textual analysis of student work

2. 0 This is the music magazine from Thomas Smith
last year. I chose this to analyse because it is an
A grade blog so I thought it would be good to
see the strengths and also what the
weaknesses are. Through this textual analysis, I
would be able to find some ideas that I would
like to take forward. The genre of this music
magazine was Indie Rock.

3. Front Page Analysis
0Strengths
0Weaknesses

4. Headline - ‘This is It By Klash Habit Free CD
Included’ attracts the audience who likes
their songs, and want the free CD.
outfits of the band
photo of the band in the connote genre (Casual –
centre, taking up most of the jeans, hoodies, t-shirt).
page which attracts the Band facing the
audience. The electric guitars front, (direct address)
and drumsticks (icons of makes the reader
genre) connote the genre concentrate.
Red stands out with the black
outline and contrasts with the
blue background. Shows the Bright blue colour of
importance of the band and the background
attracts the audience. makes the photo and
other headlines stand
out. blue and red
colours - funky image
Background-crumpled which relates to the
paper connotes a genre.
rebellious, defiant
attitude – connotes Rock
and also the name of the
band ‘Klash Habit’.

5. I think the style of the masthead looks too
simple. If there were more effects
added, such as texture, it would make it look
more interesting.
Quote ‘God knows how we
got there’ not clearly shown
- style of the font
unique, but a little bit hard
More variety of colors
to read. letters are too thin
for the background
so it is not readable.
would be better. Only
white and bright blue
looks too simple.
Maybe could have
been better if there
were some paint
‘Plus’ part not really
splashes (?) of black -
shown well since the
looks more exciting
colour of text and
and gives more of an
background is the same.
indie rock image.
better if different
colour, such as white so
that it contrasts with the
background color and
stand out.

6. Ideas I would like to take forward
0 Having the photo of the artist right in the center
and big, taking up most of the space.
0 Having some items that connote my music
genre. For example, a folk guitar, music notes
etc.
0 Not having many texts, keeping it brief.

7. Contents Page Analysis
0Strengths
0Weaknesses

8. ‘What’s Inside..?’ more
‘Klash Habit’ - red bold capitals Layout –
interesting than just ‘Contents’ as
stand out, tells the reader that it neat, organized.
the title. makes the reader
is the main article of the Not too much
curious
magazine. text, size of photo
big - doesn’t look
Brief explanation of boring
each band lets the
reader know what the Three photos connote
article will be about genre well. All taken
and makes them want from low-angle, which
to read. Kept brief, not makes the artist look
too long superior. The artist in the
big photo looks
active, young and free
which connotes the
Contents are divided into genre and the long-shot
two sections ‘features’ and shows the pose of the
‘regulars’ so that the artist well
reader can easily find what brief explanation of
they want to read. the main article lets
the reader briefly
know who they are in
It reminds the reader case the reader
again about the free CD doesn’t know, makes
included which attracts reader curious
the reader.

9. Overall, not many colors
(bright blue is mainly
used). Therefore, the
background color and
some texts are both the
same color so the texts
don’t really stand out.
The masthead of the
magazine ‘Volume’ is
not really shown well. It
might have been better
if the black outlines of
the letters were thicker.

10. Ideas I would like to take forward
0 Having the photo of the main article the
biggest so that it stands out.
0 Having the title of the main article (the artist’s
name) in a different color from all the other
texts so that it stands out and attracts the
reader.
0 Having the contents categorized.
0 Having brief descriptions of each article in the
features.

11. Double Page Analysis
0Strengths
0Weaknesses

12. The name of the band
‘Klash Habit’ stands out
with the red color which
contrasts with the
background color.
In the photo of the
left page of the
band, the member in
the back is not really
shown.
The black and white The fact file
photo of the band is briefly lets the
unique, showing all reader know
4 members well. who they are.
They look
casual, young, free-
spirited and active.

13. The name of the
artist ‘James
Perfect’ stands
out with the blue
color on the black
background.
the background of the
bricks goes well with
the image of the
band.
There are not
too much
texts so it
doesn’t look
busy
he doesn’t really stand
out because there is
too much in the
background. The
background stands out
more than him.
(black&white photo)

14. Ideas I would like to take forward
0Having a brief description and a
fact file of the artist.
0Having quotes from the artist.