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Kerrang! Analysis

Front Cover

Skyline - This is the header for the magazine and is in the opposite colour of the background colour for the main image. This helps it stand out to the target audience (unisex magazine, mostly males ages 13-34, aimed at any ethnicity and may be popular among middle class – working class; B – D on the social class scale) and the text uses bright colours to make it stand out. It’s aimed at those interested in the Sonisphere festival and to really attract attention they mention the word backstage, signalling that they have never seen before material within the magazine. They also have 2 images to act as a visual aid, but also giving the audience an insight as to what type of subgenre the article would fit into.

Main Cover Line - The main cover line is in a sans serif font with a shadow effect, and is the name of the artist on the main image, showing that the feature article will be about the feature artist, making him a big deal. It looks very significant as the Kerrang! logo is in the same shade of red and the only other colours used are black and white which are a regular set of colours. Words within the main cover line have also been bolded for emphasis, to stress to readers that those topics will be covered for sure in this exclusive interview.

Cover Lines - The cover lines within this article are justified; two sets of cover lines on the left, and one to the right along with one on the bottom right to the left of the barcode. This follows convention as they are out of the vertical middle third, so they’re not in focus but are still very much in view. The cover lines all have the same level of importance as the cover lines higher up (and so more in view and likely to be seen sooner) are not really emphasised with a different background colour or bordered, they are in plain black sans serif text and the only emphasised word being the band that the cover line is about, that a big larger and in blue. The other two cover lines have a different colour background, but are lower down (and so less in sight), and have accompanying images that act as a visual aid as well as relevant words being bolded for emphasis. Although they’re not incredibly eye catching, they can intrigue the audience as the cover lines are linked to artists within the magazines genres (metal and rock).

Main Image - The main image is of Gerard Way, lead vocalist of now defunct band My Chemical Romance. The main image follows code of conventions as he is within the middle third of the page and there is direct mode of address as he is looking directly at the camera. This engages the audience, making it look as if he is looking directly at them. His expression is neutral and expressionless which is usually conveyed as professional so we are not given any insight as to how the interview was and the nature of the topics covered (dark, happy etc.) but we are able to make the connotation that he was professional, perhaps only giving the facts of the topics covered, along with some vague opinions that don’t give too much away. He is also wearing a green hooded jacket and the denotation is that he is in the process of pulling the hood of the jacket above his head, and the connotation that would be made is the fact that he isn’t giving much away and may have had a professional guard on during the interview, just providing bulked out bare information, along with

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some carefully constructed opinions to perhaps prevent too much press concerning the topics he discussed within the feature interview.

Masthead - The masthead is the word ‘Kerrang!’ in a bright red and this is attention grabbing and within the top third. Naturally, our eyes travel across a page in a ‘z’ formation and so I found that Kerrang choosing to place their masthead in the top third was clever as it means that this will be one of the first features to be noticed. This is also the magazines constant unique selling point as there is no slogan for the magazine but the branding used here will mean that people who have read Kerrang will associate it with their personal past experiences and opinions, and so some may but this magazine not for content, but purely because it has been branded as Kerrang.

Barcode - The box with the barcode is in the last viewed place in terms of people looking cross a page in ‘z’ formation. This section is plain and pretty much out of sight but contains the legal information required such as the barcode, the price, the issue number, date and perhaps the magazine website. This has been placed in an area to use up what is known as dead space, area with no actual content and so is therefore useless.

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Barcode

Masthead

Main Image

Cover Lines

Main Cover Line

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Contents Page

Rule Of Thirds - Kerrang follows convention by having the contents split into three different columns. The first two thirds are used to inform the reader of what content they have in that specific issue of Kerrang. The last third is then used for the editorial. However, over the left and middle third, and a little more than the top third, there is an image of Chester Bennington. This makes the contents page less columned and therefore more interesting to look at.

Editorial - The editorial is within the last third of the page and contains a statement from the editor telling them about the issue but not giving too much away. He also talks about his own week and shows a picture of him at a young age above the text. This help the reader feel more valued as the editor is letting the reader into his personal life. There is also, under the main editorial, another editorial from other staff at Kerrang. This makes the Kerrang HQ come across as extremely laid back and a fun place to work at, which would indirectly make the reader feel a lot more positive about reading the magazine, knowing it hasn’t been one washed out with unhappy staff which means this magazine will a genuine one.

