The document analyzes various media products and their designs related to indie rock bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, The Kooks, and Bon Iver. It discusses the use of consistent color schemes, typography, and imagery to convey artistic identity and engage target demographics. The analysis highlights how these design choices reflect the themes and narratives of the music, appealing to the audience's understanding and recognition of the artists.

1. ANALYSING ADVERTS
AND DIGIPAKS
A-Level Media Advanced Portfolio

2. Arctic Monkeys- Why’d You Only
Call Me When You’re High Advert
 There is an on-going consistent colour
scheme throughout and font usage
with any product in relation to the Arctic
Monkeys. Their media products
provide a visual appeal and allow
audiences to recognise artists through
their colour schemes and themes.
 The semiotic symbol is well recognises
as being associated with the Arctic
Monkeys so it is easy to reach
audiences in a visual format.
 The conventions of this advert is that it
contains a simplistic colour scheme,
the colour of the band name stands out
from the rest of the cover and it has a
simplistic design so it is not over
complicated.

3. Arctic Monkeys- Why’d You Only
Call Me When You’re High Front
Cover
 The title is in a clear bold text and the positioning is
central in order for the demographic to easily
recognise the band. The colour scheme is black
and white, with the title being white it is easily
contrasted to the black background and therefore
makes the band name and song title stand out.
White has the connotations of purity whilst black
has the connotations such as darkness and
mysteriousness, which could suggest that the
narrative is about someone who is pure and has
done right and someone who has done wrong. The
mood created is quite deep due to the dark
background used, this gives the audience an
impression that the narrative is going to be quite
vigorous and therefore suggests that it is an indie
rock song.

4. Arctic Monkeys- Why’d You Only
Call Me When You’re High Back
Cover
 The fonts and colour scheme used are the
same as the front cover and advert; this
could connote that there is one whole clear
meaning within this song. The
demographic would be between 17-older
20’s, this is due to them understanding the
bands and the colour schemes that they
use in order to portray their narrative.

5. Oasis- Definitely Maybe Album
Advert
 Although this advert is for the DVD, it still
follows the conventions by using the same
fonts and the same image, this allows the
demographic to recognise the band on the
advert and purchase either the DVD or the
album. The simplistic use of colours attires to
the indie genre, with black having the
connotations of mystery, evil and formality.
However white has the connotations of
innocence, purity and perfection. This could
propose that the band talk about real life issues
which contain mystery but they want the lyrics
or the music video perfect in order to attire to
the demographic and ensure they understand
the meaning of the lyrics.

6. Oasis- Definitely Maybe Album
Front Cover
 The name of the band is in the corner rather than
in the centre of the album cover, which
challenges the conventions of the indie music
genre. The image on the front is a laid back
natural picture, which suggests that their music
is very laid back and relaxed. It appears that the
artists are not directly looking at their audience
which is normally a convention of the indie genre
and also key to engaging the audiences
attention, the still framed poses are not
purposeful and they are genuine. Therefore this
could suggest that they’re not interesting in
entertaining their demographic and more
interested in informing them and singing about
real life issues.

7. Oasis- Definitely Maybe Album
Back Cover
 The colour yellow on the back cover has the
connotations of cheerfulness and stimulates
mental activity; this could portray that the
bands music is to help those who have
mental difficulties or they write songs based
on real life issues. The back cover shows a
similar picture to the one that is on the front.
Members of the band have changed
position, creating something visually
interesting, getting their audience to think
about the difference in picture. This could
suggest that their songs and lyrics have the
same effect. Codes and conventions have
been included such as; a numbered track list
and a bar code. The use of including the
songs appeals more to the demographic so
they can recognise what songs are included
within the album so they can purchase it.

8. Oasis-Heathen Chemistry Album
Advert
 The advert still follows the conventions by using the
same fonts and the same image, this allows the
demographic to recognise the band on the advert
and purchase the album. The simplistic use of
colours attires to the indie genre, with black having
the connotations of mystery, evil and formality.
However white has the connotations of innocence,
purity and perfection. This could propose that the
band talk about real life issues which contain mystery
but they want the lyrics or the music video perfect in
order to attire to the demographic and ensure they
understand the meaning of the lyrics. The use of the
obscure image could connote crazing obscure
narratives in the indie rock genre, that no other genre
creates music about suggesting that real life
situations are ‘obscure’.

9. Oasis-Heathen Chemistry Album
Front Cover
 The band name is in the corner again which
could suggest this is the convention for their
album covers. The band name is the only
element other than the image on the front which
portrays a simplistic design. A bold black outline
has been used against the white font in order to
create a contrast. The image has a distorted ,
rippling effect which takes up the whole of the
front album cover, we are unable to see where
they are but it seems like a run down urban
area, which is a convention of the indie genre as
it is an easily accessed area, as we cannot see
where the area is, it created a more intriguing
appeal to the audience. The band are stood
naturally which is also seen in their ‘definitely
maybe’ album cover, which connotes that they
are genuine and they are not trying to impress
people.

10. Oasis-Heathen Chemistry Album
Back Cover
 The back cover also has a simplistic design
with the only elements included being; the
title of the album, the songs within the album,
a barcode, the copy write info and the oasis
website link. The title of the album is
unconventionally on the back cover rather
than on the front. The use of colours are in
contrast with each other as, blue has the
connotations of trust, intelligence, health and
healing which also refers to the ‘norm’ colour
of ‘masculinity’, however black has the
connotations of death, evil and mystery
which both colours are used in contrast to the
more lighter colour used for the image on the
front of the album.

