The document analyzes and summarizes several album advertisements. It notes that the NAS advertisement challenges conventions through its thoughtful, propaganda-style imagery rather than flashy graphics. Details are kept simple with the artist's name and release date separated from the photo. As a mainstream artist, NAS and his label can afford a full-page advertisement. Overall, the analysis provides guidance on designing effective advertisements that consider genre conventions, level of detail, size, and appealing to target audiences.

1. The use of the images in this advert is good, you can see lots
of effort has been taken in the editing, however it is the same
image that is in the album cover, even his name is written the
same. This is something I can’t do in my advert as it will look
rushed with a lack of effort.
The lighting is high key which I think connotes that Wretch is
in a good place and that its a happy album unlike the album
covers that I analysed. I think it challenges the conventions of
the genre as I would expect to see the paint drips and vector
style editing in an electronic album advert. I think it presents
Wretch’s image as a real life happy guy who doesn’t brag on
about his hard life and social disadvantage. However I think it
goes along with hip hop conventions because the text is
shiny, almost like bling.
The layout is simple and typical, and there are only two
typefaces used throughout the advert, this is good because it
means things aren’t overloaded and too fussy, this could
contribute to his star image as a serious music maker.
The details are small and conspicuous and almost contribute
to the design themselves. I must remember to put some
‘Available from’ on my advert.
The size of the advert is a full page, Wretch 32 is a mainstream
artist who appeals to the masses so his record label can afford
this type of exposure.
I think the advert is quite entropic but also very redundant as
there are parts of it that I feel are quite unexpected like the
paint dripping, the blacked out arms of wretch and the
beautiful day, but parts of it I feel are quite redundant, the
photograph of him and the shiny type.
Its important to have appealing and appropriate print work
even if people do download, because if there are no adverts
or exposure of the album people won’t know its coming out to
go download it.
It also contributes towards the star image, so every piece of
print work is important.

2. This album advert is an illustration, the type face is quite a generic hip hop style and is quite redundant as it has been used so much.
There are no photographs on the digipak advert which I think its quite entropic because normally there is a photograph of the digipak cover or some kind
of photograph of the band. The mise en scene of the advert is quite rough and metallic, what with the rivet holes in the background, it gives it more of a
street edge.
I think it reinforces the star image as its blatantly hip hop is quite simple and not overly developed.
This advert was from before iTunes so that isn’t included there isn’t allot of detail at all in this advert, not much detail was really needed!
This advert is around half a page, Beastie Boys were more alternative, yet were still very popular for there time so this surprises me, however it could be
from when they were just starting out so there could be an explanation.
Although we can download Beastie Boys songs on the internet there music came out in a time where there was no internet so print work was extremely
important in attracting sales and getting the bands name out there.

3. The use of images in this advert is interesting, and as we can see although the
style is the same as on the album cover, it is not a copy, this is definitely a good
thing. The pose that NAS is in indicates that he is thinking, and the poster style
reminds me of a propaganda poster, with the colour scheme and washed out
look so I think this is something that could influence my design.
His pose helps contribute to the title of the album, which is a rhetorical
question, it represents him as thoughtful.
I think it challenges the conventions of the genre because its not blingy, its quite
mellow, almost dark and scary which is a contrast to wretch 32’s advert in my
first analysis.
NAS, as in his album work has been successful in presenting himself as a real life
rap artist who originates from the streets and has lots of life experience.
what is connoted by the angle, shot type, mise en scene, lighting etc.? How does
this use or challenge the conventions of the genre? How does it contribute to
the creation or reinforcement of a star image?
The layout is simple, and the font he uses are gritty, but simple and not
overbearing, it challenges the conventions of the genre, and I believe the
conventions of the genre are what we saw in the beastie boys advert.
The use of detail is nicely positioned at the bottom in a black banned, separating
it from the photograph.
The size of the advert is a full page, NAS is a mainstream artist signed to
Columbia, so they can afford lots of exposure of him as an artist.
I think the advert is quite entropic as I don’t think its something you would
expect to see from a mainstream hip hop artist because its quite thought
provoking and in a vintage style.

4. • Use of font and layout - how does this use or
challenge the conventions of the genre? How
does it contribute to the creation or
reinforcement of a star image?
• Use of detail – e.g. copyright, thanks, critics
quotes, release date, i-Tunes link .... make a list
of important details you want to feature in
your print work.
• Size of advert – quarter, half, full or double
page? Why?
• Who are the target audience and what
elements are likely to appeal to them?
You should also look at:
• Redundancy and entropy – how redundant
or entropic is the advert/digipack? Is this
appropriate for the genre and target audience?
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