How do we know the genre of the following magazines?

Leah Aston

Rock summary- Classic/hard rock magazines

Element Typical convention The audience.

Colour scheme Rock magazines tend to use very dark colours e.g. reds and blacks, to emphasise a moody or ‘dark’ look.

Audiences will see this colour scheme- the dark colours, and assume it’s an edgy or ‘classic’ magazine. The colours may also attract audiences, as fans, or may be deemed as ‘emo’ or ‘gothic’ would take note of the colour scheme, and link it back to their personal preferences.

Photography The images used are generally of rock musicians, who look messy, have long hair or messy make up. They’re also posed with rock attributed hand gestures e.g. horns, or use props such as guitars or amplifiers. The lighting may be sometimes dull, as to give as moody or gloomy look, or bright as to amplify the make up colours (shown with the Marilyn Manson cover)

The style, or the musician used in the cover of these magazines is very important to the audience. Images of bands playing live may draw a bigger audience as by reading the article attributed or seeing the pictures may make them feel like they were at the show. Also, if the artist used on the cover is ‘loosely’ linked to rock music- or the genre the magazine is writing about, then audiences may backlash, so the writers have to be careful in their choices.

Writing style/fonts The language used may involve swear words (classic rock cover- f*ck doctors) and also quotes that trail off, or have an implied meaning that would make the audience want to read on (“I’m not afraid to die…”) the language may also talk about ‘taboo’ topics e.g. religion, sex, politics, death

Audiences may find these topics edgy or cool, so they’ll want to read about these subjects – may meet a persons personal integrative needs. Also, the language used makes the magazine seem daring or rebellious, so fans of the rock and roll genre will read these articles and attribute these to themselves, perhaps to again gain credibility?

Text/picture ratio With rock magazines there’s generally a main image, or a main image and one small one. Although, the background may only hold one image- as to not defer attention.

Rock magazines may not have a lot of information on the front as to not draw attention from the main image, or so the audience buy the magazine to find out more.

Overall look Rock magazines generally give off a moody, careless, or edgy attitude to the audience.

Audiences may see this and attribute themselves to this attitude, so they then may buy this magazine as it seems personal to them.

Indie summary- Indie rock magazines

Element Typical convention The audience.

Colour scheme Indie magazines use dull or mute colours in the background, or on the artists clothes. Colours include blacks, dull greys and a little bit for red or a bright colour to draw attention to certain parts of the magazine.

The colour scheme for Indie magazines are quite minimal- usually using dull greys and mute blues. Fans who see themselves as that kind of person e.g. not very excitable, or as liking bright colours- so fans will see the colour scheme and are likely to pick it up.

Photography Images include artists mostly, and sometimes use props such as guitars, but mostly wear sun glasses or smoke cigarettes. Artists are usually slouched and not giving direct eye contact to the audience. The location may be outside, but is sometimes in studios with dark backgrounds or just plain white. The clothes that the artists wear are quite messy, e.g. a t shirt or a loose suit.

Indie magazines tend to use images that are taken outside as to give it realistic and less fake look. Fans like this as it gives the magazine a sense of gritty realism, where as pop magazines use images from studio shoots where the artist is perfect made up and polished. Indie fans like the almost messy and casual look, so fans will see this and attribute it to themselves.

Writing style/fonts Indie magazines usually use straight forward language, and plain text fonts such as Verdana or Calibri.

Indie fans prefer not to know any trivial information, so everything will be in the magazine and rather the important things would be inside the magazine. Fans like this as it isn’t crowded, and it’s easy to understand the information.

Text/picture ratio Indie magazines tend to have minimal text on the front or just a medium amount- they aren't very cluttered- and have focus on the main picture of the cover.

If the magazine isn't crowded, then it means that the magazine doesn’t hold any trivial information- which indie fans like.

Overall look Indie magazine’s give off a careless, kind of causal attitude. Many of the artists on the covers have a ‘teddy boy’ look, e.g. arctic monkeys or Jake Bugg. The font of the text and amount exemplifies the idea that what’s inside the magazine counts- rather than giving putting information on the front just for the sake of it.

