Research- Annotations of Existing Text

Front Cover- Q Magazine 

Front Cover- NME Magazine 

Front cover the NME and Q are similar magazines as they target similar audiences and demographics, which is males/females aged between 17-25. However Q magazine has a wider music rage that is represent throughout its magazine whereas the NME predominately represents guitar- indie based music and artist.

As Q magazine has a wider and more mainstream audience than the NME it has represented there artist (Cheryl Cole) in  line with the male gaze to appeal to all there audience. She is being represented as sexual desire to men. Due to the fact that; Cheryl Cole is looking directly into the camera therefore she is creating direct address which makes her look extremely strong and sexy. By licking her ring she is viewed in a sexual way and has become desirable to men therefore she is in line with the male gaze . Female fans will aspire to be sexually confidant like her and to the power that she has over men. Also she will attract male readers to the magazine as they are sexually attracted to her.  Throughout my research process I have found that the NME hardly ever represent woman as sexual objects or in line with the male gaze, as there audience aspire to achieve the success of the artist rather than looking like them.  Florence has been represented as a strong female as she is looking directly in to the camera representing her in a confidant way, also she is not showing any flesh or her body therefore she is not being viewed as a sexual object. The image is an extreme close up which conveys a meaning of achievement and success and she is not does not need her body to hide behind. Therefore as I am constructed my magazine similar to the NME I have decided to follow their convention and not represent woman in line with them male gaze.

Both the NME and Q magazine have the same conventions and they have coded them to represent a rock ‘n’ roll theme throughout the magazines. However the NMEs typography is more plain and simple as it allows Florence to shine through and stand out,  whereas the typography in Q magazine is big and bold which portrays a more rock ‘n’ roll theme running throughout the front cover. Both magazine banners are advertising there magazine instead of the artist inside the magazine . Q says e ‘The UKs biggest music magazine’ NME- ‘Introducing the NME 2 of 10 special cover’. This is unusual as normally magazine banners promote what in the magazine to inform the reader. 

The Vibe- Contents page

Contents Page- Q Magazine 

Both Vibe and The NME contents page are targeted at very different demographics. VIBE magazine is targeted at young teenagers pronominally black males who are into R&B. whereas Q magazine is targeted at teens who are white and into a range of music but predominately indie music. However both contents pages do the same job they are designed to navigate the reader around the page in a easy but interesting way, and still keeping the brand identity the whole way through allowing the reader to feel connected to the magazine. They do this with the use of text, as well as images however each magazine differs due to the fact that they 

have different demographics.

Within Vibe and Q contents page they have continued their 3 colour scheme which allows the reader to recognise the brand. However both contents pages have different colour schemes as they need to appeal to their target audience and fit their mode of address.  Q and Vibe have chosen one main image on their contents pages rather than a lots of different images. It allow the feature artist to stand out. Q magazine has a review section which keeps the reader interested whereas the features section gives the reader a sense of sensibility as they can identify it.

The biggest image whining the contents page  relates  to the front cover as well as  the double page spread. This is due to the fact that this artist is the main selling point for that moths/week’s issue of the magazine. Alongside the images in the contents pages there are anchors which are in place to give the image meaning and to inform the reader what that image is about. Also it gives information on where to find this particular story. This a common conventions within contents pages.

Vibe magazine has shot their female model in line with the male gaze  to attract there male demographic as they will be sexual attracted to the model. However the NMEs main image is of 4 males  who standing on a hill as they are at a high potion they look strong representing men as the stronger sex. Therefore by the different cods in each magazine the representation of gender can change. 

Double page- Q Magazine

Double page Spread- The NME 

Double Page Spread-The NME 

Within Q magazine and the NMEs  double page spread you can notice that they are targeted at different demographics by the way they are coded. Q magazine is aimed at a more sophisticated audience this is represented through the main mage of Lady Gaga as the image is in black and white it creates and expensive representation therefore this suggest that the demographic are intelligent. Whereas the NME has a younger audience and tries to appeal to them with sexual innuendos and  rebellious artists such as Lily Allen

Both Q and NME double page spreads are is dominated by one main image, however the radar page of the NME has other little images informing the audience of new artists. Q magazine does not need other images as the Lady Gaga image is strong enough on its own as it is in line with the male gaze however Lady Gaga nudity is conveyed in a way which is modest and fashiabe as she is wearing the necklaces around her neck. Therefore she is represented in a sexual but powerful way. The NME have played up to the stereotypes of the teenage boy but shooting  them on a bed behind posters of woman showing flesh this represents them as sexually curious. Also the room is messy this shows that they are going against their parents by not tiding there room therefore representing them In a rebellious way.

By representing Lily Allen as rebel this fits into the target demographic of the NME as stereotypically people who listen to indie/rock ’n’ roll  music are seen as rebellious or naughty teens therefore appealing to their audience.

Q magazines double page spread has known title this is unusual however the large ‘L’ has replaced the title linking the artists initials within the article, as the ‘L’ has a red tint it reinforces the magazines brand identity and familiarises the reader. .

All three double page spreads follow the typical conventions such as; columns, main image, quotes, and heading. By following the conventions it creates a brand identity which the reader can  relate to therefore feeling a connection to the brand.