ms1 masthead conventions
DESCRIPTION
Semiotics - Q1TRANSCRIPT
Magazines - Conventions
Mastheads
Function
• The masthead is a piece of branding, providing instant recognition & gratification. Anchorage?
• As branding it also provides ‘factual’ & ‘emotional promise’. What is this?
• The masthead (and cover) is the first point of contact and represents a series of emotional connections for the target audience.
• The masthead gives the magazine a personality and an identity – it must stand for something (at least in marketing terms). But how?
Codes & Conventions
• Font style: serif or san serif (connotations)• Size: point and case (meanings)• Kerning: space between letters/proxemics• Visual codes: colour, shape, etc.• Language: meanings of words – metaphor,
symbolism, polysemy. Nouns? Adjectives?• In pairs/groups decode some of these
mastheads and feedback to class.(15mins)