Main Image - The main image is lead singer of band Linkin Park, Chester Bennington stood against a larger image of Linkin Park. This image is in the top left and middle third, spilling into the middle horizontal third. This image is eye-catching as it is the first thing the reader will see, showing its pretty relevant to this issue as it is a feature, however this wasn’t conveyed on the front cover, telling me that although the LP feature is important and relevant, it perhaps isn’t as important and as relevant as the Gerard Way feature. There is also anchorage text in cold, sans serif capitals which is meant to be a joke to amuse the readers.

List Of Content - The actual contents are split segregated into parts, so whatever the reader enjoys reading first can be easily located, making things convenient for the reader. These sections are headed with a black rectangle which contrasts against the white background and contained inside this black rectangle is capitalised yellow text. Then under these dividers is the content with a red number (page number) next to it in red, another eye catching colour. There is also a section dedicated to the features of this issue. Then, under the text stating the content and page number, is the anchorage text.

Anchorage Text - The anchorage text on the contents page tells the readers what is to come, hinting but never actually giving too much away. This helps them determine if they are actually of interest to the reader, making things easy for them so they’re not having to flick through the magazine, looking for something they like the look of.

Header - The header on this page breaks convention as it doesn’t really follow code of convention. Typically, the header of a contents page would be evident and obvious, and usually contain the masthead to reinforce to the reader exactly which magazine they’re finding all this content in. However, Kerrang breaks convention due to the fact that there is no evident header nor is there an actual masthead on the contents, only a puff-like bubble containing the word contents. There is also issue details within the header space, which could be useful for someone if they didn’t have the cover but wished to know when and which issue the content was originally in instead of having to

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research it, which makes life easier for the reader once again. Within the puff-like bubble, there is text to generate humorous contents, a pun linked to band Linkin Park as ‘One Step Closer’ is the name of one of their songs, but also the fact that it’s one more page turn to get into the content of the magazine.

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Rule Of ThirdsRule Of ThirdsEditorial

Header

Anchorage Text

List Of Content

Main Image

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Double Page Spread

Main Image - The main image is the same image that appeared on the contents page, but larger and therefore in more detail. We see the lead vocalist of the band Linkin Park, Chester Bennington, stood with his arms crossed with one arm upwards, his fist clenched. This would usually represent anger or frustration as well as protection, like he’s putting a guard up to defend himself. This is relevant to the anchorage text that was used for this article on the contents as it stated ‘Chester Bennington is pissed off. Grrr’ which is why the stance is justifiable. His facial expression looks as if he is focusing on the reader and thinking. This direct address grabs the reader’s attention and makes them feel as if the interview is quite personal due to him looking directly at the camera. The mise-en-scene of the image is Chester Bennington is stood against a larger, projected image of the whole band Linkin Park. I assume this picture is quite old as we see the recent Bennington positioned next to a man on the projection that resembles him but looks significantly younger. This image relates to the main headline, which is ‘A Link To The Past’.

Main Headline - The main headline is ‘A Link To The Past’ which plays with the band name; Linkin Park which is why the word link is the most prominent, it is the biggest and the most opaque, increasing visibility. The font of the text is also the stencil-type font that the band had used for their name on their 2 most successful albums; Meteora and Hybrid Theory. This font (found on dafont.com) links the main headline to the band and therefore the article.

Text - The text layout for the article is separated into two columns although the page follows the rule of thirds. This is following convention and breaks the text up, which makes the text easier to read and more pleasant to read. The text is separated with a link which links to the main headline which then links to the band which links to the article. The text is also drop capped to make it look more appealing and professional as well as informing the reader where to begin.

Anchorage Text - The anchorage text for the article is larger than the article text so it can tell the reader what the article is about, giving them some background information as to who Linkin Park are, what they do, who the guy is, what the interview will entail etc. It is also bordered with a stencil-type border, again linking to the main headline which links to everything else on the page. Also, key words are highlighted in blue, quickly telling the reader who the interview is on and what band they’re from.

Header - There is a mini page header on the top right of the page telling the reader which band is concerned. It is Linkin Park’s logo that featured on their 2 most popular albums. I can tell that this article is of some importance showing that this band is greatly respected as having a feature with the most well-known member of a band that comes across to the rock/metal world as legendary, is something that, according to people associated with Kerrang, is a big deal.

Colour Scheme – The colour scheme used on the double page spread is of ‘cool/cold’ colours, it consists of blues, whites, greys and blacks. This shows a shift in mood, from the magazines wild boldly coloured cover of reds and yellows to enhance the chaotic environment associated with rock and metal music to a calm, serene environment where an artist reflects on the past.

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Main Image

Colour Scheme

Header

Anchorage Text

Text

Main Headline