The analysing of existing music magazines is now underway. Five existing prints need to be analysed and for my project I will be looking at a mixture of indie/alternative, classic and rock magazines to shape my understanding to help me create my own music magazine product.
The first cover I will be analysing is the Dazed and Confused cover:
Image: Layout
The image of the artist 'Grimes' dominates the page with a close up, this gives more of an intimate feel as the audience can closely view the facial expressions of the artist as if they are gaining a deeper view into ‘Grimes’. This seems to reflect the nature of the interview giving deeper insight into the artist and so feels far more exclusive to the magazine while the dominance of the female artist also reflects the nature of the theme of the interview and the artist herself being a modern independent female artist in the world of music choosing to write, produce and direct all her own music and music videos. The positioning of the image and eye-line within the rule of thirds places the artists eyes within the crossing of the two grid lines and so creates a very effective personal gaze which seems to create the illusion that the artist is looking into the reader’s eyes this again reflects the nature of the article giving deeper insight into ‘Grimes’ as an artist while also creating a visually interesting and impactful cover. I will adopt this style within my own magazine in order to also create a personal and engaging relationship with my readers and audience.
Image: Costume
The use of silver jewellery as the main focus of the costume and photograph results in the colours blending into the pale overexposed model, the exposure and paleness of the image connotes idea of youth while the silver jewellery presents ideas of prestige. However the use of it as the focus of the image seems to subvert conventional costume and reflects the light to create a bright and unusual image and contrasts with the artists dark hair which displays almost an alien-like and supernatural feel to the image, this defiant style again reflects the magazine as an alternative and indie magazine. I will also exhibit this unusual style within my own magazine through bright, rebellious clothing and makeup to not only create a visually dazzling image but one that represents ideas of rebellion.
Image: Style
The high exposure used to take the image creates a startling bright pale image that connotes ideas of innocence and youth, this juxtaposes with the genre of the magazine and the name of the title 'Dazed and Confused' to create an ironic theme which presents an almost defiant teenager style approach to brand identity. This along with the lack of images on the magazine's cover, which also creates a fresh and youthful look present the magazine as rebellious and unconventional in order to represent it's alternative genre. I will also use lighting and camera technique in order to present my own magazine as rebellious and unconventional, which I will do so using 'star-effect' projected lighting.
Layout: Title & Text
The font used is extremely bold and stands out as a crisp vibrant white and seems to represent the brand’s identity as a unique magazine that stands out as an original almost rebellious print. Meanwhile the title dominates the top horizontal third of the print and implies the importance of the brand as eye catching, it seems to declare itself ‘Dazed and Confused’ and almost contradicts itself as it appears not as a dazed and confused magazine but as a self aware and assertive magazine and seemingly embraces its confusing nature and presents itself as rebellious rather than confused. The text on the front page seems minimal, it merely focuses on the main article and names a few more articles in the print very briefly, this makes ‘Dazed and Confused’ appear simple and this simplicity seems to assert the concept that the magazine does not need to appear flashy and boastful to sell itself again appearing as assertive and self aware almost presenting its personality and brand identity through this as similar to a rebellious teenager. The rebellious tone created through the use of text and font will also be seen through my own magazine, I will carefully chose fonts which connote ideas of defiance and a defiant youth to reflect the style and themes of indie/alternative music.
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