Textual Analysis

Textual Analysis – BEYONCE

 Denotation:                                                                                                                                           The magazine cover consists of a black and white photograph of a woman looking directly at the camera. It is a medium close up shot showing her head, and shoulders. She is standing (this could be argued). The background of the photograph is white, and the photograph covers the whole of the magazine cover. In front of the woman’s head is the Billboard Masthead, and in front of her are five separate cover-lines in white and black.  The photographed women’s name is in white and there is red writing beneath more than half of the cover lines. A bar code isn’t visible.

Masthead:                                                                                                                                         Billboard’s masthead is very distinctive: Black bold with colour in all over the lower case letter with a circle in them. The font used is similar to billboard writing and connotes American culture. Also ‘Billboard’ is another very famous long running magazine since 1894, suggesting that this magazine has all of the connotations of tradition. The name ‘Billboard’ tells the audience this magazine is information based.

Character:                                                                                                                                               The Cover photograph is of the successful American singer ‘Beyonce’.

Composition:                                                                                                                                             She is posed in a very deep ‘in a pure kind of a way. Her pose, body language, and clothing, are very simple and easy.

Costume:                                                                                                                                                                                  Her clothing is some sort of black lace material top, which suggest class and social status. Her hair is straight and out of her face. 

NVC:                                                                                                                                                                                                         Her Non verbal communication is also very simple. Her mouth is slightly open but not showing any teeth, and she is looking directly at the camera.

Lighting:                                                                                                                                                                The lighting is high key, as the Photograph is looks as if it is daytime.

Setting:                                                                                                                                                   There is little setting...                                       

Cover-lines:

The main cover-line that relates to her photograph says: “Beyonce; “I want to be an icon”.  This is making a reference to her career so far. This suggests that music isn’t the only thing Beyonce in considering in her career. And that her fan base is important to her has she wants to be a good role model as well has make good music Artists mentioned on the cover-lines include Christina Aguilera, Robbie Williams, Guns ‘N’ Rose and Enrique Iglesias. This tells the audience that Billboard isn’t just music from one set genre, for example hip pop rnb or rock but a mixture. The cover line of the magazine tells the audience that this magazine doesn’t only focus on the music side of the music industry but also the tasks and roles that include in the job. There is a cover-line next to Beyonce’s head ‘MTV OFFER THE BEATLES FOR SALE’ this suggest that they have an older audience as well has the Beatles were based in the 1960’s. The variety of cover-lines tells the audience that the magazine offers more than just information on music but it has an entertain side and serious side. All of the cover-lines use a serif font, connoting a billboard transition. It suggests that Billboard magazine follows the traditional billboard style. This can tell its readers that they will receive accurate, interesting and a type challenging Journalism.

Target Audience

Considering all the points such has covers lines featuring artists from different time periods and genres such as The Beatles which were at their peak during the early and late 1960’s and Guns ‘N’ Roses who are a popular famous rock band which have also been round for longer than Beyonce. It makes this magazine different compared to other magazines has including these classic bands also features Robbie Williams and Enrique Iglesias. When you take this points in to evaluations the target audience would be age 21-55 which a mixture of men and females, although from the cover-line about The Beatles, Beyonce would suggest this would be dominantly females has men wouldn’t be interested in having The Beatles and artist include would be more to a females choose. People who read this magazine would have a good ability to read. They are also likely to have an interest in the different sides like icons, benefits and disadvantages to having a career in the music industry.