BODY LANGUAGE IN

MAGAZINESRebecca Phillips

ROLLING STONERolling Stone magazine did a feature cover of Jay-Z. As he is dressed completely in black and expressionless, we can infer that the artist is sophisticated and serious about what he does. The black also connotates to danger, making the artist seem intimidating. Additionally, with sunglasses over his eyes, it breaks eye contact between the artist and the audience, leaving the audience intimidated by him. Furthermore, the text to image ratio leads the reader to believe that he is of importance and all focus should be on him, highlighted with the ‘King’ reference. The Medium Close Shot is also intimidating as there appear to be little space between the reader and the artist’s face.

KATY PERRYThere can be contrast in which one model can appear to be across magazines.

In this magazine aimed at young females, the artist Katy Perry is appeared to be a very strong independent woman. We can see this through her. Serious expression and bright coloured hair make the reader think that she does not care what other people think of her and is determined. The Medium Shot focuses on the model but also allows to for the hand on hip to be seen, showing that she is assertive about what she says. She becomes inspirational for the teens that read the magazine because she is strong and knows what she wants. Katy’s direct eye contact and small pupils makes her appear threatening because small pupils link to narrowing of the eyes when threatened or angry.

KATY PERRY

However, in Vanity Fair magazine, a lifestyle magazine aimed at females, Katy Perry is represented much differently. Her make-up and clothing are much more provocative, making her inspirational for women who want to feel attractive and confident, like Katy Perry. Whereas the hands on hips made her look more assertive in the previous magazine, in this magazine, it suggest that she is highlighting the size of her waist and hips, showing that she has a stereotypical ‘perfect’ body, that women aspire for. Again there is direct eye contact, typical of a front cover image.

KATY PERRY

Katy Perry is represented is a different way yet again in Billiard magazine. This magazine focuses much more on music and the individual. The make-up and colour of her dress and background al suggest that she is innocent and sweet, as pastel pink has connotations of young girls. Again, with her hair she looks assertive and independent. Her risen head connotates to fearlessness as she looks down at others. However there is hints of sex appeal, with the pout of her mouth and her exposed shoulders. Her hair swirls down to her chest, draw attention to her chest giving more appeal.

NMENME featured Kasabian on their front cover. Straightway we can dennotate one man with his arm around the other. From this we can connotate that the pair are close and unified in their band. It also suggests they are unified against anything that comes at them. Tom’s raised chin and frowned brow is aggressive, where as Serge’s lowered chin is not aggressive or submissive as it usually is, but menacing, coupled with the raised eye line, like he planning something to come. Tom’s arm around Serge could be seen as possessive but as Serge’s eye line is nearly equal to Tom’s it shows they are more of a team rather than a one sided relationship. However Tom’s arm around Serge could also emphases their closeness. This could suggest homosexual relationships and could put some people off the magazine, however the target audience of the magazine are not homophobic so this suggest that male contact is accepted and not a problem. The direct eye contact with the camera intimidates the reader but also makes them feel included in the things that are going to happen.