Two tone is the latest ska magazine aimed to attract an
audience of people interested in what is happening in the world of ska and what
has happened. It will play host to articles and reviews from all ages of ska.
Ska is a long running genre that has a lot to talk about and a large audience because
of ska’s established heritage.
The magazine front cover is rather simple to the eye. The masthead is white like the lead image to create a house style for the magazine and make it look like it belongs together as one. Also the heading is really bold and goes across the whole page. The heading is the first thing we see. The left third has the "mi" which is their distinguishing part which will allow their readers to spot it easily among others.
The writing on the front goes around the image and is rather small. Unlike most magazines there isn't loads of cover lines covering the front cover this suggest that the readers of the magazine will buy the magazine no matter what is inside. This also suggest that the magazine is for a selected audience who have a high interest and knowledge of dance and clubbing music.
Contents Page
The magazines contents page is on two separate pages which are not side by side but are on the reverse of each other. This helps the magazine to separate the different sections easily. However on both pages the date of the issue is on there and so is the mixmag logo.
On the first page they always have a large image which takes up the majority of the page and is in a neat rectangle shape. The first page has a column called "VIP" Everything in the column is in small writing with the page title in bold and the short caption not. This is so the readers can easily find what they are looking for. Also the fact their are hardly any images on this page suggests that the readers are more interested in the writing and gaining knowledge about this subject than looking "right".
On the reverse of the page is the second contents page. In a similar way to the first it has a large image which takes up a lot of the room but it also has two others. All three images are full of bright colours so they contrast against the black background making them stand out. This goes with the clubbing theme.
Just as the other page had the sections "features", "fashion", "tunes" and "don't stay in" are slighly bigger than the page names which are hold and have small captions underneath.
Double page spread
Mixmag does not consist of many double page spreads but when they do they all have a similar style to them with the artist taking up about a page, a big bold title and about half a page of text.
The large image makes the artist look important and shows that the readers know a lot about the artist featured in the magazine this is why the artist's name is not clear and obvious. Also it may suggest that image is more important to the readers then writing would be.
The title is big and bold this draws our eyes to show that the title is important to the article. The headline is also short and snappy but has a a short paragraph underneath which briefly explains what the article is about and creates interest for the readers. Also the artist's name is in bolder writing that the paragraph which make it stand out so that people know who he is.
The main body text may not take up much room but this could also be to do with the fact the text itself is rather small. This shows that the article is straight to the point. I like this because readers can get easily distracted when reading long text but this article is straight to the point so they do not get distracted.
Plan B is
represented as someone who is anti-authority and likes to go against the rules.
He is also represented like a thug and someone who is different.
He
is represented like this to appeal to the target audience of NME. It appeals to
the target audience because the readers like to be different from the normal
and are against authority, being told how to look, act and what to be like.
The
fact he is swearing in the image shows he is trying to be anti-authority
because it is not what you would normally see on a front cover and isn't seen
as politically correct as small child may see it. Also the fact the finger is
close to the left third, the part you normally see when magazines are displayed
helps emphasis this point.
The
image is a close up of his face and hand; this shows that they wanted us to
look at his hand and face clearly with no distractions. The fact his hand is
the size of his face shows this is the most important part of the image which
we can see because it shows him going against the normal and saying no to
authority.
Another
thing that shows clearly he is trying to stand out and appear threatening is
the lead line. “David Cameron… Be very afraid”. The ‘Be very afraid’ part of
the line shows that NME were trying to make him appear threatening and possibly
violent which suggest there readers would be interested in this kind of behavior Along with a point I have previously made the fact the lead line
threatens David Cameron, our prime minister, emphasis's the fact he does not want
to be told what to do and is very anti-authority.
Contents page
The magazine's contents page is called "Inside this week". This makes the magazine instantly unique and different from other magazines. Also the contents page is laid out the same in every issue which gives the magazine a house style which is easily recognized Every issue has one large main image in the center of the page and five or six smaller ones round the outside.
Every image has a pull quote in bold writing and a short caption explaining what it is about underneath. I think this effective because it instantly grabs the readers attention and draws them into the article making them want to know more.
Also the page numbers on the main images are big and bold this makes it easier for the readers to find the pages quick and simply. However not everything is big and bold, the "Plus" colummn is rather small and has no pictures on it this shows that NME do not see everything at the same importance.
Double page spread
NME have a variety of different double page spreads per issue. They usually are a couple of double page spreads with the first spread being mainly an image of the artist and the heading with a small paragraph.
However I liked the "Not your average sleepover" double page spread because they use the colour green to go with the colours in the images. The green is used for the main line to make it fit with the rest of the spread. For their drop cap's which highlight important parts of the main body text making it easy for readers to see the main parts. They use the green for the pull quotes to make the stand out and allow readers to easily see them. Green is also used for the "You live where...?" Section to again make this stand out as something different and unique to this page.
Also they use a variety of interesting images which make up a montage at the top of the page, this makes the images look eye catching and unique. Also because they are all together it means that they don't have to write captions for every image so it does not look over crowded with text. Where they have used captions they have kept them really short with the most being one sentence.
The front cover is busy with lots of writing and text on it. All the text is in block capitals which make it seem like the magazine is shouting at the reader. It is done like this because it links with the genre of the magazine. Also it shows that the magazine is passionate about what they are writing about this is why the want to shout about it. This also shows the readers are interested in what they have to say.
