Francisca Opoku: 2011

Bass down low reader's profile

Josephine also known as 'Jo' is 25 and absolutely love hip-pop and r&b because it inspires her to be who is she is now including her fashion sense, friends and lifestyle. She is a ‘girly girly’(loves make up, loves clothes, loves shoes) who lives with music 24/7. When she is not listening to music is out looking for the latest clothes on sale from her favourite music artists. She always wants to be the first to get what music artists wear. She works as a fashion journalist so it isn’t too hard for her find what she’s looking for. She listens to music every day: immediately she wakes up, in the bathroom when bathing and to work and back home till she falls asleep. Her home shelf is packed with music CDs, Videos and Albums which she isn’t willing to dispatch some. Since she loves dancing hip-pop just seems to be the perfect choice for her to enjoy herself whenever she feels like. Beyoncé is her inspiration since she is an R&B, fashion designer and choreographer herself, so she looks up to her. She passionately loves Usher (KING OF R&B) and loves Missy Elliot. She always says she will one day budge into the music industry and pursue a career but for now she will stick to her fashion journalism.

I aim my magazine to be a unisex magazine which will appeal to both males and females form ages 14-30. I will include all types of genres of music although I myself like R&B but will still manage to catch the attention of my readers like Josephine. Fashion, music gossip and all types of music artist would also be involved in order to convince and persuade the readers to buy the magazine because they would want to read about their favourite music artists or music. Josephine will definitely be attracted with the front cover I intend to make. She will be attracted when she sees the front cover in purple, light blue, red or beige and when the fonts are typed in sans serif. She will also be attracted to the cover-lines which I will include such as ‘Beyonce: the latest hit breaker’, she will be interested in reading it.

Denotation

The magazine cover consists of black and white image of a topless young man staring and pointing directly into the camera. It is a medium long shot where we can only see the head, arms and waist. He is standing in a stern posture with his finger pointing directly at us through the camera. The background of the image is plane white but has coverlines in hot pink, gold and black. These colours have been used uniquely yet still manage to catch attention. Behind the man is the Vibe masthead and in front of her are 4 coverlines and lastly a barcode at left hand corner of the magazine.

Masthead

Vibe’s masthead is very characteristic in a solid hot pink. It has neither outline nor shadow, its just solid which shows focus. It’s perhaps trying to convey its message acutely. The texts are written in sans serif font. Vibe is not only about music artists, but also about actors and other entertainment. I believe it’s mainly about music because of the word ‘VIBE’ itself, it is simply the feeling or sense people feel especially in music.
Character

The cover photograph is of a very successful American artist known as ‘Akon’.

Composition

He is posed in the famous “I want you” poster of the U.S government. It’s probably suggesting that he wants to listen to his music or music in general. His pose and body language is very grim and straight to the point. He is also topless which will be another technique that will gain audience
Costume
There is little clothing in this image. He is only wearing jean pants which are lose so there is an exposed of in-boxers showing. He is wearing a chain which says Akon Konvict; the ‘konvict’ was his successful second music album which was nominated for Grammy award. He’s also wearing a designer belt which has a big hook. This costume has been chosen carefully to appeal to the target audience who could most likely be males although females aswell.
NVC
His non-verbal communication is also very commanding yet could be seductive too. He is also looking directly into the camera.
LightingThe lighting is very optimistic aswell as high key, although it’s quite impossible to tell if the photograph was taken during the day or night. He could be standing infront of a stage or background.
Setting
There is little setting. The white plain white background suggests that the photograph was taken at a stage.
Cover-lines
The main cover line that relates to the photograph says: “Akon: The last hit maker”. This is making a reference his pieces of music he did before the image was taken. The pieces debuted in his konvict album (released in November 2006). The Konvict album was very successful and took number 2 position in ‘The Billboard 200 and also in the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums’. The different cover lines tells us that this magazine concentrates on different types of music genres such us R&B and Rap, yet also focuses mainly on music although Robert Rodriguez is a film director, producer, editor and musician. The other names written are names of other music artists and rappers.
Target audience
The target audience of this magazine are most to be males although females aswell. It is perhaps aimed for young males between the ages of 15-25 as well as young females also. It is because young people will be interested in raps, pops and r&b more like, which is a very popular culture of America.

Denotation

The magazine cover is in a coloured photograph of a woman staring directly into the camera. The image is a medium close-up only showing her head and arms. The background of the photograph is white and the image covers perhaps over 60% space the magazine cover. Behind the woman’s head there is the ‘Vibe’ masthead which and infront of her are the cover lines. The woman’s name is written in black and pink and also a barcode visible at far left side of the cover.

Masthead

The ‘vibe’ masthead is very representative in light baby pink. There are no outlines and the font is in san-serif. It’s clearly visible that the there are no joining up of the letters, they are individual. The letters are even mixed in lower and upper cases. Although the word vibe is originated from the feeling of music, this magazine is not only covering music performances or artists but also actors and actresses like Kevin Hart and Zoe Kravitz who are some of the famous actors in the movie industry. Fashion is also presented in this magazine.

Character

The cover consists of the photograph Kelly Rowland who is one of the most famous yet a successful American singer in the music industry. She is a former member of the famous destiny’s child group.

Composition

She is posed in a very evocative and seductive way with her arms crossed, covering her naked ‘boobs’. Her body language and pose are sexually suggestive as she is naked.

