Analysis of front covers

Rolling stone magazine, front cover analysis

The front cover of this magazine, features a masthead. The masthead is covered by the person on the front page, this suggests the magazine is well known as half of the title is covered up, suggesting the audience knows the name of the magazine.

The person on the front cover is in darkness and has his hood up, this adds suspense which engages the audience. He is also looking at the audience which makes the audience feel as if the magazine is targeted directly at them. The house style consists of three colours, grey,white and purple. By sticking to three colours the magazine looks more professional and less busy. The headlines are shown all on one side of the magazine this separates the person on the front cover from the headlines, although the biggest headline "eminem" overlaps the picture, which allows the audience to know that this headline links to the picture, if they didn't know who he was.

Rolling Stone is a U.S based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture, it falls into the genre of pop and rock but also focuses on Indy and alternative music. The magazine is published every two weeks.

Rolling Stone magazine was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is the editor and publisher.      -This information was found from wikkipedia. The masthead shows a source of identity. It allows the magazine to be recognizable too the audience.

The magazine is dark, this puts a negative effect on on the magazine. Although the artists shown fits in with the darkness of the magazine and the negativeness of the cover. "looks back on the darkness of the edge of the town" this is a negative headline, the word "darkness" conveys this.

Although the magazine doesn't mention drugs or alcohol, the subject on the front cover has been involved with both of these things this has a negative effect on the audience, as they are meant to look up to the subjects shown on the covers on magazines. Although the cover story is "Eminem's way back form hell" This suggests he has turned his life around, this may  encourage the audience to do the same.

I think the magazine is aimed at people from the age 14-25, i think this because the subject on the front appeals to this demographic. I also think they are C2-E social class as the price of the magazine is around £2.00, also the stories on the front cover would not appeal to people of a higher class.

The artists that are shown on the cover "eminem" and kayne west" appeal to younger students. The subject on the front cover has his hood up, this is seen to be "cool" so this magazine may appeal to people wanting to gain social respect.

The stories on the front cover give the audience an escape from everyday life. Therefore will appeal to people looking for a diversion.

The artist on the front cover is shown negatively as his hood is up, and we cannot see the whole of  his face. His face is also dark.

Magazine billboard, front cover analysis
The masthead of this front cover is placed at the top of the page, in the middle. It's the first place the audience is drawn to. It also stretches across the whole of the page, right from left this is because the audience reads right from left.  The Red conveys danger, this links with the cover story "my fans don't know who i am." She also has a gun tattooed on her back, this adds to this idea. The subject on the front cover is looking at the audience this makes them feel as if the magazine is targeted directly at them. The house style colours are red,yellow,black and yet. The pun "RE-invention" is used because the sound re is said at the beginning of Rhianna's name.

Billboard was founded in Cincinnati on November 1, 1894, By william H. Donaldson and James H. Hennegan. -This information was found on Wikipedia.

The red colours could mean love and passion, but they could also mean danger. Her mouth being open, and the red lipstick conveys seductiveness. The colour of the magazine is rather dull, this conveys negativeness, also the gun tattoo showed shows this too.

I think this magazine aims at a Target audience aged 14-25, this is because the artist on the front cover also aims to this target audience. This magazine aims at classes from C2-E this is because classes higher than this would not be interested in a magazine of this genre. This magazine also provides a diversion from everyday life for the readers.

The artist is showed seductively, the red lipstick and the artists mouth being open conveys this. Red represents danger, this ties in with the gun tattoo showed on her shoulder.