Case Study part 1: Colour analysis

Case Study Part 1: Color Analysis
NME Magazine (20 November 2015)


NME is a music magazine that advertises different styles of music for example, rock music, R&B music and more recently pop music. The magazine covers a wide range of areas in the entertainment industry. The target audience for this magazine would be around 15-30 year old. This is a range that can be altered for maximum profits.

The most significant colors on this cover are red, white and yellow. These colors stand out against the dark colors of Noel Gallagher and company. The dark colors represent business and their facial expressions exemplify this. The colors red and yellow contrasts with the white background to make the audience realize that this is the most significant part of the cover. The main headline 'Massive Albums Special' is in bold white colors to draw the reader in and the large font creates a sense of importance.

One typical color is white. This is used in most magazines as the title and some cover lines so that it is bold against the color used in the background. This color signifies light, innocence and purity. This color is related to the word perfection and the opposite to the color black. This color gives the magazines a very fresh approach and makes them look new and pure. Using the color white as the background makes the dark image look much bolder than it is and these two colors appeal to each other very much and makes them go very well with each other. The color white gives the audience a sense of perfection towards the magazine.

The color red is associated with many different things for example energy, determination, passion and love. This color is very emotive and you can sense a lot of different things from this color. Using this color fits the target audience  because it makes them become emotionally attached and makes them feel much more passionate about it. These relate to the audience of teenagers as during this period of their life they are experiencing emotional characteristics.

Formative blog feedback - Miss Hunter

Tom, your blog is on track.


So far:


WWW: Your ideas are usually thoughtful and detailed. You understand the conventions of a magazine and I can see that you have used them in the preliminary task.


EBI: Some of your posts, particularly recent research, need more detail added. Don't go back and edit them, but do make sure that, from now, your case study is detailed enough to show your understanding.


Next steps:

• Case study of a magazine of your choice - front cover analysis, contents page analysis, double page spread analysis, colour (throughout the magazine) analysis.

Keep up the good effort.

analysis of language

Colour analysis

NME colour analysis:

NME is a music magazine that advertises many aspects of music and music culture, for example rock music r&b and pop music. The magazine mainly targets young adults but compliments a variety of people.

The background colour of red is very dark and sinister, which contrasts the white colours of the title and the cover lines. One colour that is used is white, which is typically used in magazine covers so that it juxtaposes the cynical feeling of dark colours and it also represents purity and innocence. White is also significant because it relates to perfection and this is relevant as Chris Moyles is wearing a white shirt to juxtapose his quite dark and sinister face. this colour gives the magazines a very fresh approach and makes them look new and pure. The colour red makes the cover look much bolder than needed which makes it aesthetically appealing. The colour white relates to the audience of young adults as it makes them feel like the cover has a sense of perfection in their eyes.

The use of the fading black in the background at the top hints danger and mystery to the audience. The yellow on top of the page shows excitement in the magazine and shows a sense of fun towards it. There is a highlight of black shadow in eyes which show danger creating a very sinister and mysterious look. All of the colours work in unison to compliment the main image and the hint of orange from the cereal shows energy and the fact that the main image of Chris Moyles looks quite sinister makes the reader wonder if this will change the sinister look into a innocent look, which the white shirt may suggest.

editor's letter analysis

Q editor's letter:

The editor for 'Q' is very casual and informal as the editor, Paul Rees, wants the letter to relate to the target audience of young adults. Also, there are names that are use which suggests that the audience are regular and they know who 'Florence' is. There is a list of people that have been added towards the end of the letter and this specific editor's letter is a sequel to the last one as it refers to the last issue near the end. Editor's letters are short and snappy and do not usually pass one corner of a page. They are used to communicate with readers on a deeper level. This editor's letter is very fast and snappy and it sets the tone for the whole magazine. Despite the professional tone, the editor of Q uses a nickname at the start of the letter which makes the rest of the magazine more laid back thanks to its informality. The title, 'Welcome to the new issue' is very inviting and it makes the audience feel welcomed.

Questionnaire

contents page analysis

preliminary contents page

Preliminary magazine cover page

Preliminary plan for school magazine

Possible titles:

• HS Lounge
• Educating Hampstead
• Hampstead Lab

Possible main images for front cover

• Lads in a group: Enthusiastic looks and some laughing
• Students in the common room with a teacher: The teacher is explaining a certain topic and the students look intrigued.
• Students in the gym playing basketball

Possible cover lines:

• Best dressed students of the month released
• Timetable troubles? Ask our time team
• Poetry competition entry form here!
• WIN! An iPod shuffle

Preliminary contents page