2. Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a rock magazines based on a
niche audience. It has a consistent house
style throughout the whole magazine
and I am going to analyse how this has
been done. First of all, I will be
examining the front page of a Kerrang!
Magazine, and then move onto the
contents page and lastly the double page
spread.
3. The Front Cover
There is a clear mode of address in both magazines, firstly, the masthead of the
magazine has been allocated right at the top of the magazine. The colour that has
been used is white and has a black background beneath it in both magazines. These
contrasting colours allows the masthead to look striking. Notice how the graphical
elements of the lines going through the titles and crackles in the texts convey a
rough violent vibe which is also iconography for the genre of rock. The exclamation
mark continues the theme of loudness and adds energy to the pronunciation of the
onomatopoeic title. The colour scheme has been made to fit in with the main image
of the magazine. On the left hand side, the colours used are mainly, yellow, white
and black. The main image is also wearing a yellow top with black writing on it. On
the right side, the colours consist of black, yellow, white and red. The main image’s
hair is also a vibrant red
and his attire is dark too.
At the bottom of the front covers,
there is a ‘PLUS!’ written at the
bottom in a bright yellow. This
includes the features of the
magazine. There is circulation used
in both magazines to anchor the
image and also entice the reader. The
language used in the magazines is
colloquial and personal, ‘Hayley
answers your questions!’ allowing the
reader to share a closer bond with
the magazine.
4. The Contents
The contents page continues the house style theme from the
front cover. The colours consisting of black, red, yellow and
white are used in both Kerrang! magazine contents page.
The particular graphical elements of crackles and smudges in
the text is also noticeably continued. Both magazines have
used one big main image that takes up less than half the top
page and the rest are quite smaller allocated in relevant
sections. There is a clear subheading that is bright yellow
with a black background beneath it. The page numbers have
been issued in red where as the text remains in black due to
the white overall background. The title ‘Contents’ has been
placed either in the top left or right hand corner. This draws
attention to the title and ensures that it is clearly visible for
the reader. The layout of the contents page is very easy to
read which is good as the reader should not feel confused.
The image on the top has 4 small columns of features
whereas the image on the bottom has only 2 although this is
more widely spread.
5. The Double Page Spreads.
The double page spreads of Kerrang! Magazine venture on the violent rock theme.
Notice in the double page spreads that the main colour used is red. This colour has
been used throughout the front cover and contents as well. Red is an ambiguous
colour, yet as well as standing out, the reader can tell from this genre that the red
portrayed connotes a violent theme. There are particular graphical and design
elements issued in both of these double page spreads. First of all, the graphical
elements that has been used through is the crackles in the text titles. Furthermore,
the double page spread on right hand side portrays a murderous theme where a
rabbit costume is lying lifelessly on the floor and the band members’ pose,
expression and body language have been fixated around this. The title then has
blood splurts and smears across and onto the other page. The splurts and ‘blood
splatter’ is continued throughout the double page spread. The double page article on the
left hand side also has design
elements that usually go
unnoticed. Since the theme is
based on school and education
‘I wanted to be a history
teacher!’ The ‘history teacher’
has been written in a an almost
school type font. There are
doodles of stars and skull &
cross bones allocated over the
whole page. The theme still
relates to the genre of rock
music as well as the double
page spread article.
6. The House Style is evident
in the following magazine
front cover, contents and
double page spread.
7. White on
red text
background.
+ sign in the
corner with
black on
yellow.
The splash
of yellow
highlights
the key
words.
Disjointed
text for the
anchoring
text of the
main image.
A black
background
with a large
white circle
is the
magazine’s
background.
Main image
is wearing a
combination
of white,
red and
blue.
8. White on
red text
background
is continued
on.
Contents
background
is in white
which
provides a
stark
contrast
with the
black text.
White text
has a black
text
background
beneath.
