How does 'Uncut' magazine reach its target audience?

http://www.slideshare.net/EmmyBradshaw/uncut-magazine

Magazine Mastheads: 'Kerrang!' and 'NME'

The genre for 'NME' magazine is mixed, because the magazine consists of music topics on; rock, indie, rap and hip-hop. The masthead colours are black, red and white, and the font is in bold upper case which helps it stand out. The masthead is also very neautral because they dont want their audience to think the magazine is for a certain type of music e.g (if the magazine had spikes or cracks, like 'Kerrang!' people would assume the magazine if of a rock genre). Also the colours of red, white and black are very unisex, unlike 'Smash Hits' magazine, which usually has a pink logo. When the magazine was first released in 1952, the logo was similiar to what it is now. Although the font is more curly and links to more 'pop' related music which was revelent at the time, the masthead is still in bold letters. This shows that when they changed the masthead (when the magazine started to print in colour) they still wanted people to recognise it but changed it to a bolder font because the music they wrote about was a lot more mixed than in 1952. The abreviated version of 'New Musical Express' to 'NME' also makes it more eyecatching, simpler to read, and looks nicer overall on the front cover.

The genre for 'Kerrang!' magazine is rock, which is definetley shown in the mastheads of both new and old covers. The first copy of 'Kerrang!', printed in 1981, is also very similar to the masthead on 'Kerrang!' magazine today. The font is tilted slighty, in a bright red to attract and also helps because there isnt a lot of colour on the front cover of the magazine. Like 'NME', because the magazine is so popular, when 'Kerrang!' decided to change the design of the masthead they still kept to the same style/font to make is easy to recognise by its target audience. Because of technology, the current 'Kerrang!' masthead has certain effects on it to make it more appealing to the target audience and to help them get an idea of what type of genre the magazine is for, but also to make it look better on the front cover. The masthead changed from a bright red to black/white, but is still eyecatching because of its boldness and the effects make it look like broken glass giving a messy 'grunge' effect. Although the mastheads didnt change much, they still give an effect and idea of what the kind of rock music there was at the time. The first masthead giving a 'glam rock' feeling, and the current masthead giving a punk rock feeling.

How does the journalist use written language to appeal to the target audience?

‘How does the journalist use written language to appeal to the target audience?’

The journalist uses written language to appeal to the target audience by writing in a colloquial style using small quotes that are dotted around the second page of the article. Although the style is rather chatty, he uses technical words such as ‘rapport’.

‘What specific words are used?’

The writer uses words such as; fanatical, rapport (two or more people who feels in sync), eligible, garment

‘What is the overall tone and register of the article?’

The overall tone of the article is quite upbeat, because the writer describes the gig as ‘non-threatening’ and that ‘it was like the pope had come to town’…..

‘Would the words appeal to the target audience?’

The target audience for the article would usually be very sophisticated, between the ages of 25-40 so they could understand words such as 'rapport'.

‘What direct quotes are used and why?’

There are direct quotes from the writer so that the reader can hear about the experience from someone who was actually there, although it makes the article very opinionated. ‘My favourite shots are….’ And ‘If he could just get Morrissey to look at him, it was going to be his moment of glory…’

‘What descriptive language is used and why?’

The writer describes Morrissey and the way his fans act around him in a religious way by using words such as ‘fanatical’ and ‘glory’. He also says things such as ‘Everyone wanted to touch the hem of his garment’ which links with references to Jesus in the Bible, or people getting ‘healed’ if they were able to touch him.

‘How are the key design features within the article?’

The key design features mostly consist of pictures and text, mainly so at the begging of the article people are instantly familiar with the artists the article is about, also the image may link to the cover story. The second page consitsts of mainly pictures with text (quotes) pointing to the images explaining the writers experience and the point of the image. The images make the text more interesting and makes the article almost 'easier to digest', especially if the reader isnt familiar with 'the smiths'.

Uncut Magazine

The front cover of 'Uncut' magazine shows a black and white picture of Jimmy Hendrix. The front cover image is monochrome, but other than that has not been photoshopped. The font is in upper case and bold, and with the colour scheme of pale yellow, yellow and red suggests that the magazine is for a more sophisticated audience. There is a masthead and a lot of cover stories but they are neatly listed down the right and left of the magazine, unlike Kerrang!, which is a lot more busy. The front and picture also reminds me of an old style rock theme, also suggesting that the magazine is for people who appreciate old rock-older audience. I think the colour scheme for tje front cover isnt as effective as 'Q' and 'Kerrang!' because even thought the colours are similiar, the mustard yellow links with the mature theme of the magazine and I feel that the bright red has just been used to draw attention ot the magazine. This effect is similiar to 'Kerrang'! where bright yellow is used to help attract the buyer to words which might make them want to buy the magazine, such as 'Free CD'. The masthead is also fairly simple, unlike 'Kerrang' magazine which has effects to make it look shattered and give it a certain edge, Uncut is just plain white, but is given a shadow to make it look three dimensional and 'stand out'.

