Q issue 284 contents page analysis

For Q magazine it seems to be conventions to clearly name each magazine by its issue number. On this contents page it clearly says at the top 'Issue 284'. I do not think I will be copying this convention as I don't think it is a factor that is essential. The layout of this page is a blocky format - however the pictures have been laid on canted angles as if to be popping out of the page. This makes the page more eye catching and unconventional. I like this approach to the blocky layout, this makes me want to rethink my initial idea of doing a completely image dominated contents page. Finally the small detail added to the bottom right corner of the page is a key detail. I like how the page number, issue and date have all been put together in this corner as it adds extra embellishments to the page. I am definitely going to do something like this on my magazine pages as it helps to make the product overall look more professional.

Update on initial ideas for front cover

This is my updated version of my initial idea for my magazine front cover. I have use the conventions I have picked up from analyzing the other magazine font covers and applied them to mine.

Mojo contents page analysis

This contents page is left justified, all the pictures are on the left side of the page and all the writing begins on the left as appose to the right when it is on the right. This layout makes the condense page look clear and concise making the information easy to view and interpretate. This is known as the "blocky look"; unfussy and masculine.
For my magazine I think I'm going to use a more image dominated look as I don't think the blocky format goes well with my genre as it looks too formal and boring. I would refer less of a minimalist approach and make it more fitting with the front cover.

The top contributors have been shown at the bottom of this page. This is a convention of contents pages - they usually show a bit of insight to either the writer of an article of a photographer.
For my magazine I think I will copy this convention as I have noticed it have been used in most contents pages of music magazines crediting the contributors.

A three colour scheme has also been used. The three colour scheme is perhaps the most common convention of any magazine as it is just generally more aesthetically pleasing. Too many colours and it looks tacky and too busy.
I will definitely be using a three colour scheme through my magazine as it is a classic convention. I might however consider using a house colour as it is iconic and recognizable.

The font used is sans seref this means it has no flicks. This is fitting to the masculine vintage vibe of the magazine, Flicky writing just looks feminine, like a little girls neat hand writing.
For my magazine I think it is too soon to decide my font as I will decide in when I choose my model as I think with feminine models more seref font is used and with males more sans seref is used.

The used of the dotted dividing lines are there not only to make the page clearer but there little things just add to the overall look of the page it looks alot more professional with there's thoughtout dividers.
I will be using these when I make my contend page as they are conventions of a contents page and I don't think it would look very professional without them.

Initial front cover layout ideas

This is my first sketching of my initial ideas for my front cover layout. Soon I will be posting a more detailed mock up!

50cent contents page analysis

This contents page is image dominated with a huge picture of 50cent taking up majority of the page space.
I like the more image dominated contents pages however a blocky look can extremely effective as it is clearer to read and contains more information. House styles can also be shown clearer in a blocky format.

The actual image itself is cleverly show it has been with narrow focus so all detail is shown - especially in the hands - the aperture is also fully open to let in large amounts of light and show shadow. A low angle is normally shown to make someone look powerful however in this shot 50 looks quite guilty. 50 is normally shown covered in 'bling' and surrounded with beautiful women - not here though this shows a more serious side to him, completely stripped down and bare. This applies to the story "coming off the LOSES of a crew member and a sales battle". He is posing with his hands together as though he is praying - religious iconography is all throughout this photo. The lighting applies to this in the sense it looks like a halo from above, this combined with the guilty look his giving, makes him look like a fallen angel.
In my music magazine I think I will use some kind of iconography as I think its a clever technique that makes the whole page initiatively linked together in one semantic field. However although the religious iconography used here is good and applies well to the artist and story I am doubtful I will use this theme as I'm not planning of making my article as down to earth as serious as this.

The text "is he still a menace to society?" Is a good use of a rhetorical question as because it draws the reader in thought intriguing them to think what's he done to make me change my general stereotype opinion.
In my magazine I am going to use lots of rhetorical questions as I think they are a useful way to express the magazines opinion through sarcasm without directly saying what they think. 'Sitting on the fence'.

Forever blogging

Love the Lana Del Rey covers - thinking of styling my model like this

Lana Del Rey Q and NME front cover analysis

For this analysis I have decided to do it a little different then before. Instead of analyzing the covers separately I am going to compare the two magazines. Both magazines feature the same cover star and are aimed at around the same market and music genre.

 To begin obviously the same model has been featured on the cover but how she is presented is almost entirely different. Both Q and NME have chosen to dress her in a white dress. The connotations of white are purity and innocence – If you’ve heard any of Lana Del Rey’s music I’m sure you’ll be thinking ‘innocent’ isn’t quite the word you’d use to describe her. Ignoring the face of both magazines the first impression is that it is an innocent ‘teen pop’ star. However interestingly both have chosen to add some kind of edge to the look; Q have dressed her in typical innocent princess attire. The tiara has specifically been used, as she’s a princess, a queen has power and is an established woman, a princess is seen as a spoilt perfect girl how gets what she wants. However they subvert this stereotype by her having blood down her face. This intrigues the reader as they see it and wonder, “What’s happened here?” This image of her is very much in key with her music – slightly grim and depressing. Fans of her could see this side and potential fans would be interested by the image and want to read on.

NME has chosen to instead of have her looking still innocent they have presented her in a strong dominating pose and pulling a face to the camera like she really doesn’t give two – she is also stood in front of the American flag. This is an iconic image normally connected with presidents (the most influential people in America), this is fitting to the headline “The true face of a modern American icon.”

 For my magazine I may use symbolism like this to show insight into the artists tastes. I like the idea of subverting the stereotypical image and connotations associated with a princess.

 Both Articles refer to sanity in some way through the headline

NME “I’m a psycho!”

Q “Everybody’s mad for Lana Del Rey”

This refers to her twisted music, the sound of her music is very soft and gentle but like most songs if you listen to the lyrics properly you’ll find it has a completely different meaning. The titles reflect this well, it is a connotation for music magazines to play on the artists lyrics or personas, puns are normally found here – more so in tabloid papers than music magazines.

For my magazine I may use some kind of lyrically reference in my headline but only if I think it will apply well. I will NOT use of if it is cheesy or made to fit. If it is too long to fit on the cover it could be put to better use on the double page spread.

 The colour schemes are although entirely different though: Feminine vs. masculine. Q have stayed true to the princess concept and played with the stereotypical pinnacle of femininity – pink. Soft pastel colours have also been used with the conventional three colour scheme. NME have however chosen to use a soft pastel blue as their main colour. This challenges the conventions of what is deemed as feminine.

 For My magazine this will be useful as it shows any colour can be conventions can be successfully challenged. However in both of these style models pastel colours are predominantly used, not sharp colours like electric blue.

 Finally the last point of comparison is the placing of things. On NME the model is behind every piece of text, she is almost completely covered in text. Whilst Q seem to have a more thought out layout as she weave through and over the text.

 For my magazine I prefer the Q approach, as it overall looks classier, although the NME looks more edgy and exciting I think perhaps its slightly too cluttered.