Q Magazine Analysis 6bt2d

By Ben Matthews

Puffe

Masthead The masthead follows convention in its positioning on the front cover as it has been placed in top left corner of the page. This is so the brand can be clearly seen from the shelf and it is also it is one of the first things the target audience sees when looking at the magazine. This hits home brand recognition to the reader making it more likely for repeat purchase if they enjoy the magazine. This magazine does develop convention as instead of just having a text as the masthead, they have the brand logo instead. The big “Q” logo further hits home brand recognition as it is very easy to pick out of many other magazines. The logo does follow convention for the general characteristics of a masthead. These characteristics include a large text, different font and distinguishable colour. By having these characteristics it hopes to stand out better to the target audience, which by doing this will attract them to buy the magazine. This particular cover follows a rather brown colour scheme which uses different shades of brown which adds different levels to the cover, which allows all the features (Coverlines, main image and puffes) to fit together ensuring the cover doesn’t look bland. This colour has been created by the miseen-sen of the main image. The brown colouring allows contrast between the main colour scheme of white and red. This allows for the main features coloured like this eg- Main coverline to stand out better which draws the readers attention to the main features better.

This puffe is on this magazine cover to present magazine content in a different form other than coverlines. This adds diversity to the cover and makes it interesting to the reader. This puffe follows convention by being circular shape. It also follows convention by being on the side of the page rather than over the main image. This is so it doesn't distract the reader from the main attraction to the magazine and so the cover doesn’t look congested.

Main Image This main image follows normal convention for most magazines of this type, this is because the they have used a medium close up shot to capture the model (Liam Gallagher). This means that the main focus of the cover is on him and allows the audience to understand that the main story of the magazine is about him. His pose could suggest the article about him is a personal or a personal viewpoint interview. This is backed up by the use of glasses in the Mise-en-sen. With this addition it shows us a reflection off the glasses of his view which is another way of seeing his “Personal view on things”. The main coverline which anchors the main image also compliments this idea. This is because the main coverline says “Bready eye kick off”. This line suggests the coverstar Liam is looking through his “beady eye” which gives us his perspective. From the main image the reader can also deduce what topics he will cover in this article. Because of the reflections in the coverstars glasses it gives the impression he's looking at the people in the reflection accompanied with the interpretation that the article is about his personal view the target audience can assume that the people in the reflection of the glasses are the people he gives opinions on in the article. This is backed up with a pop quote on the cover which gives an opinion on someone which is in the reflection of his glasses (Noel Gallagher) which further backs this theory on the articles topics. The brown shade of the magazine cover is created by the colour of his hair and which is also reflected on the same brown pigment on his jacket.

Main coverline + Coverlines This main coverline follows all the codes conventions of a normal magazine. Some of these features include a larger text than all the other coverlines. By doing this it will attract the target audience directly towards it and make it easier for them to identify that this is the main story of the magazine. The colours used on the main coverline and some coverlines contrast very well to the background colour created by the dark jacket the model is wearing (Mise-en-sen) By creating this contrast it illuminates the text on the cover making it stand out to the target audience making it more likely for them to buy the magazine. The continuous use of the red in the colour scheme further enhances the brand recognising for “Q”. This is because by using it in text which the target audience will look at they will immediately know that it is an article In “Q magazine”. Furthermore the use of red, white and black gives the magazine a simple colour scheme which doesn’t allow to many colours to clash, resulting in the magazine looking unprofessional. Furthermore the colours in this colour scheme are very gender neutral, this is important as the target audience for “Q” is not gender specific so by having a colour scheme which fits with both genders it maximises the prospect of making sales to both gender groups. As is normal convention the main coverline anchors the model/star on the main image. “Q” have followed this convention by doing the same and focussing its main coverline on the cover star Liam Gallagher. On the main coverline they made it obvious who the main cover star was and who the main story was about. They did this by making the font of the name larger than any text on the page, this immediately draws the readers attention to it, this is also complimented by the red colour of the name text which stands out from the other text (Coverlines), this is to ensure the main attraction of the magazines is displayed first to the reader so it gives the magazine a good impression on the reader.

Title and Logo This title on the contents page follows all the usual codes and conventions shown by magazines similar to this. One of these is putting both the contents page and magazine logo/Masthead at the top of the page heading all of the subtitles and pages. This done as the top of the page is the first thing that the reader sees, so by putting the page title there it increases the ease in which the reader can navigate the magazine and quickly identify that this is the contents page. Furthermore to add to the readers awareness “Q” have followed the other code of making the page title the largest text on the page. This is so the readers attention is quickly drawn to it which further increases the readers ability to navigate the pages. On this this title they have used the “Q” magazine logo (Also used as the masthead). By doing this it yet again shows the reader what magazine they are reading, but by including the brand logo it gives potential for much brand recognition. This is because with the reader constantly seeing the “Q” logo, if the magazine appeals to them then when buying another music magazine of this type then they will instantly recognise the logo and be more encouraged to get brought as it’s a brand the reader trusts. This encourages increased sales. The contents title is also the same font as the “Q” logo itself. By doing this it allows a professional and consistent look of the magazine rather than it looking out of place and bland.

