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1. Music Magazine –
Contents Page and DPS
Textual Analysis
Name: Dan Sgarbini
Candidate Number:2005
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 64135
OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Advanced Portfolio

2. Contents Page and DPS Textual Analysis
Contents Page
The main image illustrates a
close up Lil Wayne (a well known
hip hop artist). This technical
code has been put into place in
order to display his tattoo’s, a
golden chain and his piercings.
These are all stereotypical
features of a hip hop artist.
A ‘Masthead Copy’ has
been used in order to follow
a consistent house style and
build a brand identity.
These Page details have been
put into place in order to
inform and educate the
reader (Katz). These features
include a web address, page
number and photographer
credits. All of these features
remain a professional and
structured format.
A Cover Story has been put into place in order to
summarise the features within the magazine. This
feature encourages the public to read the
magazine, this gives the reader an insight into Lil
Wayne’s future career plans.
Sub Headings have been put into place in order to
summarise the stories and maintain a professional
magazine format.
Sublines have been used in order to
briefly summarise each page within
the magazine. Therefore the readers
are aware of what to expect within
the media product.
The use of page numbers have been put into place
in order to navigate readers around the magazine.
This is presented in a bold and contrasting font in
order to appeal to the reader and ensure that the
page numbers are easy to find.
This content page also displays the issue date
which keeps readers up to date with the issues
and also allows readers to regularly purchase
the magazine. White text is used within a black
banner in order to create a contrast and
ensure that the text is as clear as possible.

3. Double Page Spread
This main image creates a stereotypical
model of the hip hop genre. Lil Wayne is
presented with multiple tattoos, a golden
chain and a diamond grill. All of these props
are extremely common amongst the hip hop
genre and are highly expensive items, this
displays the hip hop lifestyle and attracts
‘social climbers’ (Katz).
These details include the
page number, web
address and issue date
which all inform the
reader and create a
professional and
traditional format.
A pull quote has been put into place
in order to give the reader a brief
insight into the artists personality.
Profanity has been put into place
within this pull quote in order to also
denote the hip hop lifestyle.
The dialogue within this DPS is
presented in an informal tone. This
automatically builds a relationship
with the audience and has been put
into place in order to build personal
identification with their African
American target audience (Katz).
An informal tone within a DPS also
ensures that the artist remains
relevant to the genre of the magazine
as it will also attract ‘social climbers’
(Maslow)
A Drop Capital is used
within magazines in order to
remain a professional
format and to outline where
the text begins. XXL
magazine present their drop
capital in a bold and sharp
font in order to denote the
stereotypical characteristics
of the hip hop genre.
Differentiated Questions and Answers

4. Editorial
A Masthead Copy has been implemented
into the magazine editorial in order to
build brand identity and remain a
consistent and professional format.
This image is of the cover star Lil Wayne, this
completely juxtaposes the traditional format of a
magazine. This image is generally an editors photo
which builds a professional format. However XXL have
used a full body shot of the cover star in order to
denote ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer)
This feature is the editors details which builds
a personal relationship (Katz0 with the reader
and ensures that the reader is able to keep in
touch and follow the editor on social media.
The editorial itself is put into place in order to
‘inform and educate’ the reader (Maslow). In
addition, this feature displays the editors
intentions behind this magazine and reveals a
hint to future issues. This builds a direct
relationship with the reader.
XXL magazine have used the editors signature within
the editorial. This feature remains a professional
format and gives the editor a sense of identity.
Advertisement has been used within the
editorial in order to promote various
other magazines that XXL magazine own.
This helps them to expand their business
as product placement takes place. This
convention builds a personal relationship
with the reader (Katz)

5. Conclusion
• In Conclusion, XXL magazine use many features within their contents page in order to inform all readers about the magazine.
They use features such as sub lines in order to navigate readers through the magazine and to give them an insight into the
magazine itself. In addition they use the cover star in the format of a close up in order to display his tattoos, chain and
piercings, this attracts social climbers (Maslow). Throughout my contents page I will take many features from XXL magazine
(Steve Neale 1980) including my masthead copy, bold page numbers and a consistent colour scheme which all build a brand
identity and create a traditional format. I will also place my cover star within the page in order to denote his importance and
relevance towards this issue of my magazine (Richard Dyer).
• I have also identified key features within the XXL DPS in which I will use when creating my double page spread. Such features
include an outrageous pull quote, a close up of my cover star and photographer credits. These conventions attract the
reader and display stereotypical features of an hip hop artist. I must ensure that my DPS remains a professional and basic
format and is able to ‘inform and educate’ readers (Maslow).
• XXL have used many features within their editorial which remain a professional format, build relationships with the reader
(Katz) and builds brand identity. I will use many of these features within my magazine editorial such as an editors signature
to remain professional, a masthead copy in order to build brand identity and my editors details which builds a personal
relationship with the reader (Katz). Alternatively, XXL have sued a cover star image within their editorial however when
creating my editorial I will stick to a traditional method and will use an editors phot in order to remain a basic and
professional format.