2. Analysis – Magazine No 1 – The Source
Bar-code & date of magazine
The main image of well known
Rap artist The Game. It is a
powerful image and will
immediately grab the interest
of the reader and make
them want to know more
about the meaning behind
the image.
Main heading 'The Game,
suicide is not an option'
is in a large, bold, red font
which makes it stand out to
The reader. It will appeal to
the reader as he is a well
know artist and people
want to know more about
him
The masthead is bold
yet placed behind the
artist to show he is the
main focus of the cover.
The font is informal as
it is aimed at teenagers
but is strong to reflect
the hard lifestyle of
rappers.
Banner – Is in contrast to
the other articles advertised
on the cover. This is done
to draw attention to the banner
without detracting from the other
articles.
3. Analysis – Magazine No 1 – The Source
Genre
The Genre of magazine that I have chosen to analyse is Rap. I chose this genre because I enjoy Rap music
and I think as a young person I can associate with some of the lyrics used. Rap music is targeted mainly at
a young audience with an age range of around 16-25. Most rappers tell stories about how they made it to the
top -and what hey had to go through to get there. This inspires me and makes me want to work hard to
achieve what I want in life. You can identify the rap genre as magazines associated with rap usually have
gang or thug like individuals on the front cover like the two I have chosen. The models used are covered in
tattoos, bling and have very intimidating body language and facial expressions. Rap music is associated with
violence so having thug like men on the magazine of a certain front cover allows the audience to identify the
genre.
Iconic, Symbolic and Indexical signs
The iconic sign of the first magazine is the picture of the rapper known as 'The Game'. This is because he
represents what the magazine is about. Readers will look at this picture and associate it with violence, gang
culture and a hard life. He is holding a gun to his neck, which is associated with violence and he has a
pained, hard expression on his face, as well as several tattoos. The gun is a symbolic sign, because the
reader will associate the image with violence, which is what Rap music is heavily associated with. The
words “Suicide is Not An Option” are also in bold letters next to his name These words are very strong and
powerful and would be associated with Rap lyrics, as they are often about a hard life, not giving up and
fighting to survive, so these words will stand out to the reader of the magazine. The master head has been
cleverly positioned behind the artist to let the audience know that they are the most important thing on the
page and the thing that the producers want them to look at.
4. Analysis – Magazine No 1 – The Source
There are various indexical signs on the front cover of this magazine. Firstly, the gun which is naturally linked
with violence can also represent the struggle that most rappers seem to have faced in their life times and the
fact that it is pointing towards his face re-enforces this. The struggles that rappers face in early life are often
reflected in their lyrics which is what leads me to believe that the gun may not only represent danger but the
stress and hardship he has had to face. This then links in with the words 'suicide is not an option' as this
shows that even though he has a gun held to his face or in other words the struggles of life he cannot give
up and he must carry on and let those struggles be the thing that inspires him to succeed and live a better
life. Another indexical sign is the name 'the game' as this not only refers to the rappers name but may also
refer to life. As in life is a game. Again the words 'suicide is not an option' link in with the fact hat life is a
game however you cannot give up or in other terms 'suicide is not an option'.
TYPOGRAPHY, COLOUR SCHEME, CAMEREA SHOTS & LIGHTING
The camera angle used is a close up, which adds to the intensity of the shot and makes it a powerful image
which will stand out to the reader. Colours can have deep subliminal meanings that can affect our thinking
and rational. The colours used in the magazine background are dark grey which can be associated with
something dark, depressing and scary. The bold red lettering used for the magazine main heading and sub
titles is often linked with danger and is a strong powerful colour. Red also symbolises power and strength,
which all link in with the Rap music theme and will draw the reader to the magazine.
5. Analysis – Magazine No 1 – The Source
PREFERRED & OPPOSITIONAL READING.
The preferred reading of this magazine cover is that rappers are hard, masculine and gangster like
individuals that maintain a certain image to reflect the 'Hard' rappers lifestyle. The producers want this
to attract the youthful target audience that feel as if they can relate. By showing a rapper with a pained
expression on his face holding a gun to his neck shows that he has faced trouble in his life. But through
hard work and dedication he has managed to become successful. This will inspire teenagers and make
them want to work hard and overcome any struggles of their own.
The opposition reading is that rappers promote violent and gang like behaviour in order to maintain a
certain image. This is obviously a very negative message to send to teenagers as it is basically saying
that it is okay to rebel and through this rebellion can come success.
6. Analysis – Magazine No 2 - VIBE
Main image is of one of the most
well known and recognisable rap
artists Eminem. He is shown with
defensive body language as his arms
are crossed, with tattoos and bling. These
features all contribute to the
stereotypical hard image of rap
artist.
The main heading has
being designed so
that it matches the
colour scheme of
red and black by
blending the two. It
is a strong, bold font
that reflects the
hard representation
of rappers.
This Puff is persuasive and
makes the potential reader think
that this magazine is better than
the rest.