Main Image and page number With the single column system it allows space for a main image on the page. This image is of the Liam Gallagher who is on the front cover who is the person the main story is centred around. By putting this large image on the contents page it further s to the reader that this is the main feature of the magazine. The mise-en-sen of this image does not change from the front cover which allows the contents page to reflect the style of the front cover. Also because of the size of the image it also influences the text size of the page number which is much larger than any of the page numbers. This is because as it is the main feature of the magazine, the target audience are going to want to see this story first so by making the page number much larger it is much more visible to the reader meaning they can find what they want quickly. The mise-en-sen of this image does effect the page number text colour. This is because the page number does overlap the image (so it indicates the image is from that page) and because of the dark camouflage coat, it means the number has to be white so it is visible to the reader.

Colour Scheme

Page titles and numbers

Like the front cover “Q” have stayed with the same gender neutral colours of White, Black and red. By doing this it means that the magazine will appeal to any gender which widens the target audience. The use of the “Q” red colour can further promote brand recognition as when the target audience sees that red they can immediately think about the “Q” brand. Furthermore the red can also help illuminate the white and black colours when used in text.

Within this magazine the page numbers and descriptions are done in a singular column format. By doing this it makes the rows to be neatly organised so it is clear for the reader to view them and navigate the magazine. Furthermore this look is adopted by many similar magazines as I makes the magazine look better presented, rather than the page numbers being spread out and disorganised. As is normal convention the title of the page is next to the allocated page, this improves magazine navigation. On this particular magazine the page titles follow convention by being bolder than the page description underneath, this is because the bolder text draws the target into it first, so the reader can Identify which articles (Artists) interest them, then the progression to the smaller page description text shows the audience what the article entails which gives them an informed decision of whether to buy the magazine or not. As like the title the page title and number text is the same font as the “Q” logo which allows it to fit in with the contents page. Furthermore with the continuous use f this font it could lead to some brand recognition as when the target audience see that type of classic font they can commonly associate that with the “Q” brand.

Date Line As is usual convention for these magazines, the contents page contains the issue number/date/month. This is so the reader can find out whether this is the latest issue of this particular magazine and by doing so seeing if the information in the magazine is current, up to date and accurate. “Q” have followed convention also by making it one of the small texts on the page. This is because it is not one of the more important features on the page so doesn’t take as much space as other more important texts.

Text Because of the black, white and red colour scheme the text does fit in with the regular black and white text which is used in this article. This follows a convention of normal magazines. This text follows a 3 column format which makes the text looks much more professional and sectioned out. Because of the interview style of this article which is Liam Gallagher giving opinions on different questions, this format is used to section off different questions and opinions from one another making it easier to read for the target audience and shows which answers go to which questions. The big “T” in the middle is an adaptation of the convention of articles in which the first letter of the article is enlarged to show where to start. This helps attract the target audience to the article as it very irregular to cover up the text in this way with 1 giant letter. This irregular style becomes a theme of this magazine extending to the main image. This could count as symbolism to the coverstars (Liam Gallagher) very unorthodox and unique style which is further displayed in the main image. As the large “T” is a transparent red colour the text is still easily visible to the audience. Again the consistent use of the same red in this magazine further contributes to brand recognition. To clearly display the interview/conversational style of this article the questions and answers in the text have been clearly distinguished. This has been done by making the questions in a bold font and the answers in a non-bold font. By doing this it allows the audience to clearly see what responses go to which statements and also ethicise the conversational style of the interview.

Title This title on this double page spread does not follow adapt some of the usual codes and conventions. First of all the title is at the top of the page, as is usual convention, but instead of being at the top of the text it is at the top of the main image instead. This could further imply how the article is all about him and displaying that it is his opinions. The positioning also shows Liam looking at the title in the distance. This gives double meanings to the title ”Beady Eye” rather than just a project he’s working on. The title is the largest text on the page which is usual convention so it stands out to the reader when scanning through the magazine. Snap Quotes Throughout this article there are quotes scattered around the page which are enlarges and distinguished to the other parts of the text. This further implies an interview style article. These also intrigue the reader as the quotes may suggest topics in which the reader is interested in reading about.

Main Image This article is an interview style article in which it concentrates on the opinions of the subject Liam Gallagher. This has effect the image because the A4 image of him is of just him and no other people, objects or settings (Very little Mise-en-sen) This is because this article has him and his opinions as the focus, this reflects the image as there is no other focus in the image other than him and the readers eye is drawn to him. This displays to the reader that it is just his opinions in this article and nothing else influences the article. The pose also suggests that this is a personal or opinion article as well. This is because the pose shows him in an obvious pose where he seems to be thinking, which is almost reminiscent of the face he might pull before question response. Furthermore the placement of a snap quote on the main image next to his head also backs up this point. Which this implies these answers he gives are his true opinions and are not altered. The clothes worn by the coverstar in this image, front cover and contents page could be used as symbolism of his strange irregular nature. This is because the clothes he wears in these images are very obscure unorthodox and ones in which you would not wear in public as every day clothes, so by wearing them like this it suggests he is not very normal which may reflect on his opinions. This could be assumed in a different way in which he wears the strange clothes to get himself noticed more from the crowd. This assumption may create intrigue for the reader which may persuade them to read the article and see what strange opinions he gives on things. Other symbolism can be deduced by his clothes. For example he wears a very prominent and noticeable camouflage jacket which could be used to symbolise some conflict of some sort whether that be inner conflict with his emotions or literal conflict maybe with his brother Noel which he also called a “tit” on the front cover. The clothes used in this image are very dark in comparison to the very light background could mean a dark side to him or his desire to stand out from the crowd.