The document discusses signs and signifiers used on magazine covers aimed at teenage girls. It analyzes several magazine covers and contents pages. For each, it identifies the genre as pop music based on the artists featured. It then analyzes iconic, symbolic, and indexical signs used. Iconic signs include mastheads and logos. Symbolic signs include color schemes and body language. Indexical signs provide clues about the target audience through colors, lighting, and styles featured. The preferred reading is that girls can learn fashion and gossip tips to feel empowered. The oppositional reading is that the magazines distract girls from education.

1. Signs and signifiers
By Emily Johnson

2. Genre (front page)
The genre of this pop (bubblegum)
This can be shown through artists on
the cover, eg Ariana Grande and the
other pop stars that fall under that
genre of music they release. On top
this the bright colours to attract a
young audience. As the social class is
young they need lots of things to keep
them entertained whilst looking at the
cover, therefore they made it look
packed with lots of pict4res and latest
gossip. This is a very popular genre in
music so they pack the magazine front
cover with the latest gossip that will be
popular .with this particular ages range
for example Joey Essex.

3. Iconic signs
MASTHEAD- the masthead is iconic because the BBC
show top of the pops was famous for this logo and now
has spread onto the music magazine. In English top of
the pops is related to the latest music and celebrity
news. The lines of stars above and below are iconic to
the stars of the magazine.

4. Symbolic signs
The colour scheme of this magazine is the bright colours
showing a positive magazine and the happy subject they
are covering. As it is aimed at younger audience these
colours also appeal to them. Pink, appeals to girl, blue,
appeals to boy, yellow, unisex. This shows clearly that the
magazine appeals to any sex however, through the
medium of the celebrities will mainly appeal to girls. The
body language on the front cover of the magazine
shows that its aimed at girls who are shy. The crossed
arms and smiling innocently done by the main image
‘Ariana Grande’. As she is a teen sensation we can see
that a girl can blossom. If the audience read the
magazine then they can blossom too. This is the
proffered reading of the magazine. In which you can
become a fashionable young teen if you purchase the
magazine.

5. Indexical signs
The costume and makeup of the front cover is
very fashionable and natural looking. This
shows that the magazine inspires the costumer
that natural beauty should shine through.
When buying the magazine they will see the
secrets of being young and fashionable. Which
they want to find out from the fashionable
main image on the front of the cover. The
lighting is studio lit and this makes her look
bright and positive. The is an indexical sign
because it shows they represent a bright future
and you will be glowing from all the
entertainment.
This could be interepted as a bad thing and is
the oppositional reading of the magazine , in
that girls focus more on fashion and looking
good so that they can be like their inspirations.

6. Genre
Pop
This magazine has a clear
indication of pop music
magazine features through
again the act on the front,
Taylor Swift known famously
for her pop songs. The cover
lines of the magazine are
stereotypically aimed at the
target audience of this
magazine as the themes is
men, latest fashions and
trends.

7. Iconic signs
The masthead of ‘girlfriend’ is an iconic sign as it will be on every
issue produced. The saying ‘girlfriend’ is used for and by
stereotypical females, so clearly shows the target market. The fact
that it is superimposed over the main image shows that the
magazine wants the mats head to stand out. The typography of the
mast head is sans sarif and shows the magazine is very informal.
This applies to the fact the target audience is younger.

8. Symbolic signs
The symbolic image of
Taylor taking a photo with a
vintage camera not only
relates to the cover line
‘Taylors private tour pics’,
but also its very in fashion
to have a good photography
camera. The ‘selfie’ is very
popular with teens at the
moment therefore she is on
top the latest fashions.

9. Indexical signs
An indexical sign of this magazine is the
colour scheme of light purple and black. This
colour is often related as a very girly colour so
therefore the issue is stereotypically related
to women. As the pop genre is usually aimed
at a young teenage target age and Taylor Swift
is very popular with that particular age, this
magazine has been aimed at them. Another
indexical sign is the bright studio lighting this
showing the bright future ahead and also
making the main image look fashionable and
important. Through the use of direct address,
Taylor Swift is seen as an authority figure. This
inspiring the readers to be the best they can
be.

10. Different readings
The preferred reading of this
magazine is that you can
become successful and
fashionable through buying the
magazine. The use of the main
image of Taylor Swift will inspire
that age group. As Taylor was a
successful teenage pop star so
will inspire the target audience
with her story.
The oppositional reading of
the magazine is that girls spend
too long on their makeup and
aren’t inspired to make a
difference. By buying the
magazine teens, at an age of
important educational matters,
are distracted by makeup,
fashion and boys.

11. Contents (genre)
Pop
You can see the genre of pop through the
acts that are featured on the page. Both
‘Cher Lloyd’ and ‘one direction’ are artists
in the ‘pop’ category. The typical audience
that follows the pop genre are teenagers
aged 12-17. therefore the contents
featured in the magazine are subjects that
will appeal to that specific age range.
Things such as shopping, gossip and boys.
Clearly advertised on the front of the
magazine so that they purchase it for that
purpose.

12. Iconic signs
The iconic sign on the contents
page is the ‘top of the pops’
logo. That is shown on the front
cover on the contents. The
layout of the contents page is
the same in each magazine so
the whole contents page is an
iconic feature of the magazine
brand. ‘Inside the mag’ is an
iconic phrase that features on
the tops of every contents page.