Costume

There is very little clothing as she is naked.

NVC

Her mouth is opened displaying her white teeth and she is looking directly at the camera at us. Overall her NVC communication comes across as very seductive.

Lighting

We do not know if the photograph was taken during day time as the background is plain white which shows that it could be just a contextual/ background.

Setting

There is little setting. The white plain background suggests that the photograph could have been taken at a photograph stage.

Cover-lines

The main cover-line that relates to her photograph says: “Kelly Rowland: finally bares all” it means that she has finally taken confidence in her body and poses naked for vibe magazine to promote her album ‘Here I am’ which has been very successful. It has spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The different cover-lines tell us that this magazine doesn’t focus on one genre of music and neither does it focus on only music neither, but It is rather diverse and a variety. Amy Winehouse’s name is also presented; she is also one of the biggest selling English artist who died this year in summer. Adele is also an English singer; therefore the magazine is notonly based in the U.S.A but also in the UK.

Target audience

The most likely target audience would be females though males aswell. It probably aims at young adults from ages 16-25 years who are fans of Kelly Rowland and also the other names written on the magazine cover. They would also have good knowledge and interest in music.

Denotation

The magazine cover is in a coloured photograph of a woman staring directly into the camera. The image is an extreme medium close-up only showing her head up to her chest. The background of the photograph is light baby blue and the image covers more than 70% space of the magazine cover. In front of the woman’s head there is the ‘Rolling Stone' and masthead and so are the cover-lines. The woman’s name is written below in white . There is no barcode.

Masthead

The ‘Rolling Stone’ masthead is cahracteristic, written in serif font in red which has black outlines and shadow. It’s clearly visible that the there are joining up of the letters. The letters are organised: from upper cases into lower cases. Most importantly the font is similar to the 'coca-cola' company which connotates american culture.There was an English band named'the rolling stones'. This tells us that this magazine doesnt focus on one aspect only but is diverse. The phrase 'rolling stone' itself was originated from the rock and roll' life styles/ reputation of musicians who had used the phrase in thier music.

Character

The cover consists of the photograph Adele a successful British singer.

Composition

She is posed inno seductive or evocative way. Although we can barely see her body composure, herfacila expression tells all. The emotion on herface is quite mysterious. As her lips are opened a little bit and she is staring directly into the camera at us. There is probably a hidden meaning behind that expression of hers-perhaps she wants us to buy the magazine to find out.

Costume

The costume is hardly visible as her hair is coveering it. But we can quite see that she is wearing a black coloured outfit.

NVC

Her mouth is opened she is looking directly at the camera at us. Overall her NVC communication comes across as mysterious.

Lighting

The background lighting is shady blue almost coming across as cloudy. It connotates that photograph was taking during a cloudy.

Setting

The photograph could have been taking outside or it could have been also set on a background stage.

Cover-lines

The main cover-line that relates to her photograph says: Adele heartbreak superstar. She is the new english hit maker who was the first to recieve the brit award critic choice and is already the heartbreak queen because she said that she makes her music for ears not for eyes and that the least she worries about is how she looks. The other coverlines on the right focus on pretty much tv programmes and not necssarily music. Therefore it means that this particular magazine is not really focusing on music but focusing on drama. Even the main Adele heartbreak superstar headline also focus on her dramatic life.

Target audience

The most likely target audience would be females, young females who are fans of adele and also fan of some of the tv programmes seen at the right side. They will be between the ages of 15-20 years.

Denotation

The magazine cover is in a coloured photograph of a woman staring directly into the camera. The image is a medium long shot, showing her head up to her thighs. The fonts are written in beige, black and blue whereas the background colour is white. The image covers vertically 60% space.

Masthead

Behind the woman is the Blender magazine masthead which is characteristic in beige.
The ‘vibe’ masthead is very representative in light baby pink. There are no outlines and the font is in san-serif. It’s clearly visible that the there are no joining up of the letters, they are individual. The letters are even mixed in lower and upper cases. Although the word vibe is originated from the feeling of music, this magazine is not only covering music performances or artists but also actors and actresses like Kevin Hart and Zoe Kravitz who are some of the famous actors in the movie industry. Fashion is also presented in this magazine.

Character

The cover consists of the photograph Alicia Keys a successful American soul singer in the music industry.

Composition

She is posed in a very evocative and seductive way with her arms crossed, covering her naked ‘boobs’. Her body language and pose are sexually suggestive as she is naked.

Costume

There is very little clothing as she is naked.

NVC

Her mouth is opened displaying her white teeth and she is looking directly at the camera at us. Overall her NVC communication comes across as very seductive.

Lighting

We do not know if the photograph was taken during day time as the background is plain white which shows that it could be just a contextual/ background.

Setting

There is little setting. The white plain background suggests that the photograph could have been taken at a photograph stage.

Cover-lines

Target audience

Francisca Opoku

Wednesday, 7 December 2011

Double page Spread

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Content Pages

Monday, 21 November 2011

Music magazine front page ideas

Profiling audience

Sunday, 20 November 2011

Surveys about magazines

Sunday, 6 November 2011

Moodboard

Tuesday, 1 November 2011

Contents Page Analysis

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Music magazine research

Monday, 17 October 2011

College Magazine

Monday, 10 October 2011

Introduction