Textual analysis 1
- 2. Cover Page • Layout The arrangement of the magazine is an “L” shape which is stereotypical of this style of magazine as it makes it more conventional and pleasing to the readers eye. The structure having everything in an organised fashion.. Normally in magazines, the masthead is placed along the top, however ‘the moment' has run the masthead along the top of the magazine as well as making it partially obscured by the image. The layout on the front cover of this particular magazine is catchy straight away because of the use of low key lighting in contrast to the bright colour palette selected- Pink, white and black, this could connote that the target audience is aimed at females stereotypically. The serif style font used could connote the feminist touch to the magazine even more because of the feminine embellishments. • Main Image The image used covering the whole front page is in low light lighting to enhance and make the female figure stand out from the page. The positioning of the image in relation to the rest of the front cover. The image covers the whole of the cover with vignette in the corners to make the figure stand out slightly off centre of the page. The main image is important to attract the target audience featuring someone who is different and stands out from other individuals. They also have to appeal to the audience and have some significance to what the magazine is going to be about.
- 3. • Masthead The masthead is conventional to this style of magazine. The sans serif font used expresses to the audience that it is appealing to a stereotyped female audience. Being in this font gives it a traditional feel and in comparison to the rest of the print, it goes with the traditional wedding style. The overall choice of colour of the masthead, compliments the white of the wedding dress and connotes again traditionality. The intention of using this font style is to be different and stand out from the other font styles, so the masthead is a key feature. Being in a bolder font also makes the title stand out from the background image a lot more than using a thinner font size, which is used for the cover lines. • Cover Lines The text which is placed around the image, some overlapping, is used as the main body of what will be inside the magazine so needs to be catchy and be able to hook the audience in straight away without them having to open it. Also typically magazines have a strap line across the top of the magazine, above the masthead but because the masthead is down the side, there is not strap line. 'Billboard' may have done this deliberately or to connote that this magazine is different from the rest which makes it stand out from the rest.
- 4. • Pull Quote The pull quote used on this print is in a sans serif font which is typical of a women's magazine as it gives the print a feminine feel. The positioning of the quote is conventional to the rest of the content on the front cover as it is obscuring the image behind and stands out from the background. The colour used and the font go well together and suggest who the print is aimed at. The colour of the cover lines, being pink, makes it stand out from the background image. • Barcode/ Date/ Price On this print there is no barcode, date or price present on the front of the print, so it could suggest it has been placed on the reverse of the magazine, which would be typically unconventional as it is easier for the audience to find if it is on the front. When it comes to the marketing and distribution of this product, it would be obvious to see on a shelf without having to take it off. Which may have been done deliberately so the audience has to physically pick up the magazine and further find out. On this print there is no barcode, as it is a free regional magazine, conventionally there may be false print barcode to make it look stereotypical of a magazine.
- 5. Contents Page • Layout The layout of the contents page, for the magazine “the moment”, is conventional throughout all of their prints as the same layout and colour pallet is used despite the features on the front cover. The contents is arranged in equally spaced columns like a list through the page numbers. The overall appearance of it though however is in an unorganised fashion and all over the places with a mixed arrangement of photos, different sized numbering of the pages and fonts. It has a neutral overall appearance to it making it look clean cut and easy to read and find the content you need. Instead of over whelming bright colours. The colours used are stereotypical of the demographic it is aimed at, so is satisfying to the target audience. • Image The chosen images on this contents will have some relation to the content inside, and maybe the most significant parts of the print have being shown through imagery to appeal to the audience before they have to read on any further. The colours used in the images are bold and vibrant, standing out from the plain background. The positioning of the images in a staggered fashion keep the page interesting and separate up the writing to images.
- 6. • Text The body of text covered on this contents page, includes a note from the publisher, and the main contents covering the pages inside. The style of font chosen is serif, used to show the sophistication of an older target audience who it would appeal to. The numbering of the pages is in a larger size on particular pages, which maybe have more significance or are the main featured articles. Headings of different topics are bigger also to make the reader engaged with the content inside the print. • Colour The colours used throughout the contents page, overall give a neutral feel and a simplistic style with the main colour pallet being black and white. The red pop of colour used in the plug behind the title of the contents, makes it stand out and draw attention to the header. The images are colourful and standout from the plain background. It is very minimalistic with colour and hasn’t really been experimented with, its been safe using minimalistic tones, maybe to appeal to a wider target audience range of adults.
- 7. Double- Page spread • Layout The overall appearance of this spread follows the typical conventions of other magazines. One being the image covering one page and text covering the other. A column of text is spaced between two large images to separate up the content to keep the reader engaged. Typically a double page spread will have an image covering across one page so it doesn’t appear to have masses of text so the reader wants to look at the article. • Image The image is placed on one page to exaggerate the feature of the article by making the reader aware of what it might be about. The other image placed to the right is an advertisement picture. The editor has done this to promote the image being on a feature page of the magazine, as the reader is likely to look at this page and so will this along side. It doesn’t fit in with the article itself but standing out makes the reader aware of it and look at it.
- 8. • Text The text on this article has been placed of centre of the spread, in- between two images to make it stand out, but to make the amount of text look minimal so it still persuades the reader to read it. The font of the text is small and the letter W has been enlarged at the start if the text, because the page has smaller text it connotes that the page needs more imagery to fill it, and visual people from a target audience demographic prefer visuals to intellect. • Mise- en- scene The lighting of the image is dull lighting as the outfit the model is wearing is bright and intense contrasting with the background colours which are also bold and wacky. Props of a kitchen suggest who the target audience for this article is aimed at. Young women, perhaps house wives who like the typical conventions of a lifestyle article, covering areas such as health, beauty, food and fashion, all things this image portrays the sense of.