13. Symbolic signs
The layout of the magazine is
symbolic because through the
typography on the top of each
section. Its symbolic because people
relate the heart to love, therefore
they understand what they mean
when they say they ‘heart ‘
something. Another way to interpret
this is the slang term ‘I heart this’ that
is commonly used by the target age
group. This will mean the readers can
relate to the slang and gives a
‘relaxed’ feeling to the rest of the
magazine.

14. Indexical signs
The indexical signs of this contents
page is the colour scheme, through
using colours such as pinks and
purples. By doing this we can see that
this aimed at stereotypical girls
through the use of feminine colours.
The use of images on the page shows
the kind of contents in the magazine
such as boy bands and fashion. The
use of boy bands shows the interest
in this genre of music of this
particular age range, with rising boy
band one direction.

15. Different readings
The preferred reading
of this magazine is that
girls can see the latest
gossip and become
more fashionable
through the latest tips
and hints.
The oppositional reading of
the magazine is that girls
spend too long on their
makeup and aren’t inspired to
make a difference. By buying
the magazine teens, at an age
of important educational
matters, are distracted by
makeup, fashion and boys.

16. Genre
Pop
This contents page is of the
pop genre. You can see this
from the bright colours used
to attract the younger age
range. The use of teenager
that is around the same age as
the target market helps to the
readers relate to the
magazine. The subjects that
are used in the contents of
the magazines, such as
celebrity gossip, will appeal to
the target audience.

17. Iconic signs
The iconic signs of this contents
page is the picture of the front
cover with the ‘pop’ looking big
on the page. This helps the
readers know that the magazine
has a theme. Many of the other
issues have a similar theme of
‘popping’ colours throughout.
This will help the audience relate
in that they have a constant
steady flow throughout the
magazine.

18. Symbolic signs
The symbolic signs of this page is
the excited smile. It gives the
impression that the page and
content is really exciting and
new. The smile is culturally
learnt to relate to excited news.
Another is the layout, the
superimposed text over the girl
shows a more informal approach
and relaxes the readers. This is
the preferred reading of the
magazine.

19. Indexical signs
The indexical sign of this page
is the costume of the girl. As
she is wearing summer clothing
of shorts and a shirt this shows
the summer issue, that relates
to this magazine. The images
feature throughout the
magazine and give the ‘summer
vibe’. Another is colour
scheme. They have picked very
summery colours, such as
yellow and hot pinks. This also
relates to the ‘summer issue’ of
the magazine.

20. Different readings
The preferred reading
of this page is that girls
are relaxed and having
fun, whilst being up to
date with music and
fashion over the
summer.
The oppositional
reading of this piece of
work is that girls spend
too much time of their
music and fashion than
more important things
eg studies.

21. Double page spread (genre)
Pop
This double page is from
the pop genre because of
the bright colours. These
bright colours are used to
attract a certain audience
of teens. You can see that
it is pop genre also from
the type of people
subjected in the magazine.
In this case ‘Cher Lloyd’.

22. Iconic signs
The iconic sign of this double
page spread is the image of
‘Cher Lloyd’. The image
represents the teenage love to
rebel and will inspire the
readers to stand out for the
crowd. Cher Lloyd is known for
going on the Xfactor, she will
also inspire others to follow
their dream and is an
inspiration to the readers.

23. Symbolic signs
The symbolic sign of
this magazine is the use
of pinks as a main
colour scheme on the
page. Pink is usually
related to girls and the
girls will feel
empowered by the
picture and rebel like
their idol ‘Cher Lloyd’.

24. Indexical sign
The indexical sign of this
magazine is the body
language of ‘Cher Lloyd’. Her
shocking face shows that the
story is gossip and will make
readers want to read it. This
shows that the magazine is
full of hot gossip and will be
a recurring theme
throughout the magazine.
This will appeal to readers at
the age of 12-17.

25. Different reading
The preferred reading
of this magazine is
that girls will be
inspired to be
different and stand
out of the crowd
when seeing cher
lloyds picture.
The oppositional
reading is that girls will
become rebels and
badly behaved instead
of focusing on studies.

26. genre
Pop
The genre of this is pop. You
can see this from choice of
person to feature on the
page, and the use of speak
bubbles shows chatty
talking. Something popular
in pop magazines.

27. Iconic sign
The iconic sign of this
page is the photos of
pixie lott. The pictures
are the main focus of the
page and show a bright
happy face. This shows
that the magazine is
popular and is the iconic
brand that the magazine
is going for.

28. Symbolic signs
The symbolic sign of this
magazine is the use of light blue,
the blue makes the page look
soft and gentle. This shows the
personality of ‘pixie lott’. That is
calm and a sweet personality.
The perfect use of a pop star
instead of a diva, the usual
stereotype of a pop star. Using
the colour blue says that she is
very immature and maybe too
young for the industry, this is
the oppositional reading of the
magazine.

29. Indexical signs
The indexical sign of this
magazine is the use of
polaroid photos in the
layout. the polaroid is
very popular with the
teens of today so the use
of fashionable images will
appeal to the readers.
This also shows that the
magazine is fashionable.
This is the preferred
reading of the magazine.;