“I AM SASHA FIERCE” ALBUM COVER

By Shannon Horton

Introduction

This album is called “I Am Sasha Fierce”. It was made with Beyoncé Knowles by

Columbia Records. The album had been a mixture of

mainstream popular music and American Rhythm & Blues.

This should mean that the Album Cover (or digi-pack) should reflect with typical conventional techniques adapted by other R&B/Popular music Album Covers .

Mood board for typical album covers of Popular Music

Title: “I Am Sasha Fierce”

The font is blocked and filled, which makes the wording stand out against Beyoncé’s skin. This affirms the artist, but also creates a sense of domination. This domination could be linked to her extreme popularity in the music industry as the typography is filled in with a metallic grey-which could be seen as silver. This creates the imagery of richness, and increases the image of the artists’ fame. It also creates the sense of a heightened lifestyle; her life seems to be full of glamour, riches, and adheres with the R&B/Popular music lifestyle that her audience want to achieve. This not only makes her seem grander than she actually is, but it also adds a sense of necessity. It makes Beyoncé seem essential in the fact that her music should be bought if you want to achieve her affluent lifestyle. The title itself “I Am Sasha Fierce” adds an enigmatic aspect to the album-as we already recognise her as Beyoncé, so the need for an alternative name seems baffling. However, the connotations of this could be that of her being almost super-human, as most successful, stereotypical super-heros felt the need to have an “alter-ego”.

The Album Image

The image itself is quite simplistic. The eye focus of the star centres on us, her audience. This gives us a sense of importance but also portrays that she understands us, her audience. The black and white style of the image could show a number of things. One of the effects is the obvious address to her ethnicity, and portrays her as a strong, independent ethnic woman. It also could be stylistic with features from the likes of Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. Some of their works are featured here. It highlights Beyoncé's inspirations, and her possible desire to be like her predecessors. Her posture is quite firm. She is standing with her hands behind her head, which could show a sense of rebellion with her new album. It could also imply that (with the way her hands are positioned in her hair) she is ready to work hard and “role up her sleeves” to achieve perfection. The white background ensures that all eyes are on the star and affirm Beyoncé as the central figure. Beyoncé's skin also has a liquid tint, as if she has been perspiring. This could suggest she has just been dancing, or she has already been working very hard in order to achieve a high standard of work. On her right hand, a rosemary bracelet with cross symbolises her devotion to God, and possibly how He has influenced her fame.

What have I learned from my analysis?

I have learned the following things: The artists’ image is essential to the

album The image should reflect my artists’

personality I should try and include stylistic features

which relate to artists who have influenced my work

I may have to portray subliminal thoughts about my artists’ work/thoughts about herself in album cover

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