The document analyzes various elements of the front cover and contents pages of the 2009 issue of NME magazine. On the front cover, Dizzee Rascal is pictured crouching in a room with graffiti, suggesting youth culture. The contents pages list articles about touring musicians in a informal tone. A double page spread features an image of Dizzee Rascal by graffiti-covered wall linked to his past, along with photos implying a partying lifestyle. Throughout, the layout ignores conventional rules with a messy yet vibrant style.

1. Task Two

2. Analyse the front cover of
NME 2009
• Denotation – Dizzee Rascal
crouching in a room with graffiti
on the wall, with a checked floor
and a red sofa in the background.
• Connotation – the graffiti connotes
youth and vandalism and perhaps
party/gang culture. Bright colours
suggest vibrancy and joy.
• Genre – the genre appears to be
that of a dance/party scene, and
Dizzee Rascal is a rapper. However,
other bands/artists that are
mentioned on the cover contrast
the genre of music that Dizzee
Rascal makes.
• The rule of thirds doesn’t appear
to be used here as the writing on
the cover seems to be at a tilted
angle to go with the pose that
Dizzee Rascal is doing – it seems
quite messy and spontaneous.

3. Analyse the front cover of
NME 2009
• Masthead – the masthead is in the
left corner, as opposed to
spreading across the top or being
central (this could be because of
the shortness of the title ‘NME’ or
because NME is a recognisable
name that doesn’t need to be
central)
• Model – the model is Dizzee Rascal
who was quite a big name for rap
music in 2009, it contrasts the
typical genre of the magazine (rock
music) and gives it a fresh look.
• Main coverline – the main
coverline is ‘Dizzee Rascal: “I’m
spreading joy around the world,
man!”’ it is on the left hand side
and takes a snippet from the
interview with Dizzee Rascal to let
the reader know what they’re in
for.

4. Analyse the front cover of
NME 2009
• Coverlines – the other coverlines
are simply names of other
bands/artists featured in this issue
of the magazine, contrasting the
picture of Dizzee Rascal as it
clashes genres.
• Barcode – the barcode is fairly
small so it doesn’t take any
attention away from the front
cover.
• Layout – the layout seems to
ignore the rule of thirds and is
quite messy and fun.
• Mise-en-scene – the graffiti
suggests youth and fun as well as
criminality which may be
associated with rap culture.
• Long shot – gets the whole of his
body in to show what he’s wearing
but has qualities of a medium
close up, as our main focus is on
his head and shoulders.

5. Analyse the front cover of
NME 2009
• Strapline – “16 page autumn tour
special” the word ‘special’ makes
readers want to know what’s
inside.
• Colour scheme – prominently red
and white
• Target audience – will probably
appeal to teenagers of 2009
because Dizzee Rascal was quite
mainstream.

6. Analyse the contents page
from NME
• Layout – the contents are narrow
and down the right hand side;
there seems to be an image of a
flight case which has connotations
of touring.
• Fonts – sans serif, all block capitals.
Simple, clean and modern.
• Article titles – simple and straight
to the point so readers know
exactly what they’re reading.
• Mise-en-scene – flight case and
tour bus have connotations of
touring/music.
• Editorial – informal and colloquial
to establish a better relationship
with the reader.
• Columns – organised into 3
columns, the middle one is thick
and the other 2 are quite narrow –
breaks the rule of thirds.

7. Analyse the contents page
of NME
• Main image – woman stood next
to a tour bus has connotations of
music and touring.
• Page numbers – page numbers can
be found in the contents, index
and the editorial, making it very
clear to readers where they can
find certain articles.
• How image and text are integrated
– the image of the flight box and
the word “touring” link because
flight boxes connote touring.
• Language – the language used is
quite informal to build a friendlier
relationship with the audience.
• Main heading – “touring special”
shows that the magazine will
mainly be about touring and live
shows.
• Sub headings – names artists and
bands that are featured in this
issue.

8. Analyse the contents page
of NME
• House style – black, white and red
– quite dark, serious, masculine
colours.
• Brand identity – NME at the top of
page, repetition to get more
recognition.
• Target audience – potentially a
wide variety of audience but more
male oriented and for an older age
group.
• Shot types – it could be an
establishing shot to show the tour
bus but there’s a woman in it at a
medium shot – the camera angle is
tilted.
• Date – 26th September 2009
• Rule of 3rds – is followed but the
middle column is thicker than the
left and right columns.

9. Analyse the contents page
of NME
• Boarders around image – the
boarder is meant to resemble a
flight box which is associated with
touring.
• Grab quotes – none are used as
they want the reader to find out
for themselves what is included in
the article
• Masthead – two different colours
(white and red) to make the title
stand out, goes across the top of
the page.

10. Analyse the double page
spread of NME
• Layout – there’s not a noticeable
‘grid,’ it seems to act like the cover
where the rule of thirds isn’t
followed too closely.
• Column width and positioning –
the columns of writing are fairly
narrow and are more towards the
bottom of the page.
• Font and type size – the title font
is block capitals and takes up a lot
of room at the top of the page; the
type writing is very small in
comparison.
• Use of space – the top of the
article seems to want focus on the
title, there’s a minimal amount of
room for the copy and the images
of bottles at the bottom acquire a
fair amount of space too.
• Page numbers – no page numbers
means no focus is taken away
from the article.

11. Analyse the double page
spread of the NME
• Colours – there’s a wide variety of
colours – some are bright and
some are dark.
• Use of images – photo of Dizzee
Rascal next to a colourful wall with
graffiti on it, also pictures of
bottles and a stereo – links to a
party, fun and youth.
• How image and text are integrated
– image shows a partying lifestyle
and the title is “from tags to
riches” which could imply
criminality and youth, linking to
the party scene in the
photographs.
• Main image – the main image is of
Dizzee Rascal leaning against a wall
with graffiti on it, could have
implications of what his life was
like before his music career.

12. Analyse the double page
spread of the NME
• Language – quite informal to
connect with the audience.
• Design - laid out like most double
page spreads with the main image
on one side and the article on the
other.
• Drop Cap – the letter Y is used –
draws attention to the beginning
of the article.
• Denotation – Dizzee Rascal leant
up against a wall with graffiti on it,
bottles and a stereo on the ground
• Connotation – party lifestyle,
youth, criminals, getting drunk,
having fun, being carefree.