Many fans of indie music dress quite casually, or have a kind of careless, whatever goes attitude, so many people will see this magazine and attribute that kind of attitude to themselves- therefore making it likely that they’ll buy the magazine as they see themselves in it.

Pop summary- Pop magazines

Element Typical convention The audience.

Colour scheme Pop magazines generally use bright and electric colours as to draw attention to the magazine itself. The colour scheme also gives it a ‘fun’ and ‘young’ mood. Pop music magazines tend to use baby shades of colours, e.g. baby blue or baby pink and mostly primary colours- which also give off that childish atmosphere.

Many of the fans of pop music are most likely younger- so they’ll appreciate the colour scheme as they’ll like these colours. Also, it creates a kind of ‘innocent’ or ‘bubble gum pop’ mood, which many fans of pop music like- so they’ll be likely to buy this magazine.

Photography The images used on the front covers of pop magazines are taken in studios rather than in live shoots or taken outside. This means that it has a plain background, e.g. white, so they can add colours to the magazine without them blending in or disturbing the colour scheme. Pictures have direct eye contact, and taken with ‘sweet’ props such as flowers of acoustic guitars. Most of the time these magazines do not use props and rather use just a central image so they can add more text. The lighting is very bright- as to highlight the multiple colours used.

Fans of pop music magazines don’t really like covers that use images taken outside or in live events, so the use of images taken in studios creates a clear background and image for the viewers. Also, fans like direct eye contact as they then feel that they’re involved, and closer to the artist. Furthermore, the bright colours of the image brings attention to the artist-which, to some fans, is the main reason that they buy the magazine.

Writing style/fonts Pop magazines use a variety of fonts (or just the same font but in italic or bold). Also, the fonts are quite fun or childish e.g. comic sans- it depends on the artist on the cover. They also use a restricted code with their language, they don’t elaborate often and do not use complex vocab so the audience (mostly young) can understand.

Fans of pop music are generally quite young, so the use of restricted language instead of the elaborated code makes it easier for fans to understand as it doesn’t involve complex vocab. Also, usually, fans of this magazine will speak in the language as well, so they’ll feel connected to the magazine.

Text/picture ratio The covers of pop magazines tend to be cluttered with text and images- mostly overlapping one another *shown with the top of the pops magazine* and mostly just add lots of information as to grab attention.

The fact that most of the content is on the front magazine through the use of cover lines makes it easier for the audience to know whether they’re going to buy it or not – as they’ll see what they like and buy it.

Overall look Pop magazines have a childish- child friendly look, unlike rock and indie- as they’re catering to a young audience, where it’s likely the magazine is bought by the parents for the child.

The audience of pop music magazines like the childish and fun mood, so they’ll immediately see it and attribute it to themselves.

RnB summary- RnB magazines

Element Typical convention The audience.

Colour scheme The colour schemes of RnB and rap magazines are quite dark as they use bold colours such as red and black.

The audience of RnB music most likely like these colours, so they’ll see the magazine and link the colours back to themselves – meeting their personal needs.

Photography RnB magazines mostly use lower level shots to make the artist seem bigger and most likely scarier. Images can be either bright or dull, and unlike pop magazines, they mostly use black or grey backgrounds instead of white ones. The artist is usually the pinnacle of the cover – the focus of the camera is on them. Also, the artists hold direct contact with the audience, as if to give off a scary or volatile look . The cover mostly uses props such as guns and headphones, and are usually dressed in minimal closing – showing tattoos and muscles. Artists may also wear sunglasses, as they give off a mysterious mood.

The audience like the fact that their favourite artists are on the covers of these magazines- and in the focus of the camera. Fans see these artists and usually buy their magazines as they like the artist, and have a deep connection with them – usually trough their music. Also, the audience of these magazines like the gloomy or ‘bad ass’ look that these magazines give out, so they’ll also buy them on this basis.

Writing style/fonts RnB and rap magazines use aggressive language or different types of slang, or informal language. The fonts may be quite big and bold as it creates an atmosphere of power for the magazine.

