This document analyzes the representations of various artists in a music magazine. It examines photos of Dave Grohl, Liam Gallagher, Muse, Yuck, Josh Homme, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Lady Gaga, Pete Doherty, and Jake Bugg. It discusses aspects like their poses, clothing, backgrounds, ages, and quotes that are used to portray their musical genres and personas to appeal to different target audiences.

1. Task 5 - Representation
Analysis

2. Due to Q have a wide target audience, the
people who feature of their covers range
music genres. Dave Grohl from the Foo
Fighters is perceived as angry and scary.
This is due to the close up shot of a long,
dark haired man, which is stereotypical for
the rock genre in which he sings for. The
scruffy stubble sends across again a, ‘I
don’t care’ look, and gives the man an edgy
and scruffy side to him, in appose to him
being clean shaven and looking handsome.
The fire ball appearing from the screaming
mans mouth represents the anger with in
the man and his music, with an extra touch
of him spitting fire which is quite satanic
and demonic.
The man is wearing a red jumper
which connotes blood and wrath. The
genre of music if very similar to this as
it includes songs of wrath, blood and
fire.
The man looks rather old, which is due to
the age of the genre he plays for. It is
conventional for rock singers to be quite
old as they have often had a lot of
experience and are made famous
through the years of working and living
as a rock singer. This is backed up
through the tag line at the bottom of the
page which reads: ‘Dave Grohl saves
rock. Again.’ By saying that he is saving
rock, it shows the experience he’s had
and also the again shows again that he
has had years of experience, starting
from the band scream and then through
The quote used on the cover said by Grohl says “This to Nirvana.
will kill me!” The word kill shows the subject of death
behind his music and life. It also shows that age
behind the man, saying that now hes back in the
business he is too old and it will kill him!

3. The close up image of Liam
Gallagher looks slightly faded and
darker. This puts across a
representation of how the singer has
come back to start fresh in a new
band. The white background with
the shadow in the corner makes you
focus mainly on Gallagher. The hair
cut keeps with the mod cut which he
had in Oasis, showing that his new
band Beady eye has a similar sort of
music and also to be easily
recognised by his fans. In the
reflection of his glasses is his band
mates who are quite spread out.
This is to be shown as Liam being
the leader of the group and is In
charge as he is quite far in front of
his band looking over at them, as if
to tell them what to do. Like a
teacher standing at the front of a
class.
The glossy glasses and the long
hair over his face also show
Gallagher to be mysterious
almost like you would have to
read on through the magazine
to find out about his band.
By using his first name, it shows it’s a
more powerful interview which
includes more personal features. The
phrase kick off, is used to describe the
start of his new group Beady Eye, but
also refers back to his past in Oasis
where it was known for his band to
‘kick off’ after gigs.
The army jacket pulled up to his collar
shows a more normal, casual working
class feature to the artist. Him being a
40 year old male, with an attempt at a
new look and dress, is trying to
address more to a specific target
audience of a similar age range, and
people who like similar
psychographics as Liam. Like born
again Mods.

4. The band Muse are represented
with the alternate rock and space
rock genre. This is perceived
strongly through the short hair
styles, and rough features. Their
black V-neck tops and dark space
backgrounds act mysterious and
show the band as dark and obscure
tying in with the genre of music
they appear in.
The men are all around 30-40 years
old males, this is shown as them
being dominant. This is seen through
them being in a triangle shape. All
apart from Matthew Bellamy (the
lead singer) to be looking away from
the camera. This is because they are
wanting to appeal to different
audiences so are looking all around.
The quotes include “Their
biggest challenge yet.” This
makes them still look deep in
thought and interested, as it
connotes them to be thinking
about their decisions.
Another quote includes “Boldly
go where no band has gone
before.” This makes the
audience want to know more
about the band as the language
is quite intreging. It may make
people think of space due to
their background and the genre
of music which is included.
Stereotypically most rock singers
are men, and so are these can
appeal more to the audience.
They are also White, British.
Which is also similar to the genre
of music they are singing for.

5. At the top of the page, almost in the
primary optical area is a band named
Yuck. They are place in a large mid
shot landscape photo so the whole
band can be seen. They wear slightly
normal clothes of young adults. With
hair which brings out their persona.
This shows them as slightly normal
people when looking past the props in
which they are holding. This is to aim
at a audience of almost anyone,
though people who mainly enjoy
indie. The band includes one woman,
as its conventional to have a female
voice in a indie band.
Josh Homme who appears in the centre, is
seen to be looking past the camera. This
gives him a not bothered look. He is playing
mainly with his hands so acts quite confident
and the interview may include something to
do with his hands. Which is backed up by the
story being about the Joys of origami. This
vague quote from the feature makes people
want to read on as they see Homme as
someone who is a strong rock singer, and
wander why he is doing such a calm activity
which doesn't match the psychographics.
Homme is unconventionaly wearing a silver
collared shirt and suit which is not the same
as what he would usually wear when
appearing in his stoner rock bands.
Next to Homme is a band names The Kill. They are dressed in
conventional clothing and are of a similar age to the target audience.
There again is a woman in the band which is again conventional for the
Ide Rock genre. There is a distant shot photo of the band so can be seen
as having more to them than what is actually known. For example a
quote from the feature includes: Kate Moss is unsurprisingly a fan.
In the bottom corner there are images from
Prince and Katy Perry’s gigs, this is to appeal to
the audience as they see the artists in their lime
light, and their costume. These artists are spoken
about as they are both much appreciated pop
artists but from different decades

