CLASH

FRONT COVER

Language- The most striking feature of this front cover is the fact the background is bright blue and looks really powerful. Its very plain but this makes it effective at the same time. Connotations of blue are normally sadness which maybe explains the expression on the models face. I don't really think of this as sadness, but when i look at this i think of it as more of an electric blue, making the cover look exciting. I can tell by the blue background, that this image was shot in a studio as there is no natural background to the image itself. This then immediately informs me that the magazine is professional and maybe has alot of experience- therefore promoting the magazine to look like its one of the best being published at this given time. The image is also shot as a medium close-up as i can see everything from the models waist upwards. This creates a more personal tone and allows the reader to engage and interact more with the artists being featured. The image itself, looks quite solemn and unhappy, portraying a stern and grumpy expression. This then tells me that its a more serious magazine, and won't contain quizzes and competitions.  Across the top of the magazine, from left to right is a huge, white, bold title displayed and written in capital letters. The capital letters are used to create emphasis and they certainly do the job. They shout out to the audience and almost make them read it- it also looks intimidating as if its a must that you read it. The fact that its a white colour against a bright blue background makes the title stand out an incredible amount. If the text was written in dark blue or purple etc, the reader would have great trouble trying to figure out what it said, however the white against the blue makes it a hundred times easier and also looks intriguing. The magazine is called "Clash"- and for me, i actually think it sounds like something is clashing. This is called personification and the magazine uses this very well. Music is all about the noise which is created by instruments and when i say: "Clash" i immediately imagine drums or symbols clashing together to make the music! I think this creates wonderful effect and works really well with the genre of the magazine. As usual, the magazine has a barcode label and also a price paired together. They are placed at the top right hand side of the cover, at the readers eye level, making sure they definitely won't miss it. All magazines have this so the reader doesn't really need to acknowledge it. It just informs them that the magazine isn't free and allows them to pay for it without difficulty.  The main sell-line, is in red and again stands out to the readers eye. This symbolises importance and screams out to the reader that they must read it. The red also works well against the blue background and again doesn't cause any trouble when the reader comes to read it. The main text on the front cover reads: "Arcade Fire" and this identifies the artist featured in the edition of the magazine. It identifies the artist in case any member of the audience isn't sure who it is so they can then remember it and use it in future preference. It makes the artist more well known, spreads the name around and also bases around this magazine, promoting the magazine as individual.  The cover artist is wearing all black, additionally making it stand out against the blue background and making the artist look important to any one reading the magazine. The artist is placed in the foreground. When i think of black, to most people it usually symbolises darkness and even death, so when i noticed that the cover artist is wearing black, to me, it tells the reader that this man is of a darker genre and even maybe a mysterious character. Basically, it just emphasises the artist in the foreground and definitely makes him stand out to the readers eye, putting great emphasis to the image itself rather than any surrounding text.  If this was a pop magazine, the cover artist would be looking ecstatic or happy, and sucking a lollipop or be based with candy etc, however the fact that this cover artist looks solemn and mysterious immediately tells me that the genre isn't pop but a more indie/rock approach. Indie and rock music isn't generally happy music therefore the unhappy artist on the cover hints that is maybe a rock/indie magazine. All the text that is placed on the front cover is either in black, white or red- all contrasting however working well with each other and creating effect on a huge scale. As the three colours are repeated and the magazine doesn't use different multi-colours all over the cover, it looks organized and structured- creating a professional approach and ordered to the best of the effect. Also, if the colours didn't match and they were multi-coloured it would look shabby and scruffy and basically not professional at all, therefore these colours add to the upper market effect that the magazine already creates.

Ideology-  Along with every other music magazine around, the main belief behind them is going to be music and how it changes lives. With this magazine, there aren't many images and as the background is just plain, i can't really gather up any beliefs from the cover alone. This means that the best i can do is guess and go with what the majority of music magazines subside. Therefore, i would say that music is a strong belief and how much of an impression it has on people and the lives they lead. Also, the belief that music is the key to success and the key to your soul.

Institution- Unlike the other magazines which belong to major publishing companies, 'Clash' is an independent media group with platforms in both digital print and media. It belongs with clashmedia.com and specialises in festivals etc. "Clash has consolidated its position as a leading UK and international title within the music, fashion and film sectors."

(Information extracted from - http://www.clashmusic.com/about-us)

Audience-  As this is an indie based magazine, the main audience sector would piece from any indie fans that are interested in not only music, but festivals and even fashion etc. I suspect maybe a younger generation as compared to an older age group and possibly a bigger ratio of males to females as girls stereotypically prefer pop music to indie/rock. I would definitely suggest that alot of females buy and enjoy this magazine as well as males, however when looking at the customers on a whole, i would expect to see a majority of males to females. I think the main age group which would tend to buy this would be old teenagers to young adults- for instance around the ages of 19-28. I don't generally think its an old magazine due to the artist on the cover as he doesn't look old, however he doesn't look young either.

