Textual analysis, Contents page, 4

This contents page is simple due to the photo and the basic columns. Apart from the black and white, the only other colour is red, linking to the Q logo. The logo on the page is much smaller than the one on the cover page but is the same colour as the page numbers so overall works well as a whole.
   Next to the logo, there's a line and in that row, there's the issue number, the word contents and the date number. The issue number and the word contents are the same font size but different colours. The date is next to contents but smaller and a grey. This shows importance and difference from the three, making Contents stand out more as it would need to for the readers to be able to identify it when flicking through the magazine.
   The two subtitles, 'Features' and 'Every Month' are both in the same font- white in a black box. This separates them from the page numbers and stories and makes it obvious that they are subheadings rather than another story. The Features section shows what's on offer, what is in the magazine and what new stories are there. Whereas the Every Month section is more what's in every issue and what people are going to be interested in when buying the magazine each month.
   The image is an iconic sign due to being a photo of signing, James Blunt. It has been cut out and put onto the page, using most of the space but leaving enough room for the column for text. He is looking directly into the lens, with a facial expression that I found hard to identify a meaning from. I think that he looks serious without having any immediate feeling able to show. The second cover story is about James Blunt, making the image relevant to the contents page.
   The red arrow in the bottom right hand corner tells the reader to carry on and go on to the next page.

Textual analysis- Magazine cover 5, Bliss

Immediately, you can tell that the audience for this magazine is young girls due to the main image choice, colours and cover lines. The genre of music looks to be pop.
   The masthead, 'Bliss' is in capitals and a bold, thick font spread across the whole width of the magazine. Due to it being pink (stereotypically) it makes it more for girls. Although the masthead font is fairly simple, the I is cut at the top, so it makes it more interesting too look at. The word Bliss indicates something pretty so works well with the overall appearance of the magazine cover.
   The image of singer, Taylor Swift, is an iconic sign and many people would recognise her due to being known outside of England as well.  Her clothing and jewellery are very 'young teen' and by using a mid shot, it allows you too see her outfit better. Her pose and positioning isn't too dramatic but the way that she's holding her hair on her shoulder makes it more posed. The expression on her face and her body language both look happy and give of a positive energy which indicates the story about her is good.
   The cover stories aren't all in one place but on both sides so it makes it look busier but still orderly. The main cover line is about Taylor Swift, with her name being the largest text. Above this, it say's 'EXCLUSIVE', making it sound more important and with the main image being her as wel, it looks like the best article to look at.  There are various cover lines around the image, all quite irrelevant to music. Only the cover lines at the bottom are as they are direct names to music.
   The main colour on the page is pink and other are soft blues, greens, so the first impression of the page is very girl but also give a positive energy.
   Linking to the colours and the image, the target audience would most likely by for girls.

Textual analysis, Contents page 3

The layout of this contents page is quite simple, so it's easy to understand. It's constructed in such a way that there's obvious columns in which leaves your eyes easily following the different parts and sections.
  The boldest part of the contents page is the title 'DRUMMER'. This is is in thick, black capital letters which ensures that it stands out on the page and informs the audience/consumer what the base of the magazine is about.
  '01/07 Contents' is written in a separate orange box at the top of the page. The date '01/07' is in a darker shade of orange, allowing it to fade into the box more than the word Contents. The word Contents is in a white font, relevant as the background of the whole contents page is white also. Due to the font size of the word contents in ratio to the masthead, it isn't as immediate is the masthead.
   The colour scheme of the overall contents page is black, white and orange. Black and white are colours that are used often as when using a black font against a white background, it's easy to read. The orange stands out well within the page as it's a bright colour and it's mixed in with various dark images and fonts. Some of the connotations of the colour orange are enthusiasm and success. This may relate to the people in the magazine or the genre overall.
   There's six images of the contents page in which all but one have numbers on. This is a guide to the audience, allowing them to be directed to the page in which the image is about. The small image of the drums do not have a number on but it relates to the masthead Drummer.
   'Features' is in a column to the left of the page. Due to it being in a straight column against a plain, white background, it looks neat and easy to read. The way it's presented is also the same; orange page numbers, bold subheadings and a regular, small font for the descriptions. This separates each part but makes the overall column work well together. Next to the story about Dave Lombardo the word exclusive! is in capitals in a white font, inside a cut up rectangle. The word follows on to the biggest photo in the page of a drummer. This links the two stories together and makes it seem like more of an important and more interesting page to check out.
   Along with the orange box for the heading Contents, the box at the bottom of the page stands out and links to this. Putting a box, stating it's regulars, shows that it's what's in the magazine each time and people enjoy to read about.

Textual Anaylsis, Contents Page 2

After looking through Vibe's existing contents pages, I've noticed that on all of them, they   put the letter V in. In this contents page, its only an outline of the letter but it looks as if the lines are holding the ladies legs up. It also makes it more casual and less obvious than some of the others are. The colour stands out as it's white on the darkest part of the background.
   Overall, the  contents page is quite simple but the model, the word contents and the V makes it more interesting.
   A lot of contents pages use a variety of different images to let the readers know what stories are in the magazine. However, in this contents page, there's only one of a lady. Although this doesn't show many visual stories,  they've used a lady in which is wearing heels and an outfit in which shows part of her bum and her legs. With this and the pose/positioning, this could attract people as it's quite 'sexy' looking. There's a contrast between the colours- at the bottom, the ladies hair is dark in  comparison to that background part. This makes her stand out more.