Most of the masthead is cover by the artist on the front cover but we can still tell straight away what the magazine is because the left third is easily recognized The reason it is easily recognized is because it is clear on every copy of the magazine. The left third is obvious on every magazine because it is the part of the magazine you see when they are displayed in a shop. The left third is always the distinguishing part of a masthead.
The header is white with splatter marks on it which are removed. This links with the artist on the front cover because they are a rock band. The header also has the bands logo on the corner of it this helps the readers to understand straight away who it is about. The image on the front is also an easy way to recognize who the artist is because the image is clear. The artist has red curtains around him this goes well with the house style of the magazine and connotes theatre which is what the lead story is about.
There are small captions by every photo these are only a few words or a very short sentence. This is done so that the readers understand what the images are of and why they are there. The captions are in block capitals like everything else on the page. This is to make the stand out and easy to read.
The flash box on the magazine is in a bright yellow colour which stands out clearly on the background. This is done so that it grabs the readers attention. However I don't like the look of it on the magazine because it makes it feel cheap and unprofessional but it does go with the style and the rest of the front cover. I think the colour shouldn't be so bright and it smaller so it doesn't overlap the part of the masthead.
Contents
The contents page is rather simple. With a large image taking up the majority of the page. The masthead from the front cover is also on this page at the top with the word contents next to it. This gives the magazine a style and a sense that it all belongs together. Also the colours red, black and white are prominent throughout.
The image on the left is large and takes up a lot of room this shows that the magazine is more about looks and imagery then writing. Also the image goes with the recurring colours of the magazine.
The pages are split up by subheadings which are bold. This makes it easier for the readers to find what they are looking for. Also it highlights which sections you can expect to see in the magazine in every issue. The story titles are all the same size and colour this makes it seem as if everything in the magazine are of the same importance.
Double page spread
Again with the double page spread the idea that imagery is more important than the writing is prominent. The images have small captions made from short sentences which highlight the reasons the images are on the page. The house style again is still obvious on the double page spread because the colour red is used a lot. This helps to make the magazine feel like it all connects together.
The main body text is all of the same size. This shows that everything is important and that it is all linked together. However the T at the begin of the text is larger meaning it is a drop capital. This is used at the beginning of the text to enhance the look of the page and show where it begins clearly.
The pull quote is in bigger writing than the main body text this is so it stands out. I think this is a good idea because it looks really effective as it can instantly grab the readers attention.
ØDisturbing photographs of people who are injured,
ØBlack and white writing with blurred edges,
ØNon-diegetic sounds of
screams and scratching,
ØLots of handwritten
writing in the books,
ØLots of handwritten
writing in the books,
ØFingers has plasters on the ends,
ØCrossed out writing and images,
ØSlow threading of the needle and the string has blood
splattered on it,
ØLots of books,
ØPieces of hair placed carefully in the books,
ØYou don’t actually see the person
Connotative details
ØThe Quick
cutting and flashing is used to show the fast paced action and to make the
audience feel confused/ disorientated. Also the flashing may suggest that it is
someone’s life flashing before them, so suggesting murder is prominent in the
film.
ØEverything
being old fashioned suggested the character wants things kept the same and does
not want change. This is also used in the setting as it looks like it is in an
old fashioned cellar so it would be difficult for someone to escape which
creates a trapped feeling.
ØThe
disturbing images suggest the person likes this sort of thing and the film is
about what he does to them.
ØBlack and
white writing with blurred edges gives the feel of a horror movie because it
suggests distortion.
ØThe
non-diegetic sounds of screaming and scratching suggest that someone is in pain
and wants to escape. It also suggests that the person is not where they are by
their own will.
ØThe fact
there is a lot of handwritten writing in the books suggests that the writer is
passionate about what he is writing and wants people to know about it.
ØThe use of
red connotes danger.
ØThe slow
threading of the needle suggests precision while the blood in the string
suggests pain and injury.
ØThe fact there
are lots of books show the person is very passionate about what they write and
has lots to talk about. This suggests that they has hurt/ murdered a lot of
people.
ØThe pieces
of hair create a weird feel, they make it seem like the person is obsessed with
the person or is proud of the fact they have the hair.
ØThe fact
you never see the person shows they are very important to the film but are
hidden from the other characters knowledge. This suggests he is a murder.
The Motley Crue represent themselves as amazing, important people who can get whatever they want. We know this because they walk straight up to a man and chuck a knife at his table to get him to move. This is also done to show they are intimidating. Another way they try and be intimidating is when they get really close and in the face of the public watching the women. They drive through the streets on their bikes with people looking at them. They also think they are attractive because one of them tries to seduce the camera in a similar way to how the girls try and seduce them.
They represent girls as sex objects and toys they can just have when they want. They do this by being in a strip club, having half naked women dancing on poles and stage. They also pick up and carry one of the women.
50 cent represents himself as an amazing guy who all the girls love. He suggests he has lots of money by wearing a massive jacket, having a big, expensive car. The fact he wakes up at the end and see's it all as a dream suggest he has the dream life.
50 cent represents women as sex objects because they are all in very revealing clothes and all look seductive. They all flirt with him and do things for his enjoyment and pleasure. Also he calls the house a candy shop which suggest he has tried them all and he can have what he wants because he can afford them all.
