Analysing covers

Art Rocker Music, Art and Fashion Magazine

Main image is very artistic, soft focus and lighting have been used, this is showing the viewing that as well as being a music magazine this is also an art magazine. The was that the band are positioned, leaning in towards each other, could be them trying to replicate the shape of the ‘A’ from ‘Artrocker’. The band are presented as being sexy and fashionable, this impression is giving by the glittery and scant clothing, and also by the fact that one is biting another’s ear, and the lipstick marks left on the face of the man in the bottom right of the image.

The colours used on the cover are pink, black, and cream. These colours help convey the sexy and feminine style of the band, as pink and black used together are often connected with sex, while cream is a classy, feminine colour. The black and pink font also ties in with the colour clothes the band are wearing, this helps the cover keep a continuous theme.

The sky line tells you exactly what you would expect to find inside an ‘Artrocker’ magazine, this is ‘Indie, electro, and rock & roll music’, and ‘art and fashion’’. This information tells us that this magazine is aimed mainly at both genders of ‘cool’ artistic students and young adults. It would not appeal to the younger audiences of NME for example, as its contents would be more left field, and more serious.

What I like a lot about this cover is that the cover lines are kept minimal. There is the lead article, and a few cover lines saying which other bands are included in the magazine, on the right hand side. There is a space at the bottom for where a free CD goes, but there is still space left on the bottom right. I think the reason the cover is kept bare is because the main image is good enough not to need lots of cover lines, as people who read ‘Artrocker’ or magazines like it would be more drawn to the artistic image, rather than bright and large cover lines.

The masthead is understated. Although it is quite large, it is black and so does not detract attention away from the main image. This looks good because it means that nothing clashes and des not look too crowded.

This cover line emphasizes that this issue of ‘Artrocker’ is a special edition. This is again, very minimalist and gives next to nothing away. This means that the reader would be inclined to buy the issue to find out what is inside.

Mast head again is very simple, although this is much smaller than the previous one, this is bright orange, bearing connotations of energy and excitement, and is far more eye-catching, and yet much more practical as it takes up a considerably smaller amount of space, yet attracts more attention.

The main article is large and, unusually, directly in the centre of the main image and the cover. It has a few cover lines on the right side of the main article of other bands featured in the magazine. But is still very minimal and sticks to just the bright colours of orange and electric blue.

This cover line tells the reader that this issue of ‘Artrocker’ has two different available covers, and has a second image of the other cover. This means that if a person likes this cover (and the band, Crystal Castles), that they might be inclined to buy two of the same issue just to collect the other cover.

The main image is extremely artistic, a black an d white image of the lead singer of Crystal Castles face, which has been made translucent and imposed over itself. Because the image has no colour, the only splashes we get are from the font. Which is bright orange and electric blue, these have connotations of excitement, electricity, fun, energy, which is the impression that Crystal Castles wants to give out, as the are mostly associated with the electro genre.

The masthead in this case is similar to the last in that it is small yet still stands out. The colour used for this is light lime green, this has connotations of freshness and delicacy, combined with the pink of the main article, the font colours are very feminine.

Keeping with the theme of ‘Artrocker’, this image is again very artistic. The lead singer of the long blondes but two of her, one from the side and one in profile. It looks like she is observing herself. This could suggest to the reader that the interview inside would be a very in depth one. She is wearing black and white and leather, and has messy hair which gives off a rock vibe. Yet she is wearing pink lipstick and has pale skin so at the same time still looks delicate and feminine which ties in with the font and colours used.

The font of the main article is telling you that inside is an article or interview with the Long Blondes, however it does not give much away and so encourages the reader to buy the magazine to find out more. The fact that the colour used is pink matches the lead singers pink lips, and makes the issue look feminine. This could be to help the magazine appeal to women as well as men.

These cover lines just tell the reader what other bands they will find inside the magazine. The type setting is kept very simple and understated, just using white font to stand out against her black hair. I think the reason it has been kept so simple is because ‘Artrocker’ do not want to spoil their artistic image by detracting away attention with big bright cover lines.

This sky/cover line tells the reader that this magazine has exclusive information on getting free music downloads. It says ‘see inside for details’. This is encouraging the reader to buy the magazine to find out more.