The document analyzes Rihanna's album cover for her album "LOUD". It discusses several aspects of the cover including the iconography, narrative, setting, colors and technical codes. Specifically, it notes that Rihanna's red lips and hair imply potential promiscuity. It also analyzes how her pose, the roses, wedding dress and other elements create themes of love, wealth and mystery. The location and use of the American flag are meant to appeal to her main fan base in America.

1. RIHANNA
DIGIPACK ANALYSIS

2. Rihanna’s full red lips and hair are what immediately strike the audience and give them the impression of potential
promiscuity due to the connotations which bold red lips hold. The big red hair make Rihanna seem confident and
loud and therefore links to the album name.
Rihanna’s skin tone has been edited in order to make herself look golden instead of her natural dark skin. This is
used to portray the idea of wealth and desirability. The fact that Rihanna has her face over her shoulder gives off
the idea that she is hiding or that she is mysterious.
Roses typically hold connotations of beauty and innocence, meaning Rihanna is, at first, seen as an innocent
character. Despite this, the use of colour and shots (such as extreme close up of the face which includes tattoos)
take away the initial found innocence and is then replaced with mystery.
Tattoo’s can be found on Rihanna’s neck and ribs and this holds contrast with the wedding dress and roses within
the linked shot. These tattoo’s make Rihanna seem less classy and girly and give her a more ‘dark/street’
approach. On the reverse of the digipack, Rihanna is found with her hands between her legs with an arched back,
this makes the character seem provocative (especially when linked with the hair and lips colour).
N A R R A T I V E

3. The setting which is used on the back cover of the digipack is one which strongly links
with the previously mentioned iconography. This is due to the photo being taken on
what seems to be a rooftop above America, and when accompanied by gold curtains,
connotations of wealth and power instantly spring to mind.
The front cover of the album cover is taken in what seems to be a rose bush, which
once again directly links to the iconography of love and innocence. The pose which
Rihanna is holding whilst lay on the rose bush also strengthens this idea due to her
looking dramatically emotional.
S E T T I N G

4. The use of red roses and what looks like a wedding dress give the album an overall
romantic/in love theme and this is primarily due to the connotations that the roses and
dress hold.
In addition to this, the colours white, red, white and cream and constantly used
throughout the album and these all hold connotations of love, wealth and possibly
desire. Using these colours aid the overall aim of making Rihanna seem both desirable
and wealthy. The colour red directly links to the roses and wedding dress and therefore
creates a stronger theme of love throughout.
Using the American flag on the back of the album makes Rihanna seem patriotic and
proud to be an American citizen. Despite Rihanna not being American-born, the majority
of her fan-base is within America meaning she aims to impress the biggest section of
her fan-base ergo the use of the American flag.
I C O N O G R A P H Y

5. The simple sans serif font used creates an informal sense and this is primarily due to the double spacing. This font
looks more simplistic ad informal in comparison to using a serif font such as ‘Georgia’ or ‘Times New Roman’.
Using capital letters links directly to the album name ‘LOUD’. This is because we read the word somewhat
shouting whilst in capitals, therefore adding more volume and informality to the album cover.
The close up headshot on the front cover allows the audience a clear view of Rihanna and therefore helps them
judge her on her heavily red make up/hair. The use of heavy shadowing makes Rihanna seem mysterious and
dark.
Rihanna’s name is placed along the very top of the album cover which overlaps with both the primary optical area
and the strong fallow area meaning that it is the first thing the potential audience notices. This is important as
Rihanna is already a very famous/well known artist and if the audience knows that she is the artist of the album
then it could potentially enhance sale performance.
T E C H N I C A L C O D E S

6. NARRATIVE ENIGMA
Due to Rihanna’s pose for the front cover of the album ‘LOUD’, I have concluded that it
holds connotations of disappointment and when linked with the colour of her hair and
lips, it could possibly be disappointment due to love. This is due to the colour red having
direct connotations with love and romance .
In addition to this, due to Rihanna’s eyes being closed it seems that she is
hiding/keeping a secret. Therefore, the idea that maybe Rihanna has been hurt in a
relationship, or (linking to my previous point) is disappointed in something she has done
whilst in a relationship and is now hiding away in shame is brought to mind.
N A R R A T I V E