Rock Magazine Analysis: Kerrang.
The magazine ‘Kerrang’ is used to represent a selection of the different rock music
genres, from pop punk, to grunge, to heavy metal. This varies between the different
magazines, but most issues will try to appeal to each genre in most copies.
Cover
Typography
The mast head is bold and black which makes it
stand out on the white. The cracked effect on the
writing gives it a grunge feel, which would appeal
to its target audience. All of the fonts are bold in
the cover lines. This makes it seem more in your
face, and bold, which is expected of a rock
magazine. The ‘in your face’ style is also used due
to most of the main cover lines and mast head
being written in all capitals, making it seem if this
was being said instead of written, it would be
shouted giving it an rebellious, slightly intimidating
feel, that connotes rock music. The
word ‘Exclusive’ is written in a messy font again
relating to the rock theme and appealing to its
target audience. Using even bolder fonts on some
words, such as ‘WIll’ and ‘Sexiest’ catch the
readers attention.The fonts are all in either red,
black or white, all of which are colours that
connote the rock culture
.
Layout
Following the route of the eye, the first thing the reader is drawn to is the mast head, and the
band names above this. This would apeal to its target audience as one, it shows some of bands
that are included in the magazine. If the reader saw a band that they were interested in, this
would tempt them to the magazine. And two, the mast head shows the magazine title. This
makes it clear to the reader what magazine it is, and due to the bold and grunge look of the
mast head, this connotes that it is a rock magazine. Also being one of the first things on the
magazine, it makes it something the reader is likely to remember.The route of the eye then
reaches the main image and the cover line of ‘Biffy Clyro’. This again shows the reader a band
that is included in the magazine that might attract them to it. As Biffy Clyro are a rock band, this
also shows that Kerrang is a rock music magazine. The cover line is placed in an eye line hot
spot meaning this is something that the readers attention is mostly drawn to. Then the route of
the eye follows to the two smaller images, advertising the free posters. Offering free posters of
rock celebrities could appeal to some readers. Also, by using two images, this means it could
appeal to a larger audience, as they may like one artist or the other and Using just one image
would limit this. At the termination of the route of the eye, there is another image and article, and
the bar code and price. By placing an article here, it shows one last band that could appeal to
the reader, tempting them to buy it. Also, by placing the price here it means it is the last thing
the reader sees, and the part they are likely to remember.
Language
The language on the cover uses a field specific lexis suited to a rock music magazine. By
using a lot of band names, this means that anyone that is a fan of a wide variety of rock music
will be drawn to this. This is field specific, as someone who listens to a different genre of
music may not have heard of many, if not any of the bands included. The name ‘Kerrang’
itself is onomatopoeia, as it sounds like the noise created from strumming a guitar. This its
self represents rock, as guitars are a main part of rock music. There is a running theme of
life created, both in ‘Life is loud’ and ‘This band will change your life’ By using this repetition
it sticks in your head. by also using the word ‘`Will’ rather than might, this again has quite an
intimidating feel, which connotes rock music . Buzz words are also used to catch the readers
attention. Using ‘Exclusive’ tells the reader that what is written in that article can only be found
in the magazine, making it look like this is the only way they will read it. Also, advertising the
posters as ‘ The SEXIEST women in rock’ would appeal to some of the readers. This makes it
look like these are women that they want to look at. And describing them as sexy, rather than
pretty or nice, gives the magazine the ‘in your face’ appeal again.
Colour
The three main colours used on this magazine cover are red, black and white. The colour red
signifies confidence and anger. This suits a rock music magazine as sometimes the music is
quite angry, and the ‘in our face’ style expected of music magazines is fitted with the confidence
represented by red. The colour black is usually used to represent death and power. Though
rock music does’nt directly support the idea of death, some of the sub cultures created from it
do follow the idea, which makes black a suitable colour to represent rock. But due to the black
being contrasted next to white, which is usually connected to goodness and purity, they balance
out.
Image
The main image on the magazine shows the 3 members of Biffy Clyro . Firstly, the band are
shown in the magazines colours of red, black and white. This keeps the running theme of the
magazine. The 3 members do look quite stereotypically rock with beards and long hair. They
are dressed as magicians, which could be relative to one of there songs or videos, which would
appeal to a Biffy Clyro fan. The images if the two female artists are also chosen specifically.
Showing them with dark hair, and pale skin, gives them a gothic appeal. As goth is one culture
that is associated with rock music, it means that this will appeal to readers of that specific
culture. Again, this is similar to the use of the image of Mikey way. His band, My chemical
romance, are associated to the genre known as emo, being known for wearing dark clothes and
being a symbol of the . This means that someone fitting that stereo type could recognise him,
and this could attract them to the magazine. By appealing to the different genres associated
with rock, this appeals to a larger target audience.
Mode of address
The magazine is targeted at listeners of rock music, and it does this by trying to connote the
themes of rock music and cultures related to this. It uses a lot of features that have the ‘in your
face’ confidence that rock music has. It uses a lot of connotations that are related to rock music,
such as the colours, and of course the bands included, in order to reach its target audience.
