Magazine Cover Analysis 3

Minimalistic abstract fashion magazine, with a theme of music. Masthead uses magazines iconography to tell audience what the product is. Image is related to coverline (band name) the band is positioned to connote unity and signify they are all band members. Lead singer is conventionally placed in front middle of frame, also in middle third (rule of thirds), the magazine name is across the top 3 thirds, evenly spaced and their heads are placed directly below to position the audience to look at them. The direct mode of address from the whole band implies their presence and creates the ideology they want the consumer to pay attention to them and take notice. The colour white has been used for the band name firstly because it is highly contrasting to the singers jacket, another reason is white symbolises purity and the band are new, so it represents birth.  The colour yellow is repeated when the magazine displays other bands featured, this is repeating of the sign yellow so that, although smaller font, it still attracts the audience’s attention because of the colour repetition. Colour repetition in typography also displays convergence across this media text and meets the conventional code of magazine cover construction.

The target audience is 16-35 year old British middle class males with an interest in non-mainstream fashion and music. Another reason that the bands image is a close up is because it creates the ideology that by reading Artrocker you could be as cool as and look like the band. For example, if the band was old and not fashionable they would conventionally have a longer shot for the cover.

The magazine also signifies modern ways, there is no colouring behind the image as it occupies the whole cover which is a relatively new convention for magazines, it also implies the magazine is aimed at a higher class as it appears more expensive. The minimalistic font also creates the idea of a secret whereby you know what’s in the magazine/who the bands are, or you don’t.

‘No batteries required’ is a pun on the band’s name and again signifies the secret of them and how new they are as it doesn’t give any information away. The bands image is the main description of the band as the connotations of their long hair, eyeliner, jackets etc. all signify their sound and style. The background of a brick wall used also represents that they are from a city and live a rock lifestyle. The sunglasses connote coolness and create the ideology of a heavy night before so their eyes are heavy, which also feeds into the lifestyle marketed. The lack of props also represents that they don’t need gimmicks to market themselves.

Zeitgeist (spirit of the times) is also represented through this cover. Firstly the band chosen are very young and relevant within the current musical trend of fresh out of university grungey touring bands. It’s fashionable to have long hair and look relaxed and that is displayed here. So Artrocker is endorsing this way of life and representing it as cool, and using the band as a marketing tool to do that. The minimalism of the cover also applies here, where it is seen as artistic and cool to not give information away and be mysterious about it.