stuff

1. Digipak Analysis
Evanescence - Fallen

2. • This digipak is for Evanescence's debut album
'Fallen'. Straight away the band's name which is
derived from the Latin word 'evanescere' means
to fade, to disappear, implying a darker theme to
the album connoting that the album is of the
rock/metal genre as this genre of music deals with
darker themes than the pop or r'n'b' genre. The
feeling of Evanescence is after losing a loved one
you're gripped with a sense of fear or the fading of
the memories of that person, implying a theme of
death which is death with in some of this albums
songs such 'My Immortal‘.

3. • On the front cover the lead singer, Amy Lee, is
present with a close up shot of her face making
direct address with the audience, this is done in
order to entice them in to buying the album.
Whilst she is a part of a band on the front cover
the slight high angle gives a sense of vulnerability
and proxemics combined with being in a small
room provide a sense of isolation for the singer.
• Through the close up shots we can see the facial
expressions of the members of the band,
specifically the lead singer. The expressions are
serious and focused, reflecting the issues that the
album deals with, as elements such as death,
showing the seriousness of the message that the
songs impart.

4. • The black and white on the album create a sharp
contrast and a direct juxtaposition. The colour white
symbolises life and prosperity while the colour black
symbolises death and decay, also implying what themes
the album will deal with. The use of ice like blue shades
create a cold feel to the digipak, again connoting the
death like feel of the album and the fact that the album
deals with death.
• The pale makeup, black hair and black outfit creates a
gothic feel to the album, connoting that the album is
not only alternative rock, alternative metal (nu metal)
and that the album is aimed at a more niche audience
and is not necessarily aimed at the mainstream
audience.

5. • The digipak does have a narrative element to it, in
reference to the name of the band Evanescence, and
it's meaning 'to fade' or the sense of evanescence after
losing a loved one creates a narrative about death. On
the front of the cover is the lead singer, then the same
image of the room just without her face is used on the
inside cover of the digipak, implying that she may have
died and has 'faded' as the name implies. The usage of
black outfits further reinforce this as it is common to
wear black whilst at a funeral to pay your final respects.
On the back of the album the high angle shot of the
remaining band member creates a sense that they are
vulnerable, one of the members is holding up his hand
to the camera as though he is trying to avoid questions,
connoting that there has been a death and that the
band members do not wish to talk about it.

6. • The name 'Fallen' can also have religious connotations.
It can be referencing the fall of Lucifer from his status as
an angel to becoming what is today known as the devil.
This is reinforced by some of the songs and the
religious implications they contain such as immortality,
sacrifice. The religious aspect of this digipak is
reinforced by the fact that originally the band was
marketed as a 'Christian band' and a part of the
Christian rock genre until the decision was made to
withdraw from this type of marketing and become a
more niche band. The name 'Fallen' also implies
imperfection, linking in with songs on the album such
as 'Everybody's Fool' which deals with the idea that
people in the media are portrayed as perfect, when in
fact this is not the case.

7. • The back of the digipak contains a picture of the
band all together, implying that they are in fact a
band, this image is also iconic of the rock genre as
they are a band dressed in black outfits, something
that is commonly used in this genre of music.
Typical of most albums as well is that the lead
singer is mainly used to sell the album by using
close ups of her, instead of taking close up images
of the band members that play the instruments.
The fact that shallow depth of field on the image
on the back of the digipak reinforces the fame
singers importance in the band and that she in fact
the lead singer of the band.

8. • The bold font on the front cover makes the band's name
stand out and easy to read, the white fits in with all the
above connotations about life and purity. The style of
the font however does appear thorny showing that the
band has a rough edge to them and is not your average
band as they do deal with much darker themes than
others do.
• The simplicity of the actual CD shows that the maker and
the band place a higher importance on the digipak and
the images rather than the CD itself.
• Due to the use of colour, appearance of the band, use of
font shows the album is primarily aimed at a younger
audience, and a more specific/niche audience.