This double-page spread in Q magazine features an interview with pop artist Shakira to promote her new album. The masthead uses an exclamatory title "Danger!" to give it an intriguing, gossip-like feel. Shakira's mix of pop, Latin, and R&B music appeals to Q magazine's target demographic of 25+ year olds. The layout separates information into boxes for flexibility. A pull quote from Shakira about going after her desires "with teeth and claws" relates to her new single "She Wolf." The main image shows Shakira in a music studio looking casual and approachable. A second image presents her in a more posed, sexualized manner to appeal to male readers

1. Music Magazine
Conventions
Ashlee-Rose Brisley

2. 1
1 1
4 6&7 4
7 3 7
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4 6
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1. Iconic •Colour scheme is really important with
Masthead this magazine, it’s what makes the brand
2. Main Image
iconic – red, white & black 1
(Usually
colour) •There are similarities in
3. Main Artist’s spacing, layout, font and alignment. The
Name in Bold two images on the right have no Right 3
4. Prominent third. The three images across the top all
Artist’s name have the cover star over lap the title. The
in Bold
left and right issue have the same puff
5. Full Left 6
Third design. Some issues have some unique
6. Right Third twists (the top of Leo’s issue) but
7. Puffs and conventionally the magazine stays with
Plugs what it’s know for to build reputation and 2
iconography. 4

3. I looked at a minimal front cover to find an example of how I could
present the indie genre in a simple way. I used this recreation to
reflect on other student’s work to help my own.
I focused on 3 key features I would consider using for my own front
cover.
The natural brunette hair and
‘THE’ being vertical stands simple makeup really focuses
out against the rest of the her as a musician and not a
title. It also allows the rest to model or actress, a more plain
fit across the cover without but talented figure of aspiration.
seeming cramped. I like this I would use this for my artists to
idea of having a masthead give it a real feeling of raw
down the side, it’s more passion for music and not how
original than conventional your face looks. I think this
covers. distracts it away from the point
of the magazine.
A single column of cover
lines on one third draws The black outfit against a
your attention more to grey background looks really
that area, rather than sleek. I think this quirky and
having to focus on a personal outfit is perfect for
bundle of text. I think this the indie genre and target
would work well for my audience. It shows the artist’s
genre and target audience representation and looks
as it’s neat and brings unique to other choices of
their eye’s to the clothing.
important content of the The Wire -'the most essential music
magazine. magazine of the contemporary era'

4. 1 1
2
3
2
5 5
3
4
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1
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4 3
1. Headline (Title/Artist’s Name)
2. By Line
3. Main Image (Usually colour) 3
4. Columns 2
5. Drop Capital

5. Analysis of a Double Page Spread Music Magazine
Interview/Feature – Article Discussion & Annotations
Mise-en-scene
Main Image
Secondary
Image
Layout
Masthead (Title) (Boxes)
By Line
Pull Quotes
Colours
The Questions
Drop Capital
The Paragraphs

6. Q magazine features mainly present (some older artists) pop/rock music for 25+ year olds. This use of genre and
target audience is fulfilled by talking about current pop artist Shakira’s ( 36) new album release. Her mix of pop,
Latin and R&B is aimed at the same demographic as Q, who both target males and females, making her someone
readers would want to follow her career path.
The masthead’s exclamative title gives it a gossip type feel, something usually associated with women which suggests
that it's going to reveal a lot about her or her music. The masthead's big serif white font colour stands out against the
large image to show it's the title, as without a subheading underneath there could be confusion from a readers
perspective. The article format is fulfilled with the black drop capital to show the use of conventions. The paragraphs
aren't distinct, instead they are whole columns of text written in a chatty way to suit the masthead. There is one pull
quote that is highlighted in larger bold font towards the end of the article. It acts more as a design feature "I now go
after my desires in a predatory way - with teeth and claws." This relates well to the single she is promoting 'She Wolf'
which links to the animal metaphor. This also fits in with the masthead exclaiming 'Danger!' as a predator is
something you should be wary of. The layout is very boxy with everything being in a rectangle to separate pieces of
information. This gives the readers more freedom for the order they read it in and shows the colour scheme off. The
blueish boxes all match in colour, font colour and font type. This stands out against the white block of text and shows
up against the two images of Shakira.
The main image is really good alongside the masthead as it shows her in a music studio making you interested in the
mise-en-scene. The casual choice of clothing gives her a very natural and down-to-earth approach. This
representation would translate well to the older target audience as they are going to be harder to find a likability in
someone if them seem pretentious or over-the-top. It definitely relates to the genre of music being in a studio with a
mixing desk and the prop she's holding of pencil and paper gives her an artistic look. The colour scheme is mainly
black and red for the largest image to go with the design theme throughout the DPS, which draws you into her blonde
hair and tanned skin because it contrasts against the darker background with the amps behind her head. The bright
lighting gives her an everyday, girl-next-door kind of look with her casual pose and centre framing, it appeals to
women who want to look pretty but relaxed. The high-maintenance look could be off-putting for male readers but this
wide shot gives her a low-key attitude. The second image doesn't take up as much of the DPS but uses a similar
mysterious facial expression. It shows a different style of photography, being posed and objectifying her as a sexual
creature of desire. This raw imagery of her naked body refers back to her animal related quote and masthead. This
use of male gaze appeals to the male readers as an object to admire, for the female readers it displays her in an
aspiring light of confidence and embodies femininity. The ‘access all areas’ in red above her head gives a sexual
connotation and the colour’s symbology relates to sex and exposure.
Overall this DPS seems quite sporadic, yet it still manages use conventions to attract a target audience suitable for
the magazine's demographic and genre.