Contents page
Typography and Language
The mast head of this is done in bold yellow,
and placing it over the black makes it bold and
stand out. All of the text is written in a sans serif
font which is consistent. Due to there being allot
of information on the page using one font makes
it more comfortable to read. There isn't much
using font that seems to connote a rock music
magazine, but this is probably because it is
aimed to include more information rather than
look rock like. But, like the cover, the boldness is
slightly in your face, keeping a running
consistency.
Language wise, the purpose of the contents
page is to inform the reader, along with keeping
interest. By using swearing, this keeps with the
rebellious idea, that is expected of rock music.
Captions are used to each of the pictures related
to articles. By doing this it sparks a bit more
interest about the article, tempting the reader to read on. By using quotations from bands, this
will also keep the fans of that particular band interested, opening up to a bigger audience
because of this.
Layout
Due to the layout of the contents page, the route of the eye is first drawn to the editors piece
with the image of the cover. By doing this it makes it the first thing to catch the readers attention.
This piece gives information about whats included in the magazine, mostly about something
relating to the main image. By doing this it attracts fans of the band to want to buy the magazine
even more. The route then reaches the mast head, making it clear to the reader what part of
the magazine they are reading. The route of the eye then leads the reader to look at the images
realted to main articles in the magazine. By doing this, it again attempts to reach a larger target
audience by using even more bands. At the termination point of the route of the eye, there is an
advert, advertising the opportunity to subscribe to kerrang magazine. By doing this, it is the last
thing the reader will remember of that page, making it more likely they will remember the offer
and be interested in it.
Colour
The colours do alter slightly from the front cover, Keeping the white and black, but using yellow
now instead of red. This does create a kind of consistency, with out looking too repetitive.
Yellow is usually used to represent a warning, so again ties in with this rebellious ,in your face,
idea that is associated with rock music.
Image
There are a mixture of 9 images used in the contents page, varying from group shots, to close
ups, to mid shots. By using a variety of different shots rather than all the same, it creates a
messy, mis-matched feel, that again ties in with the rebelliousness that's constantly used in the
magazine.
Most of the people shown in the pictures fit the sterotypical rock look, of long hair, dark clothes,
and some are shown with instruments. All of which connote the idea of rock.
Mode Of Address
The contents page targets its audience by keeping the rebellious feel of rock music,
representing it using people who fit the rock culture, using abusive rebellious language, and
being quite outrageous and rebellious, in a way of recreating rock music in a magazine format.
Double Page Spread
Typography and Language
The fonts used in this on
the mast head to vary from
that seen in both the
conents page and on the
front cover. A serif font is
used, appearing quite
innocent and feminine, on
the words ‘Dirty Little’. by
doing this it creates a
contrast between them,
and the word ‘secrets’ that
is written in a
grunge,masculine style red
font. It seems to be that
the idea of this is to show the two sides of the band, half as an innocent band that would be
approved of, and half as rebellious rockers. This relates to the purpose of the article. A pun is
also used here, as it is the band confessing there secrets, and the all American rejects released
a song called ‘Dirty Little Secret’ . Anyone without an interest in there music wouldn't
understand this, but the song is well known throughout the rock culture,making it something
exclusively understood by the target audience. Again , an informal language is used, making it
more rebellious to connote the rock style.
Layout
Following the route of the eye the reader is lead to read the mast head first. Like said in
language, the mast head is a pun, and anyone who understood this would instantly know who
the article was going to be about. The route of the eye will then lead them to look at the image.
Due to the mise en scene used in this ( see image) it will show readers that might not know
about this band, what they could be like. They are then lead back to the article, that may have
already caught there interest due to the information they have already seen.
Colour
There, once again is a slight consistency with the colours used. The colour black remains in all
of the pieces of the magazine that i have looked at, but white has been dropped and just red is
being used along side the black., with some pink used. The pink and red are used to contrast
each other, the pink representing innocence and niceness, whilst the red contrasting against in,
representing aggression and rebellion.
Image
A mix of group shots, and mid shots are used of the band. The main image used is shown in
colour, and due to mise en scene represents them. The band are shown with fairly long hair and
beards, which is commonly expected in rock music. But a fair amount is used in the lead singers
costume, compared to the others. This once again shows this contrast between something nice
( the colours of reds and purples used on the lead singer) against the rebellious (dark colours
shown on the rest of the band) By showing them like this, it shows they are still a rock band,
but not as heavy as other bands, who could be represented in all black, and looking a lot more
aggressive. This will show the reader something to expect about them, as All American rejects
are not that heavy musically.
Mode of Address
The mode of address of this double page spread is slightly different than the cover and contents
page of the magazine. It still trys to connote the rock music style, but due to the article being
specifically on one band, its target audience is condensed, and it appeals more to only them.
Using puns only fans will get, and being more specific on the type of rock music they are trying
to represent.