Textual Analysis, Magazine Cover 4

This Q magazine is unlike the other ones and very unique due to the image and the masthead. In the image, the man is using a guitar to look as if he is smashing the masthead. The masthead is cracked, looking as if it's been smashed. This gives the immediate appearance of the man looking to be a 'bad boy' and being rebellious. This gains more interest to the magazine as it isn't a usual thing Q does.

   The first thing that stands out in this cover is the masthead and the red dont around the cover. Red is a powerful colour and brings attention quickly to it.

   The cover line ''Matt Bellamy is out of control'' links to the image and together portrays bad behaviour. Instead of a large cover line ''Matt Bellamy'', it used the band name Muse. This is probably because more people would recognise a band name, rather than one of the people in the bands name so more people are going to gain interest. The cover lines are on each side of the cover page but the main cover lines are on the left. On the right side, the only cover lines are under a subheading 'Plus'.

Textual Analysis- Magazine Cover 3, Q

The main image of this cover page is an iconic sign as it's a photo of well known singer, Madonna. As Madonna is known world wide, people will recognise her, whether they are interested in Q's genre of music or not. This can be an advantage, as people that like Madonna may take interest in it and flick through- This broadens the target audience.
   The overall appearance of the magazine is dark because of the amount and use of the colour black. Madonna is wearing what looks to be a silk gown but due to it being black, along with the background, it doesn't stand out leaving her face and arms stand out more, putting more focus on them because of this. However, this leaves more room to use for cover lines, allowing the cover lines to be easily read also.
   Her make up is simple, meaning the colour of her eyes and her eye make up can be shown better. Her mouth is slightly open and her hands and head have been positioned in a way of making the image look very posed but not too dramatic. The image is a mid shot. Also, as her hair is light, it stands out with the magazine being dark.
   The colour scheme of the cover is black, red and white. Black and white make it easy for people to read it and black links to the genre of music the magazine is portraying but the colour red has connotations of power and danger. This may be seen direct to the article about Madonna as her name is in large, capital, red letters or the music magazine as a whole but as magazines focus on one genre (in most cases), it is most likely portraying the genre overall. Linking to this, the masthead 'Q' is a red box with the letter Q inside in a white font so a lot of Q's colour schemes include the colour red.
   The boxed text (with a background of the union jack) goes with the red and whites on the cover. It also adds to the line underneath the masthead, ''Britain's Best Music Magazine'', making it more obvious and clear at first sight that it's a British magazine. The use of the superlative ''Best'' can be used as a selling point as it's telling the audience that you can't get any better than this, which is why you should buy it. It can also show people that the interest in it is wide across Britain.
   The cover lines in the top right hand corner are all about people in the music industry seen in random places, e.g. the movies. This is more casual stories, rather than big stories about an artist getting an award etc. By seeing an artist/a group, in a random, casual place, it's more likely that the articles will be more homely and show a more personal side to them. On the left, the cover lines are all big names being interviewed. It shows the magazine giving a real side of celebrity life, rather than stories only rumoured to be true. Madonna being the biggest name and the person modelled in the main image, it's most likely her interview/article will be the longest or there will be more about her. The quote underneath her name, 'Stupid Question! Next!' indicates how she responded to the questions, giving a further idea of what kind of questions were in the interview. This also shows that it's going to be an interview. This may be why people would want to read it.
   A big selling point of magazines are freebies. This magazine gives a free 70 page book/magazine of women in music which give big names so people that that they're getting more for their money and also more to read.
   Overall, the positioning of the images and text is constructed in a straight way apat from the two silver/grey boxes. The colour of the boxes is the same as the piece of material used at the top of the hood that Madonna is wearing. These boxes are slighted slightly to give more movement to the page.

Textual Analysis- Magazine Cover 2, NME

Due to the background being white and the main colour being red, the fonts stand out immediately. Connotations of the colour red are danger, power and determination. These all link well to the pose and camera angle of the main image- the two men are standing back to back, with a straight, well posture. The camera is also at a low angle, making the two men higher and look more powerful.

   The masthead, 'NME' uses various techniques to make it stand out more. The initial red is bold and again, connotes power. The letters are bordered individually using the colour white. This separates the letters but lastly, the masthead as whole is bordered with a thick black lining. The masthead is the main thing you'll see when magazine are on a stand so it's important for it too be bold and eye-catching. The black border also allows it too stand out from the red strip across the top. 

 This makes it stand out from the red skyline behind it.

This magazine cover uses a skyline at the top of the cover in which it uses the colours white and yellow. The white links to the background and the yellow is the same as the font in the boxed text. 

The image is positioned on the cover to the right, leaving space on the left. This is where the cover lines are placed- the red and black is clear on the white background and is easy to read.

The main cover line is over the main image and is bigger than all the rest.

Underneath the masthead, there's text on a circle (boxed text). This stands out from the other cover lines.