The colours used throughout the cover page, red, black and grey, all

have very dark connotations, the audience may associate these colours
with: blood, mystery, darkness etc. On the contrary, the crisp white
background used has positive connotations; people may associate this
colour with purity, innocence, rebirth etc. Furthermore, the
connotations these colours foreshadow the seriousness of the articles in
the magazine; the main article focuses on Eminem becoming clean and
getting his life back on track after his dark past.

The image used for the cover image isnt used to relate to what Vibes
target audience would aspire too, necessarily, instead, it is used to
directly relate to the main feature of this issue of Vibe. Furthermore, the
medium close up image of Eminem is very simplistic; the clothing isnt
loud or busy and no loud of bold props are used. This effectively puts
the emphasis on the model himself, the audience are able to indicate
from his body language that the topics he discusses are serious and
significant to him, hence the bold yet simple pose and positioning.

The layout and design of this cover page reflects the ambiance that this
particular magazine aims to portray to their particular social groups:
edgy, urban and relevant. They effectively portray their ambiance by
using simplistic yet bold language for their buzz/puff words, additionally,
the cover image used throughout issues are always medium close ups.
Additionally, the cover lines are effectively and clearly set out around
the medium close up image, making the text easy to read for the
audience.

The lexical choice is very significant regarding the cover page; it gives
Vibes target audience an idea of what this issue will entail, e.g. will the
articles be dark, positive, emotional etc. In the case of my chosen
magazine issue, the terminology used indicates the seriousness of the
main article; the vocabulary used is simplistic and straight to the point
which shows the model/interviewee, Eminem, doesnt want to mess
around when sharing his story. Furthermore, the buzz/puff words are
not only bold and catch the attention of the audience, but they are big
enough to be readable from a distance yet not so big that they take up
too much space.

The cover lines on the front cover are positioned around the model in
the centre, additionally, although the font remains constant throughout
the cover lines, the colours and size vary between each cover line. This
could have been done in order to draw attention to certain cover lines;
the cover lines that are larger in size and a brighter colour could be the
cover lines that the magazine want the target audience to focus on.
However, the smaller cover lines that are either black or grey are also
significant to the magazine article but theyre not the main story in this
issue.

The masthead, although it is positioned behind the model, effectively

catches the attention of the target audience; the use of gradient
colouring is rarely seen in music magazines; the masthead commonly
remains one single colour, usually black. Whereas, in the case of this
media product, the colour fades from black to red, which is alternative
in the media production industry.

The colours used on the contents page differ to the colours used for the
cover page; theyre much darker and a lot more shadowing is used which
has a lot more darker connotations: mystery, evil, darkness etc. However,
the colours used for the font, all though they arent as dominant as the
dark colours, have a lot more positive connotations; the audience are
able to associate with yellow and white with feelings of happiness, purity
and innocence.
The image used for the magazines content page, still has the serious
tone like the cover page, however the clothing and use of the velvet
curtain imply that the impression they want to give is much more formal
and serious. Additionally, the audience can imply that the velvet curtain
relates to Eminems profession, additionally they may infer that the
implication of him being at a show foreshadows that the article with
Eminem will focus on his career as well as his personal life.

Overall impression: The contents page for this magazine issue not only
gives off a very dark and mysterious sense but it relates well to the
ambiance Vibe magazine aim to show throughout their monthly issues:
edgy, modern and relative. Additionally, the layout is easy to read and
fits well with the underlying theme.

The props used for the contents page are significantly different to the
props used for the cover page; the model has a much more casual and
simple look on the front cover, this is shown through relaxed body
language and the simple clothing worn. However, regarding the
contents page, the model is dressed in much more formal clothing and
his body language appears to be a lot more tense, indicating serious
connotations. Additionally, the contents page image is highly
conventional for this media product; the velvet curtain and suit used is
an indication of the seriousness of Eminems job, additionally, it relates
to his profession; readers may infer that the model is backstage waiting
to perform.

