Summary of contents page analysis

• The title is usually tucked away in the left hand corner giving more room to list features, usually a small font taking up half the page width roughly
• The page is crammed wit information to give off the sense the magazine is jam packed
• Images are seperate from one another to show they belong to different features
• Page numbers beside the features to relate to the number they feature on
• A boxed out features section that usually runs down the left hand side underneath the contents title and features short hand listings of the features of the magazine

3) Contents - 

A contents page is just as important as the Front Cover. It works with the same principles, that being it needs to be eye catching and hopes to "pull in" readers. The main traits that can be seen throughout many publically popular magazine brands is a clear masthead of the contents, showing to readers that the following on the page can be found within the magazine. This basically works in the same way as a magazine title should, ey

e catching and bold in order for readers to view it. 

A contents page has many thumbnail pictures

 of images that can be found within the pages of the magazine in order to work as a title in a sense to attract an audience. These thumbnail images usually have a number next to them stating the page number that that particular feature can be found on. Many usually have a medium sized subtitle beside them to act as a guide to help readers identify the picture. With larger fonts be

ing used not for readers to identify the image, but to attract readers due to it being a big feature as such. A Feature section is usually run down

 the side alongside these images acting as a key for the pictures by matching up the number to find out more about the feature and also showing readers other smaller features that can be found in the magazine. Many publications opt for a crammed fit in a sense to give off to the readers that there is alot in the magazine, leaving the readers feeling pleased with their buy. Its basically a visual representation of what the magazine entails, if the contents page was bare then the reader may feel displeased as he would believe that the magazine would be bare also.

This is the front cover of an NME Music Magazine, a very popular cult British genre that mainly focusses on British bands. The title is layered with an off red to make the "contents" title stand out. This works also with NME's branding logo as the colours are predominantely red and white. The date is cleary visible and is a trademark in a sense of NME's production, showcasing that its a monthly magazine. 

Thumbnail images are used with great effect throughout the page, using smaller to larger images to represent the scale of the feature. By doing so it allows for more images and text to take up the size of the page producing more information for the readers to digest. All the images follow the same stylistic layout in that they are all roundly cournered off at the left hand side giving a sense of hose style to the magazine. This is also a stylistic way of interpreting the page number for the features. The largest

 thumbnail image is backed up by a large title sizing up bigger than the contents title itself, giving it that special feature effect, attracting readers to view that page. These thumbnails run all the way along to the corners of the magazine leaving no space to waste, creating less blandness which works well to showcase the magazines features.

The Features section is cleary headed with a medium sized subtitle matching the colour coordinates with the masthead producing a flow throughout the page. This is used with the page numbers also and the "Regulars" section, 

giving the title more emphasis as the red and white stands out more due to it being backed up in other areas on the page. The features section is ran down alongside the page, only taking up a third of the page, showing to us that the images are the better at attracting readers. The subtitles and information are short and sweet, giving the readers a taste of what the articles about. The subtitles are mainly made up of the bands featued or artists as they would be household names that would attract readers so they know who features where instead of them having to find out themselves. This effectively spoon feeds the readers giving them what they want to know. Another common trai

t of a contexts page is the + sign used extensively throughout the printing world, with the likes of FHM using it as an almost house style effect on every front page. This adds effectiveness to the contexts page, almost trying to wow the audience as the sign acts like they are recieving bonus material in the magazine.

Here is a contents page for a monthly music magazine called "The Brass Herald", a magazine influenced by brass music. A different genre to what the mainstream audience would be attracted to. This is a very selective topic and therefore wouldnt follow suit to the likes of magazines such as FHM, Empire and NME. Although it would hold the characteristics of a contents page and therefore will have a similiar layout. 

The oage can be clearly seen as split into two, seen by the different colour contrasts. The contents title is similiar in the simpleness to NME's above yet isnt used to the same effect. The background layer of the masthead spreads out right across the page where the contents title itself only takes up around a half of the page. Whereas NME has pounced on the free space to fill more features in the empty space. This title isnt used to great effect as its too simplistic and doesnt offer any attractiveness to its readers. The font is simple and also its colourways too whereas at least NME has pushed the boat out and used a different shade of red to the primary standard and used a bolder more brighter font.

