1. Analysisof CDDigipacks
Rihanna:Loud
Character- Thisdigipackonly uses
one character whichisthe artist
Rihanna. Forthe digi paka use of
a close up shotof the artist
Rihannalookingquite seductive
due to the way the artistis
lookingdown andnotgiving
directeye contact createsthe
ideaof seduction butalso
suggestsshyness.The artistshairandlipstickmakesthe image more prominentandboldasthe
colourred is associatedwithmeaningsof love,passion,desire,heat,longing,joy,strength,
leadership,courage,vigour,willpower,rage,anger,danger,malice,wrath,stress,action,vibrancy,
radiance,anddetermination,creatingthe ideathatthe albummessage isall goingtobe abouta
love/hate relationshipbetweenherandpossiblyanex-boyfriend. The colourredalsorelatestotitle
of the album‘loud’withthe strikingcolourtomake the albumcoverto standout.Rihannais shown
lookingdown;makingnoeye contactwiththe camera suggeststhe artistcreatinganideaof
innocence. Thisalsocreatesthe ideajuxipostionasthe camerashotand physicalityof the artist
contrast withthe colourred.
Narrative events- The inside albumartworkisextremelyeyecatchingwiththe backgroundisvery
busydue the beautiful boldroses whichthe artistislyingonwearingwhichappears tobe a wedding
dresssuggestingalove storybetweenherandalover,italsosuggeststhe ideaof weakness
suggestingshe lovesthe conceptof happyeverafter.Thiscreatesastrongnarrative to the digipack
as inside the albumsartworksuggestsafairytale storyline asthe albumartworkcontainsroses
whichsymboliseslove,passionandpossiblysexuality,whichwill create asex appeal towardstoa
male audience due tothe artistphysicalityasshe islookingseductive whole lyingonthe bedof
roses. Howevermanysongsonthe albumwrittenbythe artist are not so innocentsuchas S&M
whichiscomplete oppositetowhatthe albumsuggeststothe audience.Neverthelessmostof the
songsrelate tothe theme of love andalsoheartbreak.A narrative enigmaiscreatedtoattract
audiencesastheywantto knowthe meaningof the albumas Rihannaisgivingindirectaddressto
the audience creatingthe ideaof innocence’s,mystery.
Iconography- The rosesthroughoutRihanna’sartworkare iconicasthe rosessymboliseinnocence,
Love,honour,Faith,Beauty,Passion,Wisdom, Intrigue,Devotion,Sensuality,Timelessnesswhich
relatestowhole meaningof the albumandcertainsongssuchas ‘onlygirl (inthe world)’.However
there isa danger connationdue tothe colourof redwhichconnectsto ideaof heart break,creating
a dark side to Rihannaas some songsare quietexplicitsuchasS&M whichismore about herand
loverphysical relationship.
Setting- Inthe inside of the artwork,Rihannaisshownlayingonabedof rosesthiscreatessense of
fairytell story/ love storyasshe appearsto be ina love struckstate as she appearsto be happyand
inlove.The dresswornmakesherappear as she isa fairytale princessas the dresslookslike a
weddingdresscreatingideaof innocence.Thisgoesagainstthe hergenre of musicasshe’sgoing
2. againstthe representationof R&Bartist,asmany female artistare usuallyportrayedinsexually
style,withminimalclothingbecomingaobjectof desire,howeverRihannachallengesthatideaand
createsthe innocence toR&B musicand notjust an objectof desire.
Technical andaudiocodes- The mainimage usedonthe frontcoverof the album ispossible taken
withina studiotoget more of a professional looktothe album, asthere isa use of highkeylighting
to artistslookmore glamorousinthe editorial light,tomake the artistmore appealingtoaudiences,
alsothe brighthighkeylightsuggeststhe ideaof innocence andcreatingcontrastbetweenthe
colourred of the lipsand hairto give of mixedthemesof the meaningof the songsonthe album
‘LOUD’.