The contents page of 'Uncut' magazine unlike most magazine, has the contents list down the left hand side of the page so that the reader has to fully open the page to see whats inside. The contents page is fairly simple but practical, and doesnt contain things such as subscription informaton or letters from the editors. The features are at the top of the list in a larger font from the regulars which are down at the bottom. The contents page only had one picture, linking with the article on page 62, so instead of having pictures linking to the feature articles the editor of uncut simply writes information underneath the title. I think this makes the contents page look more neat than most magazine.

The double page spread for 'Uncut' magazine if for Jimmy Hendrix, and online most double page spreads in magazine, there is less editing and the layout is much more natural. The first page of the spread is of Jimmy Hendrix, posing is vibrant clothing with guns looking heroic, linking in with the article name 'Cry Freedom'. Although the picture is very posed, it doesn't look as if it has been photoshopped or that the background has been photoshopped in, giving the picture a very natural and realistic effect. On the opposite page is where the article starts. The title for it is 'Cry Freedom' which is written in lower case swirly writing which can come across as being feminine and natural. The colours are also very neutral on the page, only 2 colours of blue have been used to brighten up the title but other than that the background is a plain white with thin black text.

Kerrang!

The front cover of 'Kerrang' magazine shows a masthead, lead article, cover lines and a strap line. The front cover of Kerrang is very busy, but consists of a colour scheme of red, white, black and yellow. The colours are very effective because even though the magazine cover lines are white or black, yellow is used to contrast with the red and make certain words or parts of the magazine stand out to make someone want to buy it more e.g poster, win, over 100 gigs listed are all things which would encourage someone to buy the magazine. The font used on the front of the magazine is very bold and in upper case letters so it stands out, and the style of the masthead 'Kerrang' makes it look shattered and messy. On the front of 'Kerrang' magazine is a popular punk/rock band 'You me at Six', who are wearing black clothing to keep in with the magazine colour scheme and also with that and the way they are styled, gives an idea to people what kind of genre the magazine is. The front cover has been photoshopped so that each member of 'You me at Six' is standing in front of a white and red background which looks almost blood spattered. This also links with the lead article of the band 'Death to pop/punk, you me at six come over to the dark side'. The way they are dressed linked with the background also helps readers see that they want to be perceived in a different way, encouraging people who might not have liked there music before to but there new album, which shows the meaning behind the way the front cover of the magazine has been put together. 

In contents page of 'Kerrang' magazine, the contents list runs along the right hand side of the magazine showing their 'regulars' at the top of the page and 'features' at the bottom. The colour scheme is similar to the from cover, and the yellow is used to bring your attention to the different regulars and features they have on offer similar to the front cover e.g 'news, posters, gig guide'. The contents pages main image links with the article 'heavy fest', but 2 other images show the double page spreads of other articles to make it easier for the reader to find and give them an idea what the article is about. I think compared to magazine such as Q, that that contents page is very practical and tell you easily where to find what your looking for. The contents page also contains things such as a message from the editor and a picture of him, giving more con nations of a rock genre. Overall the front cover and contents page of Kerrang easily shows that the magazine is of a Rock/Punk Genre.

This double page spread form 'Kerrang!' magazine is for the band 'You me at Six'. The double page spread shows a picture of the bands lead singer Josh, and information introducing the article on the opposite page. The colour scheme and style is very similar to the front cover, backing up the idea that the front cover of 'Kerrang!' wasn't designed to just look good, it was to reinforce the idea that the band want to be perceived in a different way. Certain things such as the font looks like is been splattered onto the wall to give a rough and messy effect. The pose that the lead singer is made to do could also give con nations of rough and violent. The font is still very bold and upper case, and the red is used to make certain ares stand out such as when there mentioning the bands name at the begging of the article and when repetition is used with the word 'six' out of you me at six. The repetition and colour could also used to almost brainwash the people reading getting the idea into the readers head that 'You me at Six's new album isn't the same as their older ones and 'Kerrang!' readers who might not have necessarily bought the magazine or read the article might be encouraged to do so due to the change in style.

Overall, looking at the front over, contents page and double page spread for 'Kerrang!' magazine that the target audience would be around 18-25 and the lifestyles of their readers would be going out to gigs, rock/punk music, and that they aspire to be is bands and music themselves.

Q Magazine

The front cover of 'Q' magazine shows an image of cheryl cole, a masthead, lead article and a strapline. Although cheryl cole is the lead article, the front cover shows no pull quotes or any other information about whats inside the magazine, so it dosnt really give anyone who isnt a a fan of cheryl cole, an incentive to buy it. However, the overall layout of the front cover and the image of cheryl cole whipping her hair back, slightly covering the masthead 'Q' is a very effective. The colours on the front of the magazine are red, white, grey and black, which link with the certain image cheryl cole may trying to percieve but also consistantly links with most issues of 'Q' magaine, so its easily recognisable to its target audeince. Although there isnt much, the font style on the front cover of the magazine tells us more about the artist and what she is trying to acheive. With the first word 'Cheryl' in thin curvy writing which people associate with being feminine, then 'Cole Rocks' in bold upper case writing. The front cover of just Cheryl Cole, being a well know pop based musical figure, could also give people who dont know the magazine a very biased view about whats inside, when 'Q' is usually seen as a well rounded music magazine. -photoshop-

The contents page of 'Q' magazine consists of the colours black, red and white, which is similiar throughout the magazine. The contents of the magazine are neatly listed down the right hand side of the page, with pictures on the right which link to certain regulars inside the magazine. Some of the pictures show small images of the double page spreads to give the audience an idea about the article and shows whats it looks like so its easier to locate. The colour scheme of the contents page also links with what the people are wearing, with the article of page 34, the model is wearing a black t-shirt with red writing, and and hat with red and black feathers on it. I think the reason for this is that there is little white space on the page,so by linking in a colour scheme is makes the page less busy and easier for the audience to read.