6. In the top, optical zone there is
an image of a rather new band.
You can notice the genre of music
in which they play for by the shot
type being a wide landscape shot
to fit in the full band with props
like guitars, wooden boxes and
leather chairs. They are young
men, who are appealing to a
similar audience, and also may be
a higher class of people, this is
seen through their hair styles and
their clothes, which include
blazers, and shirts.
Another image also I the centre is an image
of Shaun Ryder, from the Happy Mondays.
He is appearing to be quite normal and
relaxed and dosent really care, similar to
how he was, when he was at the prime of
his carear. The relaxation is shown through
his arms being placed on his legs whilst hes
leaning forward to the person who is talking
to him, so shows he is quite involved. The
costume matches his genre, of alternate
dance and baggy. This is due to the jackets,
jeans and the dark sunglasses, appealing
back to his fans when he was in the 80s
In the centre there is a image of Adele who is dressed in a black woolly dress. This connotes
sadness and sophistication. This may perceive her background as someone of a higher class, or
also with an interview talking about her album at the time, which was about a breakup.
She is looking past the camera, smiling and laughing; showing that the interview could be intimate
but relaxed. The image of her laughing shows her to be a normal happy person so would appeal to
audiences. She is also touching an erogenous zone so is enjoying herself

7. The main image is of Alex Turner
from Arctic Monkeys, a mid 20 year
old, who is appealing to a Brit pop,
indie audience, this is notices by is
hair style, which is a thick comb
over. The man is noticeable through
his hair style and dark glasses. He is
also wearing a unbuttoned shirt so
appeals to an audience of elder
British people, or younger people
with older traditions, due to the
style of hair or clothing not being in
fashion.
As a 28 year old male he attempts
to look good to the ladies, so looks
past the camera, like a professional
model. This look makes it look like
he is ignoring the audience and not
directing towards anyone, this is so
people think he is more attractive as
he is seen to be rebellious.
The two images below Alex
Turner are of Haim and
Manic Street Preacher`s.
Haim are an all girl pop-rock
band, and Manic Street
Preachers are a all men glam
punk band. The bands of
Arctic Monkeys and the
different genre bands can
appeal to the wide range of
people who read the
magazine.

8. Lady Gaga on this double page
spread dominates the whole
of the left hand page, this
shows the importance of the
artist and the interview. The
mid shot of Gaga shows her
top half of her naked body
upwards. By using her hands
to cover up her breasts, it
makes her look sexual and
shows beauty, but by covering
them up, she is hiding her
beauty and femininity. The
blonde hair shows her natural
‘perfection’ beauty. The
chains around her neck also
acts as a sexual prop, but also
gives a edgy look to her, to
show that she isn’t truly
perfect and can appeal to any
age or gender audience.
The large drop letter also dominates in the background of the right hand
page, this also shows the importance of her looks and the importance of
her name, due to the incredibly large red letter. The red letter connotes
love and danger, almost like its dangerous to love such a woman who
dominates both pages, one with her face and body and one with the
first letter of her name.
The black and white effect to the
photo makes her look more vintage
and classic. This makes her appeal
to wide audiences.

9. Pete Doherty shows a
rugged look, in plain top
and rough hair. This would
appeal to a more niche
target audience, of men,
who like indie rock, and
have a disorderly
psychographic. This is
proven by the pint of beer
in a plastic cup he is
holding in one hand and
also the coke with almost
probably another alcoholic
substance in the other. The
photo of Doherty is
showing him as some one
who looks drunk or on
drugs. He has greasy hair
and spots around his face.
This shows the persona of
the rock artist.
The quote from the article which reads ‘In good health’
shows a metaphor against what Doherty is really like,
which isn’t at all in the good health. People could see
this as familiarity and can find an interest in knowing
about the healthy side in Doherty.
The right hand page is in
sections and has quotes and
pictures and indents spread
over the page, representing
the crazy made type of
person which Doherty is.
The darkened tone to the
image is almost sepia as it
represents the classic era or
post punk who was in when
singing for The Libertines.
People would be attracted to
the article as they see it as
the classic singer he once
was, this is shown throught
the quote “ Oh Peter used to
be your singing. Im like.
‘What are you talking about
used to be?” as he still wants
to be seen as the famous guy
who used to be.

10. The black and white image of
Jake Bugg shows the indie genre
of the singer. This is because the
black and white effect gives a
retro old classic type of look.
Half of his face is in shade, so
cant be seen properly. This is
due to Jake Bugg with
reasonably new, still be in the
shadow, with people not
knowing much about him. The
image and article can appeal to
young men and women as it is
seen in the image that Bugg is
also very young.
The article is quite small
and can appeal to the
younger age as there
isn’t a lot to read, so can
be easier for that age
range as its simple and
the language would get
to the point instead of
dragging in great vocab,
so the correct target
audience can understand
it.
The quote of “The times they are a-changing’” represents the language
used by the indie folk singer, as the words are also quite folk like,
representing the area of Nottingham where he was born. This can appel
to the audience as people see it as the real Jake Bugg, and who he really
is, by knowing his speech and his ethnic background.