A2 Media Emma Gilligan

1. Analysis of Album back
covers
Here I will establish the common codes and conventions of back covers
for albums

2. Ellie Goulding ‘ Bright Lights’ back cover
Here we have the back cover for Ellie Goulding’s
album. Back covers are very conventional. For
example, there is always a track list, which usually
follows down vertically in order of how the songs
play. There are iconic signs such as the record
label logo and the barcode which refer to the
iconography of the back cover. There is also a
disclaimer at the bottom,with the main purpose to
inform.
The design is in keeping with the front cover too
and is intertextual with the title “Lights” Referring to
the mise-en-scene the gold and green colours
connote nature and are very mellow and relaxing
which reflect the Pop/Indie genre of the artist.
The main purpose of back covers is to inform and
the target audience will be those wishing to buy the
album,but want to know more. Often audiences will
refer to the back cover to see if their favourite
tracks are featured on the album and so the back
cover can prove crucial in audiences deciding
whether to buy the album or not.

3. Bastille ‘Bad Blood’ back cover analysis
Once again, the back cover design correlates with the front.
Referring to the cinematography, we have a wide shot of a car
(iconic sign) with it’s headlights flashing towards the text.
Following codes and conventions of back covers, it is quite simplistic.
The text is emboldened and the track list is ordered vertically and
follows in the order of which the tracks play.
Again we have the iconography of a back cover with the terms and
conditions and the bar code for purchase purposes.
Interestingly, as with the back cover for Ellie Goulding white text is
used to contrast with the featured background, which adds emphasis
to the track list. Iconic signs of symbols are also used in place of
letters which refers to Ancient Greek which is another theme carried
throughout the promotion of Bastille.

4. Lorde ‘Pure Heroine’ back cover
Referring to the mise-en-scene, there is a strong black/grey
and white theme which again is correlated with the front
cover style. Unlike with the front however, there is an
animated symbol which is a graphic representation of Lorde,
the artist.
In contrast with the other album covers there is no backfround
image,although I think all 3 album covers are effective in their
design.
Once again there are several common codes and conventions
including the barcode and terms and conditions as well as the
way in which the track list follows horizontally.
I think the simplistic designs works effectively
and so with my final production I think a
minimalist design will work well too.