This document provides an analysis of the cover of the NME magazine featuring British rapper Dizzee Rascal. It examines various elements of the cover including the masthead, genre, cover lines, images, barcode, target audience, mise-en-scene, color scheme, and iconographies. The analysis determines that the magazine's target audience is likely teenage to young adult males interested in rock and hip hop music.

1. Masthead- The Mastheadof a magazine is
basicallythe title of the magazine.With this
Masthead,we can clearlysee thatthe name of the
magazine isNME. One thingthat isidentifiable
fromthisis the font.We can see thatthisis ina
big,boldfontand isone of the biggestthingson
the front cover.Anotherthingsthatwe can take
fromthe Mastheadisthe colourof it as usuallythe
colourof the Mastheadis usuallythe house
style/coloursof the magazine.
Genre-Intermsof genre,Iwouldsaythatthis isa rock
magazine withasub-genre of hip-hop.The reasonforthe
rock genre isbecause of the namesof all the rock bands
that are starringinthe magazine inthe topright.My
thoughtbehindthe sub-genresof hip-hopisbecause of
the mainimage as thisconnotesthe fact that Dizzee
Rascal isa well-knownpopularfigure onthe hip-hop
scene.
MainCoverline- The maincoverlineisthe coverline
that usuallylinkswith the mainimage.Inthiscase,itis
quote fromthe mainimage,whoisDizzee Rascal.
Long shot- A longshotis where the cameragetsa full
bodyshot of the subject.Eventhoughthisisa full body
shot,some of the mainimage hasbeencroppedout,this
wouldmake ita mediumshot.
Mainimage- The mainimage isthe image on the front
coverof the magazine.Thisusuallylinkswiththe main
coverline anddisplaysthe mainappeal of the magazines
currentissue.
Coverline- A coverline onthe frontcoverof a
magazine isusuallythere asitincludessome
informationaboutwhat’sgoingtobe inthe magazine
i.e.certain/specificarticles,interviewsetc.
Strap- A strapline isasubsidiaryheadingorcaptionon a
magazine.Inthiscase the strap is the 16 page autumn
tour special.Thiswouldcatchthe eye of the audience asit
isa ‘special’.Thismeansthatitdoesn’tappearoftenso
thismay add tothe initial appeal of the magazine.
Rule of Thirds- The Rule of Thirdsis a key
convention.Two questionsthatwe wouldneedto
ask whenconsideringthe Rule of Thirdsis,what
are the pointsof interestinthisshot?andwhere
am I initiallyplacingthem?
Barcode- The barcode isa veryuseful thingonafront
coverof a magazine.Itcall tell uswhichissue numberthat
the magazine is.Give usthe dateline andthe price.And
can tell ushow manyhave beensold whichisa keyfactor
as thisleadsusonto knowingaboutthingslike their
leadershipfigures.
Target Audience- The firstthingthat I would notify would be
age. I'd say that this magazine is aimed atteenagers to young
adults.The reason for this is that ithas a sub-genre of hip hop
and these types of ages are more likely to listen to this genre
of music.In terms of gender, I would say that itis aimed at the
male gander. This is becauseithas a well known, popular male
on the image and males aremore likely to listen to Rock and
Hip hop music compared to women who may listen to a
different genre of music. Their ethnicity may come into play
here as more black males listen to rap music and the main
image includes Dizzee Rascal,who is a well known artiston the
hip hop/rap scene so this may attractthem, as well as other
household names likeJay-Z, whose name is displayed in the
Strip alongthe bottom of the magazine. Finally,I would look at
the social classand lifestyleof my target audience.Considering
the priceof the magazine, which was £5.00, I would say that
this magazineis more suited to the higher class.This is mainly
due to their high income. In terms of a higher class lifestyle,it
may incorporatesuch things as holidaysabroad,membership
of a sports club,dethatched house, higher model/make of car
etc.
Mise-en-scene- Mise-en-scene includesthings
like props,costumes,locationetc.Inthiscase,in
termsof costume,he isdressedquite casually
whichmay linktothe way hismusicgenre dress.
The fact he isin frontof graffiti maylinktohis age
and beingayouth.
Colour scheme- Forthe colourscheme,
one of thingsthatdeterminesthe colour
scheme isthe Mastheadand otherthingsas
the Masthead isred.There are alsoother
house colourssuchas white,blue andblack.
Iconographies- Intermsof iconographies, the way
Dizzee Rascal dressesisveryclearas he comesfroma
musicgenre that genreallydressescasually,inatracksuit,
it can alsolinktothe fact he isyoungwhichmeanshe
couldbe seenas a 'youth'.