The layout and design of this contents page significantly differs to the
cover image; the buzz/puff words and the text are all aligned to the
right of the medium close up image. Additionally, the colours used have
much more darker connotations as explained earlier.

The pull-quote used on the double page spread is very

significant; I almost died and I still went back to using
theyre purposefully used in order to entice the reader- the
dark topic grabs the audiences attention and makes them
want to read further into the topic of discussion. On the
contrary, it may be argued that this pull quote and topic of
conversation is highly unconventional for this media product;
young influential readers who idolise this rapper may see the
story as cool instead of horrifying, which is always risky when
dealing with a younger target audience. On the other hand, it
could be argued that the story was published in order to give
an insight into the rappers dark past, not to promote that
lifestyle.
The image used for the double page spread is very
distinctive; it makes a bold statement and catches the
audiences attention, making them want to read on.
Additionally, the interviewee appears to have caused injury
rather than himself being injured, which may be a reflection
on what he thinks the past him was like: a dark, cold,
merciless character. On the other hand, the image used can
be conveyed as a very unconventional image as its a very
sinister message being portrayed to young influential readers
who may idolise this celebrity and believe this sinister image
is in fact a positive and inspiring one.

The colours used for the double page spread are extremely
significant; the white, as explained earlier, has very positive
connotations of rebirth, innocence, purity, yet the use of the
blood red has very negative connotations, this use of colour
contrast could be a representation of the contrast of good
and bad that Eminem has been through, as the article is
about his story and the battles hes had to overcome.
The layout and design of this dps effectively draws attention
to key features, the pull-quote, the image and the prop used.
Additionally, the there isnt too much white space yet theres
not so much going on that the page looks too busy, this is key
as the readers are then able to appreciate everything on the
double page spread from the image, to the text itself.

The cover image used for this magazine issue effectively

suits the genre that the music magazine is known for
representing, rock and metal. Furthermore, the positioning
and the facial expressions the two have for the cover image
portray a very serious, edgy, rebellious vibe to the audience,
which is what the world of rock and metal music aim to
portray to others: rebellion, seriousness and edginess.
The colours used on the cover page are primarily black and
white, two completely contrasting colours, this could be in
order to make the text in white stand out even more to
attract any potential buyers, additionally, the main use of the
colour black to be used to reflect the sort of vibe the
magazine wish to portray.
The typography used on the cover page for this music
magazine varies across the page as shown, however, all the
fonts used across the page are very conventional for a music
magazine; its bold, easy to read, suits the genre of music
represented and doesnt make the page too busy.
The cover lines are all positioned below the models, this
could have been done to draw more attention to the
models. On the other hand, readers may feel that the use of
the cover lines mainly being situated below the models then
makes the cover page look too busy and crammed. On the
contrary, The cover lines are all separated through the use of
colour; some cover lines are printed onto an orange
background, others are printed onto a red or black
background, effectively making the text easier to read.

Similarly to the cover page, the colours used on the contents

page are primarily black and white, which again, could be
used to help the text in white stand out a great deal more to
the audience.

The image used for the contents page is conventional for the
music magazine too; the model used is a musical figure, it
isnt representing any audience groups or music idols in a bad
way and may encourage the audience to read the contents
page to see how the image relates to an article that the
magazine has to offer.

Unlike the cover page, the typography used on the contents

page doesnt vary; there are not multiple fonts being used.
This is very conventional for any magazine as it helps the
audience know where their information is and it again
doesnt make the page too busy.

The colours used for the DPS alter to the contents page
and the cover page colours; the main colour used is red
as well as yellow, the colours used are practical as they
are still suitable to the music genre presented and they
are also not too vibrant that the page looks too busy.
The image used for the DPS, is not only conventional; it
suits the genre of music presented as it is edgy, dark
and alternative. Additionally, the model used for the
image, Ozzy Osbourne, is a highly recognised and
admired music idol especially regarding the genres of
music that Kerrang present, the use of this music idol
will also intrigue the audience as theyll want to see
what this musician has to do with the article on the
DPS.