Textual Anaylsis 4

Textual Analysis - ADELE

Denotation:                                                                                                                                                            The magazine cover consists of a colour photograph of a woman looking directly at the camera although her body is on an angle. It is a medium close up shot showing her head and shoulders. It is not clear whether she is standing or sitting (not visible) in the shot I would say standing though. The background of the photograph is white and plain, and the photograph covers the whole of the magazine cover. Next to the woman’s head in the corner is Q, discover great music’s Masthead, and in front of her are five separate cover-lines in white, red and black.  The photographed women’s name is in white capitals and beneath that a pun ‘blow us away’ which likes to the design of the photograph. A bar code is visible in the bottom corner.

Masthead:                                                                                                                                                                 Q’s masthead is eye catching; one capital letter in white on a red background. The words underneath Q ‘discover great music’ connote music culture. The words suggest all the music is in the magazine are ‘great’ automatically giving the magazine some type of status. Q also suggest that the magazine is simple, laid back and not fused giving the image that all artist in or on the magazine are relaxed cool people. And the three words underneath ‘Q’ tell the audience automatically that it is about music.

Character:                                                                                                                                                             The Cover photograph is of the new breakthrough successful British singer ‘Adele’.

Composition:                                                                                                                                                       She is posed in an almost innocent way. Her pose, body language, and clothing, are very close in, as she appears to be holding herself. Her fingers on her lips look as though she is biting them which give the idea of her feeling uncomfortable.

Costume:                                                                                                                                                              Her clothing seems to be a purple jacket and nail colour. This costume has been chosen carefully to appeal to the target audience of the magazine, which are from 14+ both male and female. The clothing worn is similar to something she may wear on a normal day. Her make up, nail vanish and coat all patch; purple.

NVC:                                                                                                                                                                       Her Non verbal communication is also very seductive and innocent. Her mouth is slightly open displaying a tiny bit of her white teeth; she could be rubbing her lips connoting ‘looking for a kiss or biting her nails connoting ‘innocents’ and she is looking directly at the camera.

Lighting:  The lighting is in a high key angle, as the Photograph is meant to display brightness and purity.

Setting:  There is little setting, however the white background connotes winter or simple & clean. And is therefore in kept with a ‘blown away’ theme.

Cover-lines:The main cover-line that relates to her photograph says: “Adele:  BLOWS US AWAY”.  This is making a reference to a piece of her music and voice she has, which made her success a new and fresh artist.  This music and video to accompany it was very powerful and soulful which people would relate to like a big gush of wind. The different cover-lines tell us that this magazine doesn’t concentrate on just one genre of music, and doesn’t only focus on music either, but is diverse in what it chooses to write about.  Artists mentioned on the cover-lines include Adele, Keith Richards, Liam Gallagher and U2 (There is a definite emphasis on British artists). The way the cover-lines are written reveals that this magazine only focuses on current music. All of the cover-lines use Are Calibri, connoting simple. It suggests that Q magazine has are a fresh new simple magazine and has almost become a British institution. This can tell its readers they will receive accurate and challenging music journalism.

Target Audience: Considering all of these points on the magazine such as the cover-lines the target audience are likely to have an interest in a variety of artist such has Liam Gallagher, U2 and Keith Richards. The magazine has a rock and roll genre like magazine like rolling stones and such. This magazine target audience would be a mixture of male and female, with an average age of non more than 18-40. They would have a good knowledge of popular culture considering rock and roll and a definite interest in a wide range of musical styles and the music industry. They would be able to read and enjoy artists which do not include many pictures.