Feature headings are
clearly displayed to
advertise what articles
are in the magazine.
Main feature heading, featuring
an article on Eminem. This
will appeal to readers as he
is an iconic Rap artist and they
will be interested in finding out
more about him.
Price and date of magazine
7. Analysis – Magazine No 2 - VIBE
Genre
The main image used for the front cover of this magazine is of one of the most recently well known and
iconic Rap artists Eminem. This will immediately stand out to the target audience for the magazine. They will
be able to identify the magazine as Rap genre straight away by this image.
ICONIC, SYMBOLIC & INDEXICAL SIGNS
The iconic sign for my second magazine is the image of the rapper known as 'Eminem'. Eminem is a very
well know Rap artist and will immediately draw the reader towards the magazine. He is standing with his
arms folded in a very defensive yet confident position with a somewhat blank expression on his face. He is
also covered in tattoos and has cross on a chain around his neck.
His tattoos are symbolic of can be strongly linked with gang life as most gang members have tattoos to
symbolise there gang and there role within it. They can also represent different struggles he has had to face
during his life and he has had them tattooed as a constant reminder of the things that drive him forward in
life. The cross around his neck is also symbolic as it no only symbolises Christianity but the faith that he will
of had to have in order to fight adversity and keep going even when life gets very tough.
TYPOGRAPHY, COLOUR SCHEME, CAMEREA SHOTS & LIGHTING
The camera angle used is a medium close up that shows him from the waste up with his arms folded. This
camera angle allows the audience to see his body language which is quite strong and confident and reflects
the hard lifestyle portrayed in Rap music. The reason for this camera angle is because rap is all about
projecting feeling vocally and through a visual image. Rap needs an image to really emphasises different
thoughts and feeling, unlike classical where you can just listen to music and really get a feel for the story and
feeling of the piece. The genre is immediately identified through the use of tattoos and jewellery which are
both conventional features of rappers. Jewellery links to the slang word bling which allows the audience to
easily interpret the genre of the magazine and relate it to what they expect to hear when listen. As well as
this sue to stereotyping the use of tattoos,bling and hard facial expression and body language really
emphasises the genre of the magazine.
8. Analysis – Magazine No 2 - VIBE
His confident body language is also inviting to the audience and makes them want to pick up the magazine.
The colour scheme used is red and black for the title and sub-headings on a plain white background. This
creates and effective and strong contrast as the dark/bright colours on the plain background allow the
Heading to stand out more to the audience. Red again symbolises power and strength, which all link in with
the Rap music theme and will draw the reader to the magazine. He is wearing a sleeveless black top, which
allows him to show off his muscles, which again reflects the stereotypical representation of rappers being
very hard and dangerous. Because the setting is very plain and there is not much on the magazine this
allows the main image of Eminem to stand out so the audience can zone in on his and make a clear decision
on the genre just by looking and what stands out to them. Furthermore, the use of lighting is very clever as
the light of the background is a clear white light and Eminem is wearing black. The fact that he is wearing
black allows him to stand out even more to the reader.
PREFERRED & OPPOSITIONAL READING
The preferred reading is that rappers are cool, confident individuals that still display certain aspects of
danger in order to create a tough, gang like image that may appeal to a youthful, rebellious audience. The
producers want the target audience to see Eminem's tattoos , bling and tough physique so they can relate to
and admire someone like him. Seeing someone like Eminem on the front cover will make them want to pick
up the magazine.
The oppositional reading is that rap is a very controversial type of music that focuses on gangs, violence and
women. Its lyrics are usually full of profanity and discuss disturbing topics. It dose not focus on music but on
rebellious and thug like behaviour that may leave a very bad impression on younger gernations that feel that
they can relate to this style of music.
10. A Comparison
● First of all one of the most compatible things about both magazines is the colour scheme used. They
both use very powerful bold colours against a very plain background to make text and heading stand
out on the page. The most prominent colour used on both magazines is red which is a colour
associated with power and danger. This shows that violence and the image of dominant, masculine
men is constant theme throughout the rap genre. Secondly both artists on the front cover display
various tattoos which can often be linked with gangs or a dangerous way or life. This tells us that a
gangster or rebellious way of life is again another theme often portrayed in rap music.
However there are various features that are different about these magazines. First of all the ethnicity of
the two rappers are different. Rap is often stereotypically linked to a target audience from and afro-
Caribbean background. However the fact that Eminem is white doesn't eliminate people of different
ethnicities but simply allows people of white/ Caucasian ethnicity to become more involved with the
genre. Also, the two magazines have very different feels about them. The facial expressions of both
rappers are quite different. The Game has a pained expression on his face and he is holding a gun to
his neck. This gives off the feel of a that this particular rap artist has had a tough, troubled past. This is
trying to give the impression that rap artists have usually had a difficult past but have managed to gain
success through hard work. Where as the cover with Eminem gives off a feel of confidence and shows
that the media portrays rappers to be gangster like individuals. This will be very appealing to an
impressionable, rebellious and youthful target audience.
