Images - Mise en scene - the same serious facial expression and body language conveying feelings for music and tone of music (this will definitely be used in my front page to follow the conventions. Therefore I will get a band or actors to make up a band for my music magazine) props - guitars iconic due to the idea that the Masthead is "Total Guitar" (I will need to decide the title of my product) these props also emphasise the genre. This is reinforced by the fact that there are 6 images of guitars on the front cover alone. 2 of which are on the main image and 4 in the small images. The first of the small images is positioned in the top right hand corner and is a mid shot of a musician playing a guitar in a concert this is inferred as there is a red light is shining on the male antagonist and there is something out of focus in the background. The second image is of another male musician wearing all white which matches his guitar. This is probably trying to challenge conventions of the Rock genre. This notion that all images are male give a positive stereotypical representation of gender because men are dominant in all magazines researched. This theory is proved further as there is yet another image of a male playing a guitar this time it also coveys a positive representation of British ethnicity. This is due to the fact that there is an iconic union Jack on the guitar. The musician is also wearing red and white to emphasise England's country. Lastly, there is an image of a guitar on its own not being played, Nonetheless, white males are repeated throughout all magazines this is probably who the magazines are targeting. I may choose to challenge these conventions of representation but this may affect my audience. Costumes the male protagonists are wearing all black which which connotes death this could imply what the music is about. Even though leather jackets are quite mainstream when it is combined with black trousers and accessories as well the small images on the guitars such as the "666" printed on one guitar and the skull on the other it can portray death again as both signs refer biblically to the devil. This is due to the idexical denotation of poison through the skull. Make up - Once again the protagonists have tattoos and this time I think they have eye liner, lip balm hair gel and foundation on to convey a positive representation of the band, so in this case it doesn't make them look feminine or change their representation to atypical males it just refines there features and possibly make them appeal more to the female audience.
Colour - there is a black, white, gold bronze and turquoise blue colour scheme
Four guitars are different shades of red which symbolises danger. The gold denotes wealth which is reinforced by the price as the magazine has a plug in the bottom left hand corner of the front page. This is the bar code which has a pug; the publishers Future PLC's logo next to the another pug the price which is £5.50. This is a reasonable amount of money considering there is yet another pug the merchandise of a CD included in the perchase.
Font - the masthead "total guitar" is in a bold Serif font. All Plugs and teasers (see language for examples) are in a San serif font as well as information about content within the product e.g. "Funk up your rhythm workout" which uses direct address. The main feature "avenged sevenfold" is in a gothic Serif font to match the genre of the bands niche brand. It is evident that this bands story is the main feature because their font is the biggest which reveals their importance within the medium. Most font like the masthead is white to stand out against the dark background. Some text is in coloured textboxes, this has different colour text inside but keeps the brand by following the colour scheme mentioned earlier.
Layout - the bar code always seems to be in the bottom left hand corner of the front page (I will need to design my own producer company on Photoshop as all images or logos have to be original) the masthead is always near the top in the same place for every issue. Most text and images are aligned to the right and left of the magazine except at the top the bands and songs which are taught in the content of the magazine are in 3 columns divided by 2 squiggly white lines which stand out against the back background like most of the text. This creates an arch around the main image and portrays an erratic tone which mirrors the rock genre. This is especially the case for the text "avenged sevenfold" which almost completely over laps the main image. I love how there is a guitar pick in the top right hand corner of the product because it signifies the magazine in one animation and it's attached to the 'G' of the masthead.
Language - a direct quote is used e.g. "Our be album will kick you in the nuts!" This used direct address and is assumed to be spoken from the protagonist from the band "avenged sevenfold". This is as a result of the notion that it is jargon. There are three bands names at the very top of the page which indicates the products content e.g. "Oasis" and then the bands song for example "some might say" this could mean these are songs taught in the music magazine which is inferred from the signs of letters that make words and signify to English reading people "learn to play" which more bands and song names underneath it. This is emphasised because it also states "100% accurate guitar tab!" which is technical language for music as 'tabs' are a type sheet music for guitars. There is more advanced music language that had to be looked up for example "PRS S2 STARLA USA PRS FOR LESS" this is a type of guitar from the USA which will be reviewed in the magazine. Due to the language the audience assumes the protagonists names are "synyster and zacky" as it states that they "prepare to take the metal crown". Moreover, this adds weight to the denotation of the gold colour. A plug is used for example "get more gigs!" The punctuation is used to reinforce the statement like kerrang! There is also a teaser after this "TG shows you how" assuming "TG" implies total guitar it connotes readers have to look inside the magazine to find out more. This could infer that the band names are all plugs and the song names are all teasers also to obtain more customers. Last but not least it states "Europe's best-selling guitar magazine" which is aligned to the left and promotes the magazine. This is probably a biased quotation taken from a newspaper that wrote a posative review of the product.