It uses thumbnails also yet not to great effect giving it no sense of house style or any type of style. Most are the same size and are placed in the same place giving a sense of order yet comes off dull. The page numbers of the feature are listed down the images but are used in different colours and sometimes cannot be depicted well enough due to the background nature of the picture. The features of the magazine are clearly listed down the side of the page in the same red as the title. Some are too prolonged for sub titles, unlike NME's that are short and to the point allowing more room for pictures which are more effective at attracting readers. Not all the subtitles have information given beneath the title therefore creating a distortion in the layout as each thing differs from the next therefore not letting it flow toghether. Some have no information, others a line or even a paragraph giving no layout format, proving distasteful on the eye. One plus is that there is a competition advertisement feature which would attract an audience and it stands out from the norm of the contents page giving it some credability.

All in all the contents page doesnt rate too highly on the attractiveness scale although it does its job of telling readers whats in the magazine. Yet this isnt enough to attract a new audience, something that ive learnt when i start my project is that pictures prove more attractive and insightful that paragraphs telling what the features about.

 

Q Magazine is a long running rock culture music that focusses on global bands. Its a well known publication and widely recognisable to any non-musical fan. Their contents page has a smart and sophisticated layout that resembles the audience they attract (middle aged music fans, middle/upper class). They use a banner type masthead similiar to "Brass herald" yet they effectively fill up the space to make it less bland by having their titles on the left and the date on the right side. A large image is used of The Courteeners used to put that feature on a bigger scale than the others, letting the audience know its importance in the magazine. A subtitle is used below cutting into the image, running suit in colours to the features section to the left of it still producing the smart outlook by using squaring off information instead of cramming it in. Many magazine use this technique of including one large image just like a front cover to produce more style and just to mix things up abit to the norm of their usual layout. FHM is a prime example of this as they usually use their centerfold model to attract their audience showing them that its one of their attractions of the magazine. 

The features section is neatly placed down the left hand side, very much similiar to NME as analysed earlier. It also follows suit to the colourways of Q's branding title to give off a stronger outline as it relates to the title itself. Red is often used in print publications as its a strikingly bold colour that attracts people and is associated with exciting things such as sex and danger. The white background proves modern as the colour is used in small context on the page giving it a modern feel. 

The feature strip is broken down by an Oasis Special, being sectioned off to show its feature as being more important than the others. This works well and in effect just like an image would do as it segregates it from the norm layout. It is also cut off by an "every month" feature box similiar to NME's "Regulars" feature that it holds. This title gives off to new readers that these features are exciting and a good read as they carry on to be in the magazine each month giving its own advertisement in a way. Its also given a red banner type title making the red predominantely bolder and gives it that extra character and importance throughout the page. The Q review section at the bottom, although it isn't red it still matches the title banner giving the page a nice colour transaction throughout making it an overall neat page. The inside of the section is held in grey which resembles "The Courteeners" image as a band member is depicted in grey and there is little colour involved making the grey fit in with the colour flow. Yet again the features listed follow the same suit as the other magazines ive analysed, that having a small subtitle followed by a short description alongside a page number making it as easy as possible for readers to navigate the magaizne.

Front cover analysis summary

• A large masthead that is recognisable and understandable following colourways to match the rest of the page
• A strong primary image to attract an audience, usually powerful and bold to stand out off the shelf, mostly overlaps the title giving it a less blocky feel
• Features listed over the image in strong fonts yet the colours arent too overpowering, small features usually in smaller writing and main image getting a seperate font to be recognised
• Shapes are often used on front covers to seperate the neatness and give it a quirky feel by adding something new to the layout

3) Q Magazine

Q Magazine is a publicly well known magazine. It follows the idea that less is more and uses simplistic colourways. By using white for a background it creates a modern look towards the magazine. The main picture is of "Metallica" a famous rock band formulaed in America, widening the audience globally. The main picture overlaps the magazines title, telling us that it's a widely recognisable production. The bands are dressed in dark colours to make them stand out from the white background. The lead singer is in a powerful stance in the middle of the group showing his highly recognisable status, with his arms folded it gives him a sense of authority. All of the band members are focussing on the camera, therefore interacting with the readers. The use of red in music magazines is widely used, giving it a bold attractiveness. "The loud issue" subtitle overlaps the "Q" magazine title giving it house style. The use of yellow to embedden it contrasts the red giving it a striking appearence that would attract an audience, giving it importance. The barcode is placed under the title which differs from the other magazines with it usually being in the bottom right hand corner. This therefore makes it neatly tucked away and out of the way, yet Q have opted for it under the title. The reoccuring red is used throughout in the subtitles which makes it stand out against the background. "Metallica" can be seen bang in the middle with a grey coloured font making it similiar with the plain black photo shoot. "175 albums reviewed" resembles the layout of the title, with a white lining and a red square text box to make it stand out. The red used in many of the subtitles are all depicted in red due to it being a band (Foo Fighters) and a figure (Harry Potter). This magazine cover works well as its simplistic and with the use of a white, modern background the reader is attracted to the stand out subtitles boldenned in red. The photo works well as its bang in the middle and the figures are used in an authorative stance, by looking at the camera the band members interact with the audience therefore relating them to the magazine.

