This double page spread from NME magazine features an article about British rapper Dizzee Rascal. Dizzee Rascal's image takes up the center of the page to draw readers' attention. Various elements are used following magazine conventions, such as the masthead, page numbers, and credits. However, some elements break conventions, like using 4 columns instead of following the rule of thirds. The images and article text provide context about Dizzee Rascal's background and rise to fame in the rap genre.

1. Mis en scene –- the mis enscene describes the arrangement of
scenery in an image (everything in the image). This can range
from makeup, to costume and toprops andso on andsoon. It is
used in order tocreate a main feature of the magazine in order to
make the target audience want tobuy it. It also helps make use of
space and make the cover look more exciting and fun tolook at as
it will draw the audience’s attentiontowards them first. The mis
en scene is conventional for all magazines inorder to helpportray
the genre – e.g. rock magazines use guitars, gigs, and graffiti (like
this issue) to show howtheir magazine fits into rock. The main
image is of Dizzee rascal. This is done in order to linkto the article
on the other side of the double page spread, andalsoto link back
to the cover and contents page. As the same celebrity appears on
the front cover, it makes this the main article because it will
endorse the niche market into reading this particular double page
spread. The particular shot used is a medium long shot. The
celebrity in the image fills up the middle thirdof the page,
therefore creating a hot spot for the reader to look at (as it follows
the rule of thirds). Furthermore, as the image of him fills the whole
page, it connotes high importance. It wouldalso
persuade/encourage the niche market/ target audience to buy the
magazine again as this particular page couldbe classedas a free
poster in which the reader can have or cut out. He wears a red
jacket which helps continue the house style throughout the
magazine and so works insynergy to help brandeach other as they
both become recognisable to the public eye.
The image of Dizzee rascal couldbe said tosubvert the conventions
of a normal magazine. This is because he is looking away from the
audience which stops the reader from feeling a sense of direct
address (most magazines use this conventionto make the reader
feel involved). However he could be looking away in order to
connote that he is doing something he shouldn’t be (suchas
graffiti) and is looking to make sure noone sees.
Page title/heading – The main heading will be the
biggest font on the page. This is done to create a sense
of importance and to entice the reader into reading it
first to interest them into the rest of the article. The
main heading of this page uses a pun in the title. This is
done to make the article seen more user friendly as it
creates a fun atmosphere. The word ‘tag’ in slang
means vandalism with spray-paints or graffiti, which is
what Dizzee is shown to be doing on the main image.
This slang therefore helps aim the magazine at a niche
market as only a certain amount of people will
understand the slang used. The font of the writing is big
and bold. A black colour is used in order to make it
stand out from the partially graffitied background.
Some of the words in the sentence are slightly bigger
than others. This is done in order to make certain parts
stand out to the reader and so suggests they’re more
important to read. Furthermore the use of different
font sizes makes the page looks more fun and
interesting to read and look at.
Columns –The text of the article is split up into 4
columns. This is done in order to make the writing
easier to read and professionally presented.
Furthermore it helps separate the different
paragraphs of writing and so helps the audience to
keep track of where they are in the text. However
this article breaks away from convention. This is
because an article is normally presented following
the rule of thirds. As this article has 4 columns it
breaks this convention.
Subheading -/subtitle –This is an essential element
for a double page spread. It helps introduce what is
on the page and give the reader a bit of information
about the article. The subtitle is normally smaller
than the subheading, however is bigger than the
article hence showing that it is alsoimportant. This
is used in order to separate the main heading from
the main text of the page. It also helps inform the
reader of the content of the article and helps entice
them into reading it. Furthermore, Dizzee rascals
name appears in bold, whichreinforces why his
image has been used as the main image. In addition
to this, other celebrity names such as Kate moss are
used in order to reach out toother niche markets
who may find the article interesting as it appeals to
them.
NME logo/ masthead –The NMElogo is used on the
bottom left hand sideof this doublepagespread. This
is done in order to constantly remind the reader what
magazinethey are reading, andwill alsopersuade
them to buy thenext issue if theyenjoy reading the
content. Furthermore,by using thelogoon thesame
page as Dizzeerascal,it shows that theyareworking in
synergy to promote/brandeachother. This is because
they are helping eachother tobecomemore
recognisableto thepublicand so are getting more
recognition.
Page names and numbers –Thisisan essential part ofa
magazine and so isa common conventionfor each and every
issue to appear on each page. The pagenameandnumber is
allocated at the bottom left hand side. These pagenames and
numbers areusedin order to providethereaderwith
information aboutthecontent ofthepageand whatpage they
are on in themagazine. This helps when it comes toreading the
contents pageas thereaderwill know exactly where tolook in
order to find specific articles that theyareinterested in.
Article text –The textofthis articletalks about Dizzee
rascals lifeand lots ofgossip about him. Furthermore it
talks aboutprevious events and other celebrities that fit
into the genre ofthe magazine.The articletext is included
to give the readersomething toreadaboutand would
appealto a nichemarket/ target audience iftheylikeDizzee
rascaland other events that arementionedin the text and
subheading on this double pagespread.
Image ofstereo and beer bottles –Thereis a musicbox placed onthebottomright ofthedouble
page spread. This particular type ofmusic box is quite old fashioned and was usedyears ago. This
connotes thatit was anobject used by Dizzeerascal used inhis early life–whichsuggests the reason
why he started rapping in the firstplace.Furthermore,this object is stereotypically associated to
rappers in films –they’reuseda lot whenit comes to films based aroundmusic and subgenres such
as rap music and scenes consisting of‘rapoffs’ innight clubs.This thereforesuggests the reason
why there are many empty beer bottles shownin theimage.Thereforethe image ofthe musicbox
and beer bottles can allconnote that itis where Dizzeerascalbegan singing and rapping and
becoming recognisedby lots ofpeopleand eventuallybecoming famous.
Credits –Therearecredits included onthetop
right hand side ofthepagespread. This is done
to make thewriter and photographernoticed
and so is givencredit for helping to producethe
articleabout Dizzee Racal.
Task 1c – Analysisof NME double page spread