The audience like the aggressive language that the magazine uses, and the use of slang, so the audience will see this use of language and attribute to themselves and buy the magazine. Also, the reading age for these magazines is quite high, so the audience is likely to be older- e.g. 15- around 35.

Text/picture ratio RnB and rap magazines generally don’t have a limit to the amount of text that’s on the front, sometimes they have a few or sometimes a lot. This may come down to the artist that the magazine uses, for example, if the magazine uses a famous artist, they may not use many cover lines as it would draw the attention away from the performer.

Audiences like the fact that the magazine producers understand what makes an important artist, so they’ll be likely to buy it if there is a large picture on the font- especially of their favourite artist.

Overall look RnB and rap magazines create a gloomy and aggressive mood for the audience.

Fans like this, and attribute it to themselves so they buy the magazine.

Country summery- Country magazines

Element Typical convention The audience.

Colour scheme The colour scheme of country magazines are quite light and vibrant as to represent a countryside and fun, quirky mood.

Audiences like this as they like the fun and quirky atmosphere that country music brings.

Photography The photography used on country music magazines vary. For example, sometimes they’ll use images that were taken in live performances or pictures taken in studios. Also, they’re likely to use direct eye contact if the image was taken in a studio, but not if they’re in live performances. They’re also likely to use props such as guitars or microphones, or images taken in medium shots if in a studio, or from lower angles if in live performances.

Country music fans like the live performances aspect for magazines, as it makes them feel like they’re at the concert. Also, the use of direct eye contact makes the audience feel like they have a connection with the artist, therefore making it likely that they’ll buy the magazine.

Writing style/fonts The font varies between different types of country magazines. They usually use san serif fonts and use block lettering, as then it’s much easier to read. Also, they may use short sentences that intrigue readers, such as ‘rags to riches’ or ‘road warrior’ – this is also country-esc, so it further compounds the country theme.

Fan’s of country music magazines like the short sentence’s such as ‘rags to riches’ as it leads them to wanting more and wanting to read on.

Text/picture ratio There is no real image to text ratio, as it differs from each magazine, but usually they’ll use a lot of cover lines as to promote reader interest.

Readers like to know what they’re buying, so if there are many cover lines on the front, then fans will see it, and buy it on those terms.

Overall look Country music fans like the country-esc atmosphere that these magazines have.

Audiences like this as they link themselves to these attributes, so fans are likely to buy these magazines as they can link themselves to it.

Classical summary – classical magazines

Element Typical convention The audience.

Colour scheme Classical magazines use mostly dark tones, such as blacks and greys, and highlight these with whites (usually the title, or some of the performers clothing)

Audiences like this as it adds to the mood that classical music connotes.

Photography Classical music magazines use live performances often and sometimes use images taken in the studio. They often use props such as instruments, and in studio taken images use direct eye contact, and most likely in live performance taken images, they wont use them. Furthermore, they sometimes use hooded lighting as to create a dark, mysterious atmosphere.

Fans like the lighting use at they like the mysterious atmosphere that classical music magazines use. More over, they like the live performance taken images as it creates a connection between the audiences as they feel like they’re there. Furthermore, the use of direct eye contact also does it, further compounding the fact that fans will buy the magazine.

Writing style/fonts Classical music magazines tend to use elaborated code in their wording, as it’s likely that older, more educated people will buy the magazine- so it creates a professional mood for the audience. Also, the fonts used are usually serif, as that further compounds the professional mood.

Audiences like the fact that the magazine uses an elaborated code, as they’ll link themselves to the professional atmosphere of the magazine. Also, the serif font does this also, meaning that fans are more likely to buy the magazine.

Text/picture ratio Classical music magazine varies, but mostly they wont use a lot of text because then it’ll take away from the atmosphere of the image.

Audiences like the image use, so they’ll be likely to buy the magazine based on this premise.

Overall look Classical music magazines creates a mysterious atmosphere- done by the colour scheme and the use of photography.

Audiences like this, as it creates an element of mystery to the magazine, which means audiences will buy it, also because it had a professional atmosphere to it- linking to the audiences personal integrative needs.