Images all have page numbers which relate to the feature pages in the rest of the magazine
38) - this is very much like the front covers main image because the same protagonists are used from the band Evenged Sevenfold. the body language and facial expressions are repeated to reinforce the tone of the bands music as it emphasises the iconic conventions of the rock genre. Props of guitars are also used again so the photos were probably taken on the same day to emphasise the brand of the magazine and band. The make up and costumes are also the same which adds weight to this argument. It also implies that this band is the most important due to the repetition of images as on their feature page they have the same clothes and make up on again.
48) the body language is quite quirky but this probably her style of music and the facial expression is passionate conveying feelings about music this is due to the fact that the female antagonist has her eyes closed. It is arguable that she is a protagonist because she is the only female on the contents but because her photo is quite small in portrays her low importance in the project. Props include a bench and yet another electric guitar. Make up and costume is quite mainstream because the maroon colour is quite fashionable at the moment. Hence the magazine either set the fashion itself or the magazine was reflecting society as the pattern has been in for a while.
20) props - these are leaflets which contain information about future gigs this is known from the language of the caption. There are silhouettes of flying birds on the on the front cover of the booklet to symbolise what it is called "The flying TG's"
90) props - The same guitar as the from cover to remind the audience there is a review of it in the latter part of the magazine.
74) body language is quite confident and relaxed due to the notion that he is playing the repetition of the same prop; a guitar and his facial expression of singing or speaking reinforces this. Isn't wearing any make up if he is then its natural colours unlike Avenged Sevenfold therefore oasis's costume is quite smart and mainstream as the mid shot reveals a white shirt connoting purity. This is the largest image on the page because it is promoting that readers can learn songs to play on guitar but Oasis's song is the most important as it is also highlighted on the "learn to play list" as it is "tabbed in full".
12)body language and facial expressions are intense and serious but not a cool serious more scary as the male protagonist is leaning forward. This is reinforced but the props and lighting as there are Gothic railings which are antiquated like the wall in the background. and the guy closest to the left is almost in the shadows. Hence it has hight key lighting. However, even though the male protagonist who is positioned the most forward in the photo is wearing quite mainstream shirt and jeans the other members of the band Pearl Jam are wearing very dark costumes but no make up which conveys a stereotypical male.
58) body language and facial expression is very cool and happy which is portrayed through the male antagonists smile. This is the same Jamaican guy wearing white on the front page. Thus his props, make up and costume is repeated here as well the representation. This is because in the background of this antagonists photo is a white male which means this photo has carefully been selected and framed in order to keep conventions of the rock genre and not challenge them too much that it is not familiar to the reader.
Colour - same colour scheme as the front cover of red black and white with a darker blue instead of the turquoise blue. most costumes are the same as the front cover as well. All except pearl
Font - The mast head is on the contents page in a smaller but same font "Contents" is typed in a serif font also whereas the byliner (issue number and date) is printed in san serif this is the same as the titles of the feature, gear, lesson and regular pages and most of the captions of the photos except Avenge sevenfold which emphasises the features high importance again. These are all in bold unlike the description of the feature, gear, lesson and regular pages which are san serif like the which the gear section does not have. there is an animated check list which has hand written like text on it written in different pens and hand writings which gives an edgy look to the product.
Layout - Mostly images I'd say a third of the contents page is photos which is a lot because most people by magazines to obtain information not look at images which can be easily obtained on-line. This is like a collage or mosaic with edges overlapping sometimes other times there is a white border between photos to once again give an chaotic but structured style. Then there are three columns on the left of the double page which numbers the pages. Opposite on the right there is a list of songs which can are taught in the magazine and these are also page numbered. The page numbers are all in order of size going correspondingly from smallest at the top of the list to biggest at the bottom as this is what audiences are used to.
