2. Vibe is a music magazine produced by Quincy Jones that
features articles about R&B and Hip Hop artists but also
actors and other entertainers. The codes and conventions
of R&B genre are stereotypically that males are usually
topless to appeal to female audience and show off there
masculinity and status to other men however they can also
be stylishly dressed for the same reasons as it can make
them look like a ‘boss’. Females are also exploited for their
sexuality as they will dress to appeal to men or show other
women that they can be attractive and in charge. Jewellery
is also used to show off status and represent the
stereotypical ‘Gangster lifestyle’.
3. Billboard is owned by Prometheus global media group
and is a music magazine aimed at a mainstream
audience, its genre is mainly popular music from the
charts. Codes and conventions of this genre are that
the content included appeals to a mass audience and
the music is usually from the charts and very popular.
Also the magazine will have a more positive feel and be
based around the latest trends. Billboard is one of the
worlds most influential.
4. The Mastheads on the cover pages are iconic signs as
they represent the brand identity for the magazine.
Vibe uses bold font and a mixture between capital
letters and lower case, this makes it look more
interesting and readers can recognise this. Also the
use of the intense red colour can have culturally
symbolic signs of passion, love, danger or anger.
Cover Pages
5. In relation to the magazine the preferred
reader will see the connotations of the colour
red could be interpreted as passionate and
dangerous as the magazine manipulates the
rock and roll lifestyle for the R&B and hip hop
genres as seen in the main cover line ‘Miguel
sex, drugs and R&B’. In contrast billboard
magazines main cover line is ‘Our Woman Of
The Year Beyoncé’ This is a more positive
article as it is praising her where as Miguel is
being shown as rebellious in a cool way.
Moreover an indexical sign of ‘Vibe 'magazine
is the main image where Miguel is seen posing
in a stereotypical ‘rock star’ pose.
6. Similarly billboard uses bold font and colour to appeal
to its audience the use of colour blocking to fill letters is
an iconic sign for the magazine. The prominent female
used as the main image is a symbolic sign of elegance
and power as Beyoncé is a well known female singer
and her pose shows off her figure in a regal way. The
symbolic signs of blue and white for the colour scheme
has a preferred reading that the magazine represents
her positively as blue and white together can be seen as
water which is refreshing.
7. The preferred reading will see this as the magazine
offers refreshing insights into the music industry.
The oppositional reading could view Beyoncé as
posing provocatively as her dress shows off her body
and doesn’t cover her up, however the iconic
and indexical signs all show that billboard has more
positive connotations and a wider more main stream
audience who are aware of the genre.
8. Contents Pages:
The vibe contents page has the iconic signs of
the magazines mast head and ‘V’ logo graphic
this makes readers identify with the magazine
as they are familiar with its brand identity.
There are indexical signs of a stereotypical
‘Gangster’ used as the main image, from this
picture the preferred reading shows that the
magazine represents urban culture as the pose
and props used conform to this, as he is
barring his teeth and flashing his large chains.
Billboard uses a superimposed layout and a
more balanced image to text ratio than vibe
the iconic signs are the typography used as
readers can automatically relate to the
magazine.
9. The symbolic sign of the deep red colour in
‘Vibe’ has negative connotations that add to
the stereotype as the deep red can represent
danger and in society ‘gangsters’ are viewed as
dangerous. However an oppositional reading
to this would be that despite the gangster
lifestyle there are still firm morals and ethics
as there is a tattoo that has religious
connotations and one that talks about respect
this subverts from the stereotype and shows
that an indirect representation of the
‘gangster’ as the main image is that he has
morals and the readers can see it as a positive
as he has beliefs. The white with the outlines
of other colours on billboards contents page
are iconic signs to the magazines brand
identity they also create a house style the
oppositional reading of this is that the
magazine has a clear message with additional
interesting content so it offers a fresh
perspective.
10. Similarly to vibe, billboard has a main image of a
male however the indexical signs show that
there are more positive connotations as he is
wearing a suit and looks business like the
preferred reading will identify him as a role
model because he is ready to work and
prepared. Also the low key lighting is an
indexical sign that makes him appear
mysterious an oppositional reading shows that
the reader will want to discover his secrets in
the magazine and solve the mystery.
11. Typography is also used as an iconic sign for
the mast head and the logo as an indication to
the branding of the magazine, on the other
hand a mixture between serif and san serif font
is an indexical sign and creates an informal feel
to the magazine and indicate a mature
demographic as the serif font is usually used as
a formality for a higher class. Billboard uses
mainly san serif font this is more informal and
appeals to a younger audience the preferred
reading is that billboard is a trendy magazine
and the typography can be seen as youthful
and interesting.
12. Double Page Spreads:
Image: The main image is an
indexical sign as it links with the
headline of the article as Bruno
Mars looks as if he is in floating in
space but still cool and in control.
The preferred reading makes the
reader look up to Bruno as he looks
like he is in charge.
Typography: This is an
iconic sign as the font used
is specific to the house
style for vibe. The
preferred reading will
make links to the picture of
Bruno Mars and the
headline as it is a direct
representation. Also the
colouring make the ‘Mars’
stand out an oppositional
reading would be that
there is a double meaning
and it could refer to the
planet and ‘Mars’ being the
war planet.
13. Masthead: This is used to in
keep with the house style and
as an iconic sign for vibe. There
is also use of a barcode, the
preferred reading is that vibe is
including the codes and
conventions of magazines.
Layout: The image to
text ratio is balanced
here as they each have
one page and the
design is very simple
the preferred reading
of this is that the
magazine doesn't need
much to be interesting.
14. Layout: the article uses a
superimposed format to layer
images and text in a professional
way this is a symbolic sign as the
main image over the text showing
that it is more important. The
preferred reading is that Nicki Minaj
is directly addressing the audience
which is why she is closest to the
audience .
Colours: Colour is a symbolic
sign stereotypically the
colours used are aimed at a
female audience. The
preferred reading of the pink
pastoral colour scheme is
‘girly’ and soft although an
oppositional reading would
be that the mise en scene
suggests a contrast to this,
and a more wild and fierce
connotation because of the
animal print and alert facial
expressions.
15. Typography: A symbolic sign is the
phrasing of the headline which
suggests that Minaj is exposing a truth
because of the use of ‘Gospel’. The
preferred reading is that she is seen
as someone to look up to trust this is
also relevant as a genre of music ‘a
style of black American religious
singing’ as Minaj is a singer/rapper
and it shows she has morals.
Image: The main image is an
indexical sign featuring a
mid-shot of an iconic female
rapper the mise en scene of
the image suggest that she is
fierce because of the animal
print and contrasting colours.
The preferred reading of this
sets up Nicki Minaj to be a
role model this is further
shown in the prominent use
of a ring that says 'icon’. The
oppositional reading of this
would see her as arrogant
although this reading also
adds to the ‘fierce’ persona.
