TASK 2- Case study 1

Kerrang analysis

The magazine ‘Kerrang!’ was largely intended to be sold to people who were interested in the musical genre of ‘rock’. The masthead is designed to look broken up. It could be suggested that onomatopoeia could be linked to the masthead as it connotes the clatter of something, just like the type of music. This magazine cover structures a performer named Gerard Ways and he is wearing a fitted blue suit with a white shirt with the top button undone and black tie, which also consist of his black belt. The type of photo shot of the front image is medium as we view the top of the artists head to the artists’ waist. Typically with rock magazines, the standard of the front cover would be a band with black make-up on the faces of artists and they show some emotion through their facial expression, which appears to be seriously hostile through their body language. The effect of this typical structure is in relation to the type of music that features in the magazine. In contrast, the artist of this magazine looks humble but we observe that he has dyed his hair red. The implication of the colour red normally represents anger that is displayed in stereotypical rock music. The skyline is used to give the readers more information about the “You me at six” interview. To catch the reader’s attention, the word “funniest” is used to impulse people to turn over to the interview to see what is really stimulating and hysterical about it.

                                                                                   

 The key colours used for the contents page is yellow, red, black and white. In addition, there is a message from the editor, which highlights the communication he has with his readers. In the contents page, the editors’ message has been printed. Also, the images link back to the text, which shows that you can receive enough information just by looking at the image or looking at the text. The images show the whole approach of the genre of magazine, being a rock magazine, it should include the stereotype of a rock artist usually having long hair, wearing make-up and having tattoos. This magazine does the reverse, due to the fact that the artist doesn’t have any visible tattoos, body language is very relaxed. The magazine is more ordered (layout, text, image and heading). Also, the headings can seem slightly vibrant, but the colour ‘red’ on the numbers attracts more, as it is bold and bright.

The double page spread uses a joke is used, “Go your own way”. It is primarily used for a connection back to the article, the image or the main cover line. Drop cap of the letter ‘E’ is used to show the audience exactly where the article starts. The colours yellow and blue are used as the connotations of these colours are typically tranquillity and harmony. Pull quotes are also used in the article, however is on the next page of the article. It says, "I think I make my best music when I'm mucking about, not thinking". The article is mainly about Gerard ways' life, his method of how he composes and his new album Hesitant Alien. The author uses a few comments, in order for amusement, but the article also contains an interview. Some parts included informing the audience about how serious Gerard had to be, as there were up and coming rock bands ready to make some music, for example My Chemical Romance. The nature is mainly informal, which includes humorous words and non-standard lexis like swear words. But those follow the genre of the magazine, as we are reminded how strange and powerful the music is, so the language would shadow. There are many drop caps but also a few pull quotes. The picture takes up most of the layout, which relates back to the text. Gerald is promoted throughout the magazine. A specimen of this is that his concert performances are placed on the magazine, which is operative as it is a type of celebrity authorisation. Readers may be mindful of the show, as he was the sole focus of the magazine.