Analysis of three music magazine covers

1. Francis Evdokimov
Magazine establish genre semiotics
Denotation: Mast head ‘VIBE’ light blue.
Connotation: From the mast head, it is clear
the magazine is aimed for both male and
female, being the blue colour is neither
masculine nor feminine. This colour blue is
used as it is associated with someone who
doesn't like to make a fuss or draw
attention. This is clearly controversial
knowing the character Kayne West is
therefore making the magazine
appealing.
Colours: Denotation: In this magazine cover
the main colours used are black, blue, purple
and grey. All these colours associate with
something.
Connotation: As said before, a lot of text in
this magazine cover is in the colour blue. Blue
is associated personality wise as not liking to
make a fuss or draw attention. This is very
questionable as Kayne west is far from this.
The blue colour therefore may show a
rebellion in character. We would expect red as
a colour of dispute but blue being used shows
far from a person who doesn’t like fuss. Using
this colour goes against the convention of blue
and therefore creates ironies and a sarcastic
statement. The colour grey is used as clothing
as well as the background. The colour gray is
an unemotional colour. It is detached, neutral,
impartial and indecisive. From this I can infer
already that the magazine are trying to make
Kayne west look as controversial as possible.
They purple colour is used as well. This is
associated with people who seek harmony and
balance in every aspect of their life. Knowing
Kayne west, he wouldn’t really seek ‘harmony’,
or even think about seeking peace and balance
within himself. The magazine is really trying to
create juxtaposition with Kayne west and the
colours used around him. They are trying to
show him as someone who he completely isn’t
or something he thinks he is. The fact his
costume match the title and colours around
him show his high status and that the main
article in the magazine will be based around
him.
Text:Denotation: Using persuasive/controversial lines.
Connotation: In this magazine front cover contravserial lines as well as
colours have been used to portray Kayne west debatable charachter. ‘I
AM RAP’ is a very arrogant quote. He is trying to get the idea across that
without him rap wouldnt exsist or be the same. He presents himself as a
very high authority musical artist again creating a lot of debate. It aslo
shows he is a very vain character. This can be shown as well through his
positioning on the page. His head covers the title which presents him
inferiority of the whole magazine, and compliments the quote ‘I AM
RAP’. Another quote used to show this contraversial character is ‘The
truth hurts’. Kayne is trying to infer that it is fact, it is the truth that he
really is better then the rest when it comes to rap, there is no question
about it. He shows he is not afraid of stating the contravesial. Another
quote used in the front page is “ + his 50 greatest songs (and 10 to
delete)” the number 50 is used as the biggest font before the mast head.
This presents the sheer size of how many great songs he has. The word
great is also used instead of good. This illustrates further how many
exceptional songs he has. 50 is also a lareg quantity so he really must be
‘Rap’ if 50 sounds are great. “(And 10 to delete)” is very appealing to the
audience as they would be looking for the answer of why there are songs
to delete if he really is that great. Many questions would be asked by the
audience and finding the really answer would be important to them.

