Magazine Analysis: Wire Cover

Wire Magazine Analysis

Image: Facial Expression/ Body Language

The facial expression and personal gaze of eye contact makes the artist  look as if she is looking directly at the audience. The facial expression of the artist’ looks friendly and inviting therefore creating a friendly and inviting atmosphere to the magazine. In my own magazine I will employ this by instructing my model to look directly into the camera lens in order to create a friendly gaze to manufacture a very personal mode of address therefore also insinuating to the idea that the magazine provides readers with a deep and personal insight in to the lives and music of the artists it features.

Image: Lighting

The lighting is very bright and natural and so creates a youthful tone and an inviting feel. The lighting also creates a unique photo as it seems it has been taken outside and looks natural and warm, it also seems to create a high contrasting shadow which again forms a visually unique image and seems to reflect from her metallic clothing to stand out against the dark background. In my own magazine I will manipulate the lighting of the main shot on my cover in order to promote a trendy youthfulness whilst still appearing edgy through the use of a 'star light' which will project stars across the close-up of my models' face.

Image: Positioning

The positioning of the artist in the thirds  places her in the centre through the middle thirds and so creates the concept that she is the focus and most important therefore presenting the idea that the artists are at the focus of WIRE magazine, this creates the implications that the magazine is aimed at strong music fans who are very passionate for music. The positioning of her eye level crossing through two thirds makes the magazine appear far more personal as it seems she is looking straight at the reader therefore heightening engagement and displaying the magazine’s brand image as being a close and personal look at artists.I will also portray a theme of dominance in my magazine through the positioning of my model's close -up within the middle thirds of the cover, on top of this I will aim to place the eyes of my model across to points of thirds in order to create the personal gaze portrayed in Wire magazine.

Image: Colour

The dark blues used in the background of the image contrast with the foreground of the lighting of the artists and her metallic clothing in the foreground therefore presenting her as the most important aspect of the cover. This creates a brand image for the magazine that represents artists as being at the heart of the magazine and so engages passionate music fans. In my own magazine I will re-create this in my own magazine through the use of glitter make-up  to create a 1970's Ziggy Stardust surreal look while also making use of the interesting reflective lighting I can gain from the metallic colour of the glitter.

Image: Props/Costume

There are very little props used in the CU image which creates the illusion that the artist is the single most important p[art of the image. Again this creates the illusion that the brand image puts it’s artists at the forefront of it’s aims, which again engages extremely passionate music fans. The bright, contrasting gold used in the image highly reflects the light to form an image that stands out against it’s dark background, it also makes the image look unusual and individual exhibiting the idea that the magazine is both unique and individual as an indie/alternative music magazine and rebellious the normal conventions of its genre. In my own magazine I am planning on creating a similar look through the use of costume with which I am planning to costume my model in alternative, slightly metallic clothing in order to stand out while creating a surreal look that will fit with the alternative egrne of my indie/alternative magazine.

Layout: Colour

The dark blues used in the background of the image contrast with the foreground of the lighting of the artists and her metallic clothing in the foreground therefore presenting her as the most important aspect of the cover. This creates a brand image for the magazine that represents artists as being at the heart of the magazine and so engages passionate music fans. A house style is created through it’s repetitive use of blue which forms a memorable brand image. In my own magazine I will be using far brighter and vibrant colours however I will be employing a house-style as seen in Wire through the use of a repetitive colour scheme of pink throughout. 

Layout: Font/Text

The spaced display typeface and  bold font create a dramatic effect which has an impactful effect on the reader and stands out against it’s competitors as unique and original. The phrase 'The wire tapper' used on the front cover holds connotations of the magazine being attentive and alert to new music trends and portrays the idea that the magazine provides it's readers with the very latest and exclusive content surrounding indie/alternative music. In my own magazine I will reate a rebellious and trendy look through the use of varied informal fonts, I am hoping to find fonts that look scribbled and messy while still appearing clear in order to instil a sense of rebellion.

Layout: Positioning

The positioning of the image and typography places the artist as the dominating factor, however, the title/font of the magazine dominates the top third of the magazine and so it is memorable as it would most likely be one of the first things a reader will see when they look at the cover. I am also planning on placing my magazine's logo in the top third of my magazine in order to create a memorable and dominant look.