2) NME Magzine

The NME music magazine focusses on the mainstream music of Britain, being Indie and and Rock. The title is big, bold and loud. Using red gives the title more attention therefore attracting thew audience to the title. With a band members hair just covering the edge of the title it gives it a sense of house-style by overlapping the title, a common trait in the genetic conventions of a music magazine. The white lining of the title gives it extra atractiveness and makes it jump out of the page following the plain black background. The black and white colourway is a resemblence of rock, showing a darkness about their music genre and gives it a plain, simplistic vibe, resembling the music genre. The split page idea gives the audience two deterances from the title, the main picture and the top half focussing on a special feature edition on "the worlds greatest rock festival". This top-half sections layout is crammed into a small space, giving it a music poster type theme. As its advertising the festivals it works well as it follows its functions. The bands are listed toghether down the side and a side picture of the event can be seen. The Reading and Leeds festival subtitles have red fuzz around them making them stand out and also is their own logo for the event. The focus then moves onto the main pictures of the page, with a white background for simplicity, the page is torn into three. Each showing the lead singer of The Killers, an american rock band. The subtitle reads "I'm having a personality crisis right now...", the readers now know why the page has been torn into three, each with a picture of the same person acting in wierd situations. The title "The Killers" is showed below the lead singers head, obviously the face is the main attraction as a face is recognisable. Its big, bold, white title stands larger than the magazine title itself and runs through the middle of the page. This also gives it a music festival poster by portraying them as the "headliners" if it were. The "V-festival" logo can be seen in the bottom left corner and is sectioned off by a running white strip, using red it follows suit to the magazine colour codes and again makes it stand out. Another band name, "The Verve" is used in red also amongst a white background to stand it out as another subtitle and main feature of the magazine. From the magazine research on music magazines its easy to see that music stars/bands are listed instead of the feature topic so that readers recognise if their favourite bands are in the magazine. This is used as its simplistic and tones down the front cover, giving off more attraction to the main focus, the cover and title.

The Analysis of similiar media texts

1) XXL MAGAZINE



XXL magazine is primarily a rap / hip hop magazine with its target audience specifically appealing to the young black american society. The rap genre has certain individualistic ideals that create the music as a whole, appealing to those with a specific taste in the genre. The main picture of Nas overlapps the title resembling house style, portraying the magazine as a well known production as people would recognise the few showing words of the title and colour functions. The background colour is grey, matching the main pictures representation as it depicts "Nas" with a stern face showing anger. This is used in conjunction with the background colour to produce "attitude", relating it to what the rap industry is about. This focusses on the meaning of the magazine and gives the reader an insight into what the magazine entails. Mise en Scene is delivered as "Nas" is supporting a massive silver chain with thick links to showcase his wealth and links him to a sense of superiority, again relating to the hip-hop genre. A black hoody relates to the youth of today by resembling a sense of "street credit" and an aura of toughness. A sub title, "NAS" is used to present who he is and is the same colourway as the background picture as this follows suit to the colourways used to give the cover order. Red is used throughout as its a stand out colour and people relate red to anger and attitude, a reoccuring theme running throughout hip hop music. The red also gives it an american feel by using it in conjunction with white to relate it to the colour wyas of the american flag, as hip hop originated in south america. The slogan "hip-hop on a higher level" relates to the title as its "XXL" meaning extra extra large, a catchy yet simplistic slogan. The layout of the subtitles follows suit to the genetic codes of a magazine front cover layout. With the subtitles being layed out on the sides of the page it attracts the audience to the main focus, the picture. The "NAS" is overlapping the bottom of the picture to show that the picture is of "NAS". The rappers names are embedded in bold writing to stand out, making them easier for audiences to depict whoose involved in the magazine features. A question is headed to the audience, "What has the internet done to Hip-Hop" to involve the audience and gives a que that the magazine will awnser this question, a common trait that magazine covers resemble. The barcode is neatly tucked away in the bottom right hand corner to take it away from the attraction of the front cover itself. This magazine cover relates to the specifics of the genetic conventions of a music magazine, with a main picture taking up most of the space, subtitles following down the side of the page and with the main picture having its own individual subtitle to tell the uadience who it is, this magazine cover works well and would stand out on a stores shelf with its bold titles and specific colourways.

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