This document analyzes the front cover of a Q magazine issue. It discusses several design elements including the masthead, main image, cover lines, and left third of the cover which highlights key information. The contents pages are also examined, noting how images, categories, and a two-page layout help navigate the magazine's content. Finally, a double page article spread on the band Muse is summarized, focusing on a pull quote and wide shot image used.

1. Masthead
Skyline
Cover
Lines
The Left Third
Main Image
Lead Article

2. Q Front Cover Analysis
The general forms and conventions of this q magazine are similar to most magazines for example the mast
head is at the top left so it can been seen easily on a magazine shelf in a shop and also to help it to be clear it is
a big font size and in white with a red background to make it bold as well as using a lower case letter, I think
the fact that the magazine has used there main images which denotes Matt Bellamy from the band muse
holding a guitar and hitting the ’Q’ which is the magazine masthead which has cracks in it ,this symbolic code is
very clever as it is adding a bit of the main stories style to the masthead which is a rock band and they are
known for being badly behaved and controversial. The left third which is showing all the important
information that Q want potential buyers to see such as the masthead, the band name ‘MUSE’ in capital letters
as they are the main feature of this issue, this is good that people can see the best and most important parts
about the magazine before they even pick it up as on the magazine shelf only the left third will be showing so it
is vital if they want to entice different and new buyers, to add to the effectiveness Q could of added a pull
quote so the readers will know a little bit about what they are discussing but in this issue they chose not to.
Other general forms and conventions such as the skyline and cover lines suggest how packed this magazine is
in a bid to entice new readers for example the skyline mentions how it is the UK’s biggest selling music
magazine which for someone who is knew to buying music magazines they could be encouraged to buy this
specific magazine as it must be good, also the cover lines feature some big names in the music industry such as
Motley Crue ,Dizzee rascal, Shakira , Dolly Parton, Ian Brown, Paolo Nutini and Rick Rubin which would attract
all types of people as they are very different genres of music from the rock of Motley crue to country and
western with Dolly Parton This Connotes that the magazine is very versatile and good for most people and not
just people who enjoy mainstream. The main Image on the front cover is a wide shot of Matt Bellamy holding
a guitar and his facial expression is concentrating and straining himself whilst swinging the guitar towards the
Q which connotes that he is a rock star and about breaking the rules and doing what he wants, I think Q did
this because Muse are known for being a rock band and having that rule breaking attitude and image which is
what there fans love so they will appreciate the main Image. The language used on the cover of Q is modern
but still well written so it doesn’t exclude older generation by applying lots of slang, abbreviations and
acronyms as these are seen as a teenage thing to do, also by using this language it suggests the inside will be
similar and not include this either.

3. The normal form and Q have put then magazine cover on the contents page which could
convention of having the be a technical feature so that the reader can look back to the front
contents page clearly titled cover to see something that might of caught there eye without
and kept in the normal having to keep flicking back and forth in which case I think this is a
To make the page house style. good idea and would be useful.
selection even clearer
and easier Q have taken
some of the best regular
features and produced
images of them and
then written the page
number on it again this
The main index of the
would be useful for
magazine is a list that shows
people who know what
the regulars that Q feature
someone looks like who
in there magazine this
they want to read about
includes features by
but not sure on there
different bands and other
name so this way they
celebrity's and things like
can just see there
the Q quiz, this list is good
picture and then follow
because it is very clear as it
the page number. They
is labelled so the reader
have used the most
knows that this is what is
famous people to show
usually in the magazine and
images of on the
the reader will be able to
contents page such as
navigate through the
Ant and Dec, Dolly
magazine with ease. Also
Parton and Muse which
the style of the way the
are all a wide range of
index list is presented is
genres which will fulfil
keeping to the house style
the needs of a wide
of Q which is red, white and
range of people. Also
black and the main font that
using lots of images this
is presented throughout the
will attract the more
magazine.
visual orientated reader
so its good to have an
even balance of text and
images.

4. Contents Page 2
In Q it is conventional for
them to have to pages for
the contents page due the
amount and size of images
that are used on the
Again the contents page contents page. Having two
has been split into contents pages is a good
categories but on this idea so that everything can
page it shows the be split up easier but also it
Features which are the could become hard for the
main people generally reader to navigate through
music artists that are the index as there are two
being shown and pages worth.
written about in the
magazine and usually
feature on the front
cover which is why
there is a large medium
shot of Matt Bellamy
from the band Muse.

5. Double Page Spread Pages 1 and 2
The pull quote
denotes how
Muse are misfits
and it cant be a
coincidence that
they are together
and is in a
significantly A wide shot of the
larger and bolder band Muse is used
font size than the as a whole page of
rest of the article. the double page
This quote spread this denotes
connotes that all the band
that they are all members with
misfits and don’t there instruments
fit in society yet which connotes
they were all that they are
brought together devoted to
and formed there masking music and
band and that it using there
can’t be instruments by the
coincidental. The way they are
larger font size leaning on them
and bold font is and relying on
there to make it them. This image
stand out so would attract
when the reader readers to read the
scans across the muse article due to
page they see it the fact that they
and get drawn are there with
into reading the there instruments
rest. so people who like
instrumental bands
would be
interested in this.