller images which are sometimes put right next to a page number and the text which shows you a sneak peak of what the text is about using an image to show this.

Masthead:  The masthead would be placed at the top of the contents page in a smaller version as it is on the front cover of the magazine.

Title: The contents page would also include a title called ‘contents’ so that it would show the audience where to find what is in the magazine. The contents page includes many things such as the issue date, contact information, the web address, the pages numbers, Images and much more.

Categories:   The categories would show the regular features in the new updated magazines as well as the new which would be only shown once in the issue.

Text boxes: There are many text boxes which sometimes comes in columns and so one of these would use a word or two which would stand out to the reader mainly using a bold text and capital letters.

Sub-lines:  The Contents page also uses Sub-lines which is usually used in a smaller font size than the sub-heading and this shows us a clearer description of what the sub-heading is about.

Background: The background doesn’t use a lot of colours so that the reader concentrates more on the text.

Codes and conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

Codes and conventions of a Magazine Front Cover

Masthead (Logo): The Masthead which is called NME represents the whole magazine. It is big, bold and uses capital letters which makes it stand out and it’s the first thing you would recognise as it looks unique from other magazines. The masthead is also the logo which is good for advertising and more.

Dateline: The dateline is usually printed near by the price of the magazine so that we no for sure that the magazine is updated with the correct information and price.

Main Image: There is a single Image of the famous singer Rihanna also with an unreal bird which is sitting on her shoulder. The image is clear as we can see her face all the way down to her waist and the singer is also looking directly at the camera giving eye-contact.

Cover- lines:   The NME magazine uses many different cover-lines using the main colours it has chosen for the magazine front cover. The cover-lines are distributed at the corners of the magazine so it doesn’t interfere with the main image to much. One of the cover-lines ‘world’ are the same colour as there backgrounds and this should be changed as it clashes the colours together and takes time to figure out what the word is.

Main Cover-line:  The main cover- line ‘Rihanna’ stands out the most because it looks large on the magazine and takes up a lot of space, it is placed in the middle so we know what the cover-line represents which is the image and this promotes the singer. The cover-line works well with this magazine as it doesn’t clash into other similar colours but stands out and is also clear to read.

Left Third: The left third of the magazine is important because when it is shown on stands in a shop the other half of the magazine may be covered and so the masthead and the cover lines must be clear to stand out when trying to sell with much more other competitors of different magazines in the way.

Bar code: The bar code is placed at the bottom right hand corner which is at a good standard.

Selling line:  The selling line is not that short or long  and says that it is a new NME which would make the audience want to buy the special edition of the magazine because it is nothing compared to the old version as it says ‘ Introducing the new NME 4 of 10  special edition covers’.

Website link: The NME magazine doesn’t state the website on the front cover.

Moodboard

Textual Analysis of Front Cover



Textual Analysis- Rolling Stone Music Magazine Front Cover

Denotation:

The magazine Front cover shows Wiz Khalifa a music artist, only looking straight forward at the camera with one eye as the other is closed. The photograph of him is a close-up shot as it shows his head and shoulders. The background colour of the magazine is just plain white which makes the coloured photograph of Wiz Khalifa stand out as it covers most of the magazine cover. At the back of Wiz Khalifa’s head shows the masthead called Rolling Stone, and on the right hand side of the magazine there are five separate cover-lines using the colours red, white and black. Wiz Khalifa’s name is placed at the bottom of the magazine under one of the cover-line in white with a black outline.

Masthead:

The Rolling Stone’s masthead uses three colours which are red, a white outline and black for the drop shadow. A serif font is used and all the lower cased letters are joined up except the first capital letter. The font used is also used for the famous ‘Coca Cola’ writing. The words ‘Rolling Stone’ means ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss’ it is also a band name which are very famous and suggests that it has all of the connotations with a phrase in the past. A lot of musicians have used this phrase that had a reputation of having rock or roll lifestyles. The magazine is easily told to the audience that it is music based as the rolling stone name is used.

Character: The cover photographed is of the famous achieved artist Wiz Khalifa.

Composition: Wiz Khalifa is just looking straight at the camera with no posed movements using his hands or body structure but only using his face for the job.

Costume: Wiz Khalifa is wearing a brown leathered jacket with a white collard T-shirt which is unbuttoned showing his tattooed neck as the photograph of him shows only his head down to his shoulders. He is also wearing jewellery, a gold chain round his neck and a pair of gold/silver earrings and this shows us his sense of style and fashion and to finish it of a small afro with a strip of blonde down the right hand side of his hair.

NVC: The pose he has made on his face shows one eye closed and his mouth wide open; this shows us his sense of humour and characteristics.

Lighting: The lightening is high key which makes the photograph stand out.

Setting: There is no setting as the background is just plain white.

Cover lines:

The cover lines that stand out the most are ‘new faces 2011’ and Wiz Khalifa which suggests that the new artists of 2011 are out and so Wiz Khlaifa was used for the magazine cover because he became famous in 2011. The Magazine is not only based on Wiz Khalifa but other music artists that are mentioned on the other cover lines such as Lenny Kravitz who is an American singer- songwriter. It also includes other information such as the cover line that says ‘Teens Dreams’ and this could be written because the magazine is based on the teenage audience. Another Cover line says ‘Hip-Hop’s Rookie of the year and this shows us the latest news and music. All the cover lines uses different colour, font and size to give it a good effect to attract young adults.

Textual Analysis of Front Cover of a Magazine

Denotation:

The magazine front cover shows a music artist called ‘Kanye West’ as he is looking straight at the camera. The camera angle used is a close-up shot as it only shows his face and a bit of his shoulders. The background colour of the magazine is a light grey colour which makes the photograph of him stands out. At the back of Kanye West head is a masthead called ‘VIBE’ and there are also cover lines beside his head, the colours used for this are pink, blue and black. The main cover line that says ‘Kanye West’ is coloured in pink.

Masthead:

The masthead ‘VIBE’ is blue, big and bold to attract the reader’s eye. All the letters are in capital. The ‘VIBE’ magazine is one of the biggest music magazines in America as it was essentially the black version of ‘Rolling Stone’.

Character:

The cover photograph is of the rapper ‘Kanye West.

Composition: Kanye West is just looking straight at the camera showing an emotion to his face.

Costume:

He is wearing a grey and blue baseball jacket as it only shows the top part of his shoulders

NVC: Kanye West looks very serious in the photograph as he looks very deeply into the camera as if he is concentrating on something.

Lighting:

The lightening is not that bright or too dark.

Setting:

There is no setting as the background is plain.

Cover lines:

The Cover lines that mostly stand out are ‘Kanye West – I am rap’ which relates to the photograph also it shows what he does as an artist which is rapping. It also has a big ‘50’ and the cover line says ‘ + his 50 greatest songs (and 10 to delete) ‘ this shows us varieties of his greatest raps which are all in the magazine. It also includes other music artists on the cover lines such as Britney Spears who is a singer, Colin Munroe who is a singer- song writer, and a record producer, Smokey Robinson who is also an American R&B singer- song writer and record producer, Smokey Robinson who is also an American R&B singer, Jay Rock known as an American rapper, The dream who is an American R&B singer and lastly Antoine Faqua a American film director.

Target audience:

The Target audience for the music magazine is of both genders from teenagers to adults with an interest in R&B.

College Magazine Contents page

College Magazine Front Cover

Introduction

My name is Vanessa Adetunji-Owusu and I am a student at Christ The King College. The subjects that I study are Media, Graphic Design, English lit and lang and Textiles. The media coursework for this project I am doing is research in doing a music magazine. I have made this Blogger to show my teachers and other students my finished work.