2. Image: denotation: The image in this magazine is a close up of Kayne West. This has been done so that the audience can
get a look at Kayne’s facial expression with portrays his personality to an extent. Kayne looks very confident which
presents him Francis to the Evdokimov
audience as a vain, arrogant person. He is placed in the centre covering the mast head letters ‘I and
B’. This may show how high authority he depicts of himself and thinks he is bigger than the magazine. No neck jewellery
or ear rings are used which does challenge the stereotype of a rapper. We would expect bold, standing out, recognisable
jewellery which is not seen. This may show he is not materialistic as you would find with many other rappers. The image
also shows a clean and pure person. We see Kayne west without any materialistic items or tattoos and so on showing a
much more peaceful and calm person than expected. This shows two completely different sides of the artist. Knowing the
character, the image is seen as a fake representation of Kayne West and challenges him as a character and as well the
stereo type of a rapper.
Colours: The main colours we see in this music magazine
cover are red, white and yellow. Red is associated with an
optimistic, courageous and confident person. White is
associated with a well-balanced, sensible, discreet and
wise personality. Yellow conveys a person who is cheerful
and fun to be with, as well as a happy disposition. The
colours here seem to juxtapose Rick Ross from his actual self.
We can clearly see how the colours challenge or conform the
artist Rick Ross. The colour red is used for the mast head. As
it is the main text, it maybe portraying the most common
feature Rick Ross has to his personality. Red represents a
character that is courageous and confident. This is clearly
seen in the image as he has his shirt off. As he has his shirt of
he clearly doesn’t care the shape he is in. Clearly he hasn’t
got a body people would be attracted to so it shows his
confidence in having no shirt. Rick Ross is also covered in
tattoos and again portrays this confident character. It shows
he is also artistic and creative as he has covered his whole
upper body with tattoos. Also the fact that his trousers are
hanging down lower than his waist shows this courage and
confidence needed to full something like that off. The white
colour in the magazine used most for the background as well
as Rick Ross’ main article colour challenges the stereotype of
a rapper and the person Rick Ross is. Clearly Rick Ross does
not look sensible or discreet. Most sensible people wouldn’t
get tattoos knowing they would regret it later in their lives.
Therefore that is one reason why the colour white does not
fit Rick Ross’ character. The colour white also portrays a
sensible person. Evidently he looks far from it. He is seen very
energetic; he has his shirt off and looks like trouble. The
audience would get the idea of a wild character, something
the colour white does no depict. Rick Ross again is not seen
very discreet with his costume therefore the colour whites
portrays him in a mocking way, as if in sarcasm, portraying
him as everything he is not. Yellow is used for Rick Ross’
name as well as ‘Global melting’. The colour yellow does
conform Rick Ross’ personality but not one of a typical Rap
artist. Rick Ross in the image is seen as a very fun and
cheerful person. We would not usually expect this when
looking at a main cover image of a rap artist. We would
usually see intimidating character with bags of confidence.
We see confidence but not the intimidation audiences would
usually feel when looking at a rap artist.
Mise-en-scene: The costume in this magazine cover is
important to see what kind of character Rick Ross is and how
far he conforms the genre of rap. Clearly from the props, it is
evident the sheer amount of materialistic products Rick Ross
has. These items aren’t discreet, the opposite, very bold and
attention grabbing. This conforms the stereotype of a rapper.
As seen in many other magazine covers, Materialism is
portrayed very boldly and evidently so the audience can have
an indication of how wealthy and well off the character is.
Jewellery is seen all round his body from head to waist. This
really portrays how much the person wants to portray his
wealth, as if mocking the audience. The jewellery its self
seems very valuable and adds value to the person. Text: “Rick
Ross – Gangster of love” the word ‘Gangster’ and ‘love’ are to
very contrasting words. Gangster is associated with violence
and hate, yet love is associated with relationship, care,
devotion and more. This displays Rick Ross as a very two
sided character. The emotion in the image is fun and
challenges a rapper; then again his clothing and materialism
support a rapper.

3. Francis Evdokimov
Colours: In this music magazine cover, the colours which are
mainly used are black, pink and white. To start the colour
pink is clearly used as it signifies the magazines target
audience. Pink is associated with a person who is loving, kind,
generous and sensitive to the needs of others. Clearly Katy
Perry does not look intimidation so it does show this kind and
calm person. Katy Perry looks very sexualised which could be
due to the colour pink. Pink is usually associated with females
so it presents Katy Perry as a very feminine lady. The colour
black is used for the mast head as well as the majority of the
text. Black is a colour of restriction and containment. The to a
degree challenges Katy Perry as she is seen wearing little
clothing. White is also used and which is associated with a
person who is well-balanced, sensible, discreet and wise.
Again this does challenge the image which is seen of Katy
Perry. She is not discreet clearly shown as she is showing off a
lot of flesh. Image: The image of Katy Perry gives the
audience an idea of the character and the personality she has.
Clearly in the image she looks very confident as she is wearing
little clothing. This shows she is confident of her looks as
wants to show the audience what she looks like and her
assets. Therefore the image shot is a long – medium. This
image lets us see most of her body until the knees. This gives
the impression again she wants to be seen. She is based in
centre of the magazine cover. This implies she will be the
centre of the magazine and it will revolve around her. It could
also imply her status in the magazine and that her magazine
feature/article dominates the magazine. Her body is facing
away from the audience. This may show she can be open and
want to be seen, but there is a mystery to her side hence her
facing away. It could imply she is hiding something which only
the audience can access if they buy the magazine and open
up her article. Costume: The costume in the magazine cover is
indiscreet and very open. She is seen wearing very little
clothing which is also tight, implying she wants people to look
at her assets and her body. This also shows the audience the
perfect female she is. Not only is she considered a good music
artist but the clothing portrays her sexuality and fashion.
Props: Katy Perry is seen wearing two props on her wrist and
a head band. All these items don’t seem very expensive or
bold as the other magazine involving Rick Ross. These items
are seen more as accessories and a fashion statement. She
doesn’t look materialistic implying sensible and discreet
character. NVC: the nonverbal communication in this image
portrays Katy Perry’s personality. She does not look
intimidation which does portray a discreet person. As her
body is facing away, it implies she does not want to give all
herself away just in the magazine front cover. She implies
through her body language that there is more to access of her
is the magazine article of her is read. Her facial expression
gives the readers the idea that she is watching you and you
can have more of her is you reader her article.
Text: The main text in the front cover is “Katy Perry –
kiss’n’tell – Pop’s Bi-curious Babe”. Katy is in the colour of
Black and Perry is in Pink. This connotes that there are two
sides of Katy Perry’s personality. As said before the colour
black is associated with mystery and containment. This is
portrayed through her body language as she is facing away
from the audience view. Then again pink is used for ‘Perry’.
Pink is seen as very feminine and therefore she is seen
wearing little clothing as well as which is presenting her
femininity due to the tight and little clothing on her.