The double page spread in 'Q' magazine is about artsts joining together to make a super group. The lead image on the page to the left, with all the information of the right. The thing that pulls you into the article is the title 'Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane?' because the text is bold and white, which contrasts with the background but also because it fills up most of the page. There is also a red image of a bird above the text which links with the article about artists joining up to make a super group 'Them crooked vultures'. The colour scheme is the same as most pages of Q magazine, but in this article the red and also the vulture, giving connatations of danger, which links with the text at the bottom of the page 'WARNING:CONTAINS VULTURE FACTS'. Because the name 'Them crooked vultures' is different and might be unrecognisable to some people, a red background has been put behind it to conrast with the white, and it helps the article stand out more an each red image roughly gives an idea to the audience what the article is about. The image to the right shows a member of each band staring at the ceiling linking with the title of the article 'Is is a bird, is it a plane?'. The image is also rather dark, but has been photoshopped so the background looks like it has a type of gradient, and light and shadow have been added to the picture to almost make the artists look heroic and biblical. This gives a strong idea that the artist believes they know that their super group is going to seceed and be accepted by the public, and the connontation from the vultures might give the idea that 'they are going to pick up what is left from any bands they have watched fail'. 

Overall, from what we have evaluation 'Q' gives an in depth view into different types of music. The VAL's for 'Q' magazine would be an average age of 25+ because of how in depth the magazine in. Their values would probably be their into mainstream music, and their aspirations would be to value people in music or become interested in the music industry themselves. Thier lifestle would be sociable, working class (C).

Reader Profile

Reader Profile

Social Grade: D/E – Unemployed/employed but still in education (college, university).

Age range: 17-25

V – Music and Fashion

A – Value people in music; aspire to be in a band.

L – Going out, Going to gigs, Independent, Future not entirely important
...'s

50 Cent 'Candy Shop' - Representation of Women

50 Cent ‘Candy Shop’ How women are represented throughout the video

The music video ‘Candy Shop’ by 50 Cent is based on sexual fantasies, but the way he represents women can come across in a very sexist way. The video begins with 50 Cent coming into his house and finding lots of girls dressed provocatively and instantly paying attention to him the second he walks through the door. The video continues to show women dressed up in a nurses outfit and other girls dancing seductively in tight red clothing. Even the female artists he is collaborating with is dressed up in seductive clothing, when 50 Cent is just wearing smart clothing. The way that the women act around 50 Cent is that ‘he is completely irresistible’ and they cant take there eyes off him, which also contrasts with the ‘cool’ look 50 Cent is trying to achieve, because he emotions stay completely neutral throughout the video.  The way women are portrayed throughout the video can come across as very sexist, and as a female watching it, his representation of women makes me think less of the artist. Also if women find this offensive it might cut his target market in half, with his music just appealing to men. However, at the end of the video he stops daydreaming, and then you realize its just a sexual fantasy, you cant really tell if the women in the video are the way he representations women altogether. Because the music video is based on women and not just sexuality between males and females in general, it contrasts with starts such as ‘3oh3’ who, even though they might sing provocative songs, the main focus isn’t on the women, they are the centre of attention so it doesn't offend anyone. In my opinion, I find the video offensive, not just the way 50 Cent represented the women, but because the women in the video (even though they get paid) don't mind to be represented in a certain way.

Representation of the Motley Crue in 'Girls,Girls, Girls'

Motley Crue - 'Girls, Girls, Girls'

In the music video 'Girls, Girls, Girls' by the Motley Crue, it shows that they want to be represented as 'rebelious' or 'bad' linking to the rock era. This shows in the video by:

• The clothes they wear - leather jackets, dark sunglasses, also there hairstyles.
• The setting - dark bar/club with girls dancing around (strippers) with little clothing on.
• Props - Such as the motorbikes at the beggining, immeditley giving the viewer a feel/idea of the video and music to come. Other things such as the alcohol, ciggarettes and money add to the rockstar, rebelious idea.
• The way the act - As soon as the video beggins, one of the Motley Crue members enters the bar/club and throws a knife at the table to get the existing members to move. Also the way the act around the dancing women e.g. putting money in their clothes and acting rowdy.

The Motley Crue want to be potrayed as this because of their target audience and the style of their music (heavy metal). The video and how the band wants to be portrayed also links in with the 1980's rock era. (Where rock starts didnt just play music, they had to portay a certain look to be interesting).







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUMfSBssA-Q