Representation-  If i didn't know this was a music magazine, i wouldn't be able to tell, because there isn't any sign of music or any images of artists singing or playing instruments etc. Therefore i can't really comment on how music is represented- because to me, it isn't. I would say the older teenager is represented by the photograph being of an older teenager bordering on an young adult. The fierceness of indie/rock music is possibly represented by the red text as red associates itself with fire and danger- so it hints that the music contained and featured is maybe abit wild. The fact that the magazine is maybe pushed over to the male audience more than the females is represented by the blue background and the fact the model is a man himself. Most people associate boys with blue and girls with pink, therefore the fact that the whole background and lot of the whole cover is blue represents the feeling that its more for males than females.

CONTENTS PAGE

Language- The most striking thing on this contents page is the amount of different colours that are used throughout the entire double page spread.  In total, there are more than 7 colours that are placed all over the contents page. This makes it seem exciting and looks bright instead of dull and boring. It also tells the audience that this is a happy magazine, something which wasn't maybe portrayed through the front cover. It also hints that its got a female side to it as well as a male majority like i discussed earlier. The different colours such as pink and  red give it a feminine touch, attracting in the female audience too.  I counted up the total images used on this contents page and in total, there are about 8 different images. This also adds to the excitement that this page is building and makes it more interesting for the audience- rather than looking at the same audience over and over again. This way they can spend time looking at the different images and then feel the need to buy it next time. It also makes it not boring and monotone, it gives it that extra bit of 'umphh' that some magazine lack by the few images they use.  The "Contents" word that is placed centre page at the top is written and styled in huge black, capital letters. The capital letters are there to create emphasis and make it stand out more over the white background its placed on. This is also the biggest text on the page therefore signalling to the reader that its important. Almost straight away, the reader will look at this and recognise that this is the contents page and they won't need to spend time trying to find it, because its plainly says so.  The background of the contents page is in white, making everything in the foreground easy to read and stand out. For example, if the background was purple, some readers may find it hard, and white is a scientifically tested colour that its the easiest colour to read off. Similarly the text is all in black, contrasting with the white background and making it 10x as easier to read against the white- as opposed to blue or yellow where it wouldn't show up. Instead of having all the page listings under one big list, they have decided to break it down into sub-headings and then list the page reference. I think this is very wise as it makes it easier to allocate the page your looking for. Placed all over the contents page are circles that are different colours, these attract attention and catch the readers eye. This could be signalling that these are the most important and even special features of this weeks edition and this way the reader is more likely than not, to notice and read them.  In the eight images, they all feature either black or white people, therefore showing diversity and even representing that this is a magazine for anybody and it supports anybody- something in which is extremely important in this day and age, also something in which many people and things are lacking to the day- equal rights. Finally, most contents pages of magazine are only one page, usually of an A4 size. However this magazine spreads its contents over a double page spread, could be a result of the fact there are alot of contents, they didn't want it to look 'too busy' or simply because it looked better. Either way, it works very well.



DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

Language-  The double page spread is set upon a white background, immediately going to make anything that appears in the foreground stand out against it. This works well as it is guaranteed that most text will be read-able, unless of course if the text is then selected in creme or yellow. Evidently, the text they have used is actually in black, of course allowing the reader to be able to read with any problems what-so-ever. The black text contrasts with the white background, but they work every effectively and also show diversity and equality within everybody. The main image is obviously of an artist and he is holding a guitar. It is shot as a medium close-up allowing it to feel more personal to the reader and making the reader feel as though they are there taking the photograph. The fact that the image of the artist has been cut out and placed upon this white background, informs me and the reader that i was most probably took in a studio, creating a formal and professional approach to it. The main image is then edited into black and white, making anything that appears i colour to stand out a heck of alot. And subsequently, there is red text upon that very picture, that just as i thought, stands out incredibly well to any one reading the article. Red signifies importance, therefore signalling o the reader that this article is important, in hope that they will then read the article. To the left of the image of the artist, is says- "Jonny Cash". Immediately, this identifies the artist in the image for anyone who wasn't already aware of what he was called. I then noticed how the main slogan- "Draw the Line" linked i incredibly well with the image behind the artists photograph. To me, it looks like a drawing of maybe a  monster or a dragon, and the fact that the title is about drawing makes it all fit together very well. Obviously this was done deliberately, but in a clever way that interacts with the audience and engages them with a passion.

Representation- This is an article about a musician and of course it features in a music magazine, this is represented by- a) the photo of a musician and- b) the fact there is a guitar in the photograph. I have not seen many magazine with an actual instrument posed the way this one does, but it looks effective and represents that this in fact a music magazine and doesn't allow the reader to forget this.