Contents Page Analysis

In this analysis I shall be analysing two magazine contents pages from 2 different genres. I require the ability to show how to differentiate two different genres from each other solely from there contents pages. I feel that I also require the ability to make sure my audiences are able to distinguish a specific genre from similar language conventions. These include: imagery, layout, colour pallet and typography. This means as Bentley stated in 1997 “The creative process is the rearranging of the old to create new.”

The target audience of my indie rock magazine is males and females of middle class and below aged between 15-35 of all ethnicities, sexualities and nationalities. This is the same as indie rock genres as my magazines are aimed for indie rock fans so therefore I will need to match the target audience in order to know the right sort of people for my magazine.  I shall also be looking at representation theory and how it supports my points and opinions. 

Top Gear Magazine:

Top Gear magazine is published by immediate media company and was first published in October 1993. Its circulation figure show that 150,884 copies were sold in the second half of 2013. Top Gear magazine is edited by Charlie Turner. It's target audience is mainly men aged from 25-40+ from classes B-E with a secondary audience of men 40+ interested in classic cars.

Imagery:

There is no real main image on Top Gear magazine's contents page, this has been purposefully portrayed via a number of smaller and equally proportioned images that are well spread around the contents page. Because of the many styles of cars and areas within the magazine, by including smaller images they can appeal to everyone reading the magazine in at least one format or another. The presenters of Top Gear are presented down the right side of the contents page with their own small section being equally distributed between the three of them. No props are used nor required as the images of the cars stand out enough already as well as the portraits of the presenters. This links and represents the theory of Sarita Malik who stated in 1998 "whiteness is naturalised and being black is against the norm" as all the presenters are from a white-English ethnicity and the accompanying television show is very English as well. 

Layout:

The layout seems both organised and relaxed at the same time as there is no main image and all the contents appear to be in their own sub-sections. This shows that it aims to appeal to audiences of various classes so by mixing both styles they are successfully able to do this. There seems to be 2 main stories in each section as well as several surrounding articles within these sections. It certainly comes across as a predominately male magazine as all the articles are either about cars or men talking about cars. I feel that this challenges the theory of Richard Butsch who states that "working class men are dumb but they mean well" because all the presenters come across as intelligent knowing exactly what they are talking about. 

Colour Pallet:

The main background of Top Gear magazine is black which connotes that the images are used have all been taken in studios as supposed to images taken on the spot or in action. The text colour features a combination of white, black, blue, red and yellow. This mixture gives you an entertaining feel to this magazine. Its mise-en-scene shows you that the colour pallet has been professionally chosen to attract its male target audience in this way otherwise men will not feel that this magazine is appealing to them if this or a similar house style is not used. I feel that this magazine neither supports nor challenges any of the key representation theories.  

Typography:

Top Gear magazine's typography style comes across as professional and classic showing how important a well-educated reader matters to them. It is still slightly laid back so that the reader can approach it without feeling intimidated about trying to read and this is made more approachable working as a visual aid for them.  The text is in a consistent structure making the adult reader more interested as the text is not randomly scattered across the page. This challenges Richard Butsch's theory as its meant to appeal to men and it does appear as an educated magazine rather than a "dumb" one.

Q Magazine: 

Q magazine is published by Bauer media group and was first published in October 1986. Its circulation figures show that 52,781 copies were sold in the second half of 2013. Q magazine is founded by Mark Ellen and David Hepworth. Its target audience are music fans aged between 30-40 of classes C1-E. 

Imagery:

The main image of Q magazine's contents page is of Adele which has been purposefully done as she is an incredibly well known musician who will attract many readers into reading about her. Because of her global success by using her as a main image you a lot more likely to attract more interest rather than enlarging the other image on the page. Adele is shown in the centre of the page which portrays her to be successful and a significant figure within the music industry. No props are used or required in this image considering her global status. This links back to Laura Mulvey's theory that "women are sexual objects of desire" as Adele is used as an appealing figure rather than a male figure in the same light.

Layout:

The layout is very formal as it's contents page is solely structured around its main image. As its target audience are primarily adults, then they must show the ability to be able to have a structure based on their adult audience. Besides it main story, everything is evenly proportioned in an L-shape around the image of Adele. From this, you would feel that this is a unisex magazine however it is slightly swaying towards being a male magazine. I fee that this also back Mulvey's theory as it's layout is based around the main image of Adele.

Colour Pallet:

The main background of Q magazine is white which connotes that the images are used are all studio images and have been modelled in a specific way for the magazine. The text colour features is black and red which connotes a professional house style. This mixture makes you feel sophisticated when approaching this magazine. Its mise-en-scene continues its professional style and makes it feel unique as if you would recognise this outside of its own habitat. I feel that the background supports Malik's theory due to its whiteness. 

Typography:

Q magazine's typography style sticks its professional layout and mise-en-scene which makes a reader fell professional when reading this. It is organised in every possible manner within its imagery, layout, colour pallet and typography. It is written as if it was a letter or a formal piece of writing with a lined schedule of all the articles and their subtitles. This doesn't challenge or support any key representation theory.