Semiotics

I will be analysing three Magazine front covers, individually pointing out the semiotics of the features displayed on each of the three front covers. I will pick three front covers which are completely different genres to show how semiotics is used on a magazine front cover.

My First genre will be Rap

Masthead

As you can see the masthead colour is a gradient fill which consists of the colours red and black, this colour scheme could connote blood or death as red and black are stereotypically known as masculine colours.

Headline

The headline font is red with the text bold, this font selection could signify importance to the magazine as it is projecting the main image. Which could connote power and authority which the main image may have.

Anchorage Text

The Anchorage text is the same colour as the headline however the font size is a bit smaller than headline. As the Anchorage text is red this could connote blood, and is linking in with the other Anchorage text which is above the headline which is stating a quote from eminem saying "Literally Almost Died." As this text font is black these two both link in as red connotes blood and black connotes death and darkness, this could give glues to the readers that eminem almost died and it involved blood and darkness.

Puff

The puffs which are consistently spread around the magazine are their to draw the reader in, as the magazine visually connotes as being dangerous and sincere. The colour scheme set is black,red and grey which are connoted as being stand out but strong and powerful colours for a magazine such as this one. Each of the puffs colour schemes symbolise variety and knowledge of the genre to the reader because there is a variety of articles and artist involved in this magazine.

Main Image

This is a close up shot of eminem, he is seen as one of raps finest in his fans eyes and must obtain a certain image such as this one. His tattoos connote criminality and money as he shows his arms of in a slim black vest top which is a connotation of being part of a hood culture. In addition his tattoos detonates individuality as many of his tattoos has personal meaning too him as he is seen as a trend setter. His religious chain is centred as it is important to him and his religious believes, this detonates to the reader loyalty and self belief. Finally his posture and his facial expression as he is staring into the camera lens is connoting himself as being fearless and self motivated. However the denotation to the main image is dominance.

My Second genre will be House

   

Masthead

The Masthead colour is just a simple white, white often symbolises purity, in this case I think the white combining with the font of the text connotes the simplicity of the magazine as a whole as white is a neutral colour.

Headline

The text font colour is yellow combined with a solid black shadow, this gives the incentive that the magazine is exotically themed, as the two colours used here abstracted are used in two different ways the yellow may connote vibrant, sun, and happiness as the black may connote danger and violence. In addition together combined create the sense of importance of the headline which is Ibiza! which is mainly seen as the "Rave" capital. The font of the text adds to this importance as it is bold and stands out to the reader.

Anchorage Text

The Anchorage text is adding to the glamour and rave associated with this magazine as the text states "Drink Cheap!, Dance For Free!, Eat only when essential!." this text alone connotes the philosophy which this magazine is trying to bring across which is having a good time. However the denotation of this text is basically having a good time. Which the text font and colour are representing and the explanation marks places at the end of each statement justifying the importance of this.

Puff

The puffs which are being used in this magazine are drawing the reader in with the font colour as the colours used are pink and yellow. These two colours alone represent good times, youth, and happiness which is often associated with dance, loud music and night clubs. As you can see the text is in capital letter there to get the readers attention and again the solid black shadow behind the text implementing its importance. On the other hand the colours used are often associated with neon lighting. the denotation of this could be a dance floor however the main colours used at the Ibiza strip are strong and vibrant such as these ones used on the magazine.

Main Image

The image used is a young women lying on a lilo in a pool, however the camera has focused more on the women as she is posing with her sun glasses on and her hand up, possibly connoting raving in Ibiza as many young people in Ibiza rave with their hands up. The image as a whole contrasts well with the magazine as the water is light blue in the foreground shaping up the magazine background, symbolising the magazine being fresh and modern. The techniques used for this main image gives the magazine a good vibe. In conclusion the creator of the magazine as used the representation of semiotics to full effect to draw the reader in. 

My third genre will be Rock

Masthead

The masthead font is NMEs own house style font big and bold, this is in place to catch the readers eye, also it is in place to make an impact on the magazine. However I feel that the colours connotes the age this magazine is trying to set as this magazine is about David Bowie as he came from being a superstar to a megastar throughout the 1970s or the 1990s. We can see the font is trying to connote the time line relevance here.

Headline
The headline font is bold and white which connotes the time scale when David Bowie was most influential, as when he was headlining back in 70s-90s. Most textual fonts used where bold but quite skinny such as this one. This may connote that the magazine wants to suck the reader back in time.


Anchorage Text
The Anchorage text is above and below the headline, this is to tie relate back to what the magazine is really about. However one of the text states "Ultimate Hero" in a fairly fairy tale text font this may connote he was a one of a kind artist. And below the headline stating "More influential than hes ever been." with the text font as more historical which is probably connoting his musical history.


Puff
 The text is spread out throughout the magazine to show the reader the variety in which the magazine is containing. However the text font and colour is fairly old fashioned again possibly connoting the era in which David Bowie was in. And to connote what era the magazine is about.


Main Image
I think the main image used is very clever, as it is a close up shot of David Bowie but the colour contrast is a mixture of old fashioned colours mixed within his face but it is connoting his era as the colour contrast is darkened as back in the 70s colour wasn't as defined as it is today. The boldness within his eye line is clever as this highlights his individuality within his area as he wasn't perceived as masculine with him wearing makeup. In conclusion this image semiotics key feature is bringing back the old era while keeping the magazine modern.