11. The Kooks- Inside In The Inside
Out Album Advert
 The bold black font in the left hand corner takes up quite
a lot of the advertisement, this is due to the band wanting
to stand out and appeal to the demographic. The colour
scheme and typography on the anterior of the album
cover is used on all other panels of the digipak to keep it
consistent. The album cover seems incredibly simple and
it doesn't deliberately go for a particularly lavish
appearance, and adheres to indie conventions of
avoiding mainstream traits. The main title is made up of
red ands black font which stand outs from the blank
washed out background. THE KOOKS is highlighted in
capital bold letters with the colour black used which
draws more attention to the band and allows the
audience to easily recognise the band. Throughout the
whole design of the digipak the same colour scheme is
used which is black, white and red. The red is contrasted
with the black and white effect because it is bold and
makes it stand out in contrast to the monochrome
background. From looking at the digipak we can tell that
it is from an indie rock band due to them holding
instruments as if they are playing a song. The shot used
in their album is a wide shot. This shows all the band
members and shows who plays what instrument. It also
gives us an insight of how the band put themselves
across to their target audience. As well as showing the
band members it demonstrations us the environment and
where they are.

12. The Kooks- Inside In The Inside
Out Album Front Cover
 The album cover and advertisement are somewhat the
same. The photo used is the same and the red and black
text used automatically allows the audience to link the two
together. The band members are present in the photo which
isn't as conventional for indie rock. All of the band members
are on the front cover of the album meaning that they do
want people to know their band image however they are all
facing away from the camera which suggests that the Kooks
main focus is their music as they are also holding
instruments. The fact each member of the band have
averted their gaze from the camera connotes that they
remain unfazed by media exposure and focus exclusively on
making music, manifesting themselves as level headed. The
photo of the band its self shows them sitting with each other
making music, the absence of a spontaneous studio
reinforces the conventions of an indie genre in the idea that
they use easily accessed settings. The ‘Kooks’ are dressed
quite darkly in black or dark greys. Dark colours usually
connote something negative and depressing. This works
well because they are a rock band and many rock bands are
recognised in that way. The image that has been caught of
them seems to be pretty relaxed and in a calm environment.
It looks as though they are in a sitting room, just ‘hanging
out’. This then tells the audience that what they are doing
now is something they would do on an average day.

13. The Kooks- Inside In The Inside
Out Album Inside Cover
 The inlay inside of the album still attires to the
colour scheme that is used on the front of the
album and the advert. However a different
image is used allowing more dynamics to
what the audience are seeing and how they
interpret the band themselves. The image
used inside is still a very natural still framed
image, but in this image they are somewhat
looking at the camera. This has a contrast to
the front cover and advert as their ‘unfazed’
look suggested that they weren’t fazed by
media exposure which sells the album, but
then when you look inside the album the inlay
image suggests something totally different.

14. The Kooks- Inside In The Inside
Out Album Back Cover
 The black and white effect has been used
again on the back of the CD album. The
image that has been used on the back is
from the drummers point of view.. They
decided to put the barcode and list of
songs at the top of the album because
there was free space and seems like they
didn’t want to ruin the image they are
putting across. The mise en scene has
remained the same as it was on the front
cover, they are all still in a sitting room with
their heads down looking like they are
either tuning their guitars or practising
chords. Everything is blurred out in the
wide shot apart from the drummers drum.
This illustrates that the drummer is not the
centre of attention, because in a band the
drummer is always at the back and doesn’t
get as much attention as the other band
members. The fact that they made the
image from his point of view made him
stand out and shows that he is just as
important as the others in the band.

15. Bon Iver- Holocene Advert
 Due to this music being indie folk
rather than indie rock the type of image
used is very different to the other
music videos. However the artists
name in the centre at the very top
against the red background provides a
contrast and allows the white to stand
out against the red. White has
connotations of purity, whilst red has
connotations of danger but also
strength and power. This could suggest
that the narrative is about the strength
and power the artist has to be himself
and to express his feelings. The use of
rating from different mediums appeals
to the target audience as they can see
whether or not the album is worth
purchasing.

16. Bon Iver- Holocene Front Cover
 The image used on the front cover of the album
interlinks with the narrative of Bon Iver’s Holocene
song. The colours and the landscapes work in a way
that make you feel warm and at home, in Bon Iver the
lyrics and the performance is peaceful and passive so
it essentially matches the album artwork. Red has the
connotations of energy, strength and power. Whilst
white has the connotations of innocence, purity and
perfection. The colour scheme used could suggest
that these colours are used to compliment each other
within Bon Iver’s lyrics rather than one colour
contrasting another. The use of colours could suggest
that he has had the strength to talk about moments in
his life that may have not been so perfect but his
innocence have allowed him to overcome the different
scenarios that life has challenged him with.

17. Bon Iver- Holocene Back Cover
 The back of the Digipak is pain and simple just
like the front with only the name the album
and song listings in a hand writing script,
giving the design a personalised feel. Typical
conventions of the indie genre are seen here
even though it is folk rather than rock. The use
of listing the song tracks appeals to the target
audience so they can identify what songs are
included within the album, a barcode is used
and the artists’ website is included as another
way to promote the album or even the artist
himself. On the back of the digipak the
production company is listed in smaller writing
as it is not as important to the consumer as
the information on track listings are. The
artists website is also listed as fans might
want this and allows another way of marketing
the band. The text itself links in with the folk
music genre as it is traditional rather than a
modern text.