Language - in descriptions of feature page 1 there is a plug "Want to play live?" through a rhetorical question and then answers it with a teaser "Read our simple guide to getting your band booked" its as though the magazine is the answer to all the readers problems. the title of that feature is "Basics: getting a gig" - "basic" in other words its "simple" all you have to do is buy the product. This feature page make the image of the flyers make sense. synergy is used "Subscribe to Total Guitar see page 32" by promoting other issues and horizontal expansion. further music terminology is used e.g. "major 7 chords". There are a graphics of arrows like NME inside both it says "Cover Story" to emphasize their high significance in the product. more synergy like merchandies "Competition - win a guitar lesson with Rob Caggiano and more!" punctuation of an exclamation mark is an iconic convention of magazines as it shouts out the excitement of free stuff. All photo captions are the same on the front cover e.g. "PRS S2 STARLA" and "SOME MIGHT SAY OASIS" putting emphasis on the language.
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This is 3 double page feature page and I need to analyse 1 double page feature pages in order to understand the conventions of the shorter feature pages. I am struggling to find a 1 double feature page so I may have to revert to a 2 double feature page. This will also allow me to evaluate the difference between the 2 sizes of feature pages.
Images Body language and facial expressions are the same relaxed but bored whereas others are passionate and calm. Thinking about it I have changed my mind the costume and make up is not mainstream as I thought while evaluating the front cover it is not high street clothing. Maybe evening clothing as the shorts and tights are quite a fashionable trend but the crop top with the gold chains is slightly gothic which is a niche genre but the colours are in and the padded shoulders were fashionable last year so maybe its still in but people wouldn't wear this on a day to day basis but for a concert performance instead. This is why there are images of the female protagonist of this article playing the guitar with a female antagonist who is playing the drums. There are both from the same band "Deep Vally". Actually I looked up the band and they are both protagonists as they are the only two people in the band.
lighting is the same as most images low key lighting because there is not contrast between dark and light.
Colour - the colour scheme of this feature matches the Female protagonists costume with a deep red and beige grey and black. Therefore it keeps to the brand of the magazine black red and gold but also strengthens the brand of the band. The white background connotes femininity and contrasts the black font which emphasizes the rock genre.
Font - The heading is big bold and san serif in lower case whereas the summary of the article is all the above but in capitals. This is the same for the first word of the article "WHEN" which seems to be a convention of magazine either the first word or letter of a feature page is in a different font to the rest of the article. The questions are all bold and the answers are normally thin but both are serif. The Pull quotes like the introduction and summary is whit text in a coloured text box but the pull quotes are bolder. The person who speaks the pull quote has their name printed next to it in italics bold but small font. captions of photos also have white text in a black text box. There is also always an overlapping text-box giving random facts about the article giving context.
Layout - huge images three columns per page going around the photos. pull quotes are always repeated 2 times once in the body of text and then in bold outside the text.
Language - There is a pull quote "I'm not afraid to play really simplistic riffs if they sound great" There is a real respect for the music in this magazine as it is less about the artists life. "Empowerment is important to me. Music often plays that role" I think this draws in the readers and makes them want to read the whole article. Byliners are used as the the photographer and author are mentioned at the beginning of the article. The introduction is very enthusiastic to make people want to read on e.g. ""Smashing head first through the summers major festivals" this taboo relates to head banging action which iconic to the rock genre. The summary of the article gives an over view of the band "From tiny pub gigs to festivals all over the world...". The interview has the same amount of energy while keeping the music the main focus with questions like "Do you have to be mindful about filling the space left by not having a bassist?". Answers are probably selected, framed and organised to be to the point while entertaining. This was done with syntax and sentence structure "We're not into filler. It was hard because we had so many songs and there were a lot that didn't make the album. We didn't want a long album - we wanted to keep it short." This quotation has a range of sizes for sentences from short to long. The overlapping text box as explained in the font section puts the article into context "Lindsey may be rocks latest female icon..." This conveys the representation of gender perfectly as the rock genre predominantly has males like everything from politics to religion stereotypical mass media is male dominated which is definitely portrayed through this magazine as these 2 women are the only females in the entire magazine,
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