Front Cover Analysis - XXL Magazine
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XXL Magazine targets a young, urban audience interested in hip-hop culture. The magazine cover features Kanye West, a stereotypical black male hip-hop artist immediately recognizable by their demographic. West maintains an air of superiority by wearing sunglasses while looking directly at the camera. The photograph and text on the cover reinforce themes of duality and conflicting emotions towards West through its reflection and use of "LOVE" and "HATE" in bold text.
Front Cover Analysis - XXL Magazine
- 1. XXL MAGAZINE
- 2. Audience and Representation XXL Magazine is a monthly magazine devoted to covering news and current events in the hip- hop community. The magazine’s target demographic is mainly young, urban followers of hip-hop culture.
- 3. Representation The cover features Kanye West – a stereotypical, black, male, hip-hop artist, immediately recognisable by XXL’s target demographic. Although by looking directly at the camera Kanye is establishing a _ relationship with the reader he maintains the perception of superiority by wearing sunglasses. The photograph has been reflected across the middle of the cover – this has X connotations of a split personality/alter-ego, reinforcing the ‘love’, ‘hate’ across the image.
- 4. Mise-En-Scene The model (Kanye West) wearing a leather jacket, chains and sunglasses which all have connotations of a stereotypical black, male, hip-hop artist and is a ‘look’ that would appeal to many of XXL’s readers. His chain is oversized which reflects his life- style, fame, talent, ego.
- 5. Typography The same monochrome font has been used throughout. ‘THE EXCLUSIVE STORY’ is in bold to draw the attention of the reader to the puff as the story is ‘EXCLUSIVE’ and is therefore more appealing to the reader. ‘LOVE’, ‘HATE’ is the largest font on the cover except from the title, it is also in bold. This grabs the reader’s attention and draws their eyes to the image. It also emphasises the feelings most people have towards Kanye West. ‘KANYE WEST’ is also larger than the puffs to ensure readers immediately recognise that it is Kanye West on the cover. Three word puffs and short, punchy sentences make the magazine sound fast paced like the music industry and most of their audience’s lives, this keeps readers interested.
- 6. magazine. The title block is white against a red background. The two colours interact with eachother and the white writing stands out. Typography Continued…
- 7. Language The anchorage text links the central image to the topics of the article about Kanye West. Words like ‘SPECIAL’ and ‘EXCLUSIVE’ remind readers that it is not an ordinary issue, this makes the magazine more appealing. ‘BY THE MAN HIMSELF’ also draws the readers attention.