Contents Page ; Analysis 1

I have analysed a contents page that I accessed off google. This helped me gather ideas on what I wanted to produce for my contents. The contents page has been taken from Vibe magazine.

We are straight away attracted to the main image.The main image being Ciara, a well known RnB singer.She takes up the whole left and bottom centre to right of the page, this may be portraying that she has a major importance to the magazine itself. As you can see, there is no other celebrity on the magazine contents. This contents page has two main headings:1. Features2. FashionThis is telling the reader that the magazine not only includes music based information, but also different issues inside.In my opinion, this makes the contents look more interesting also more accessible to read clearly. This is because the information is split into two sections that seperates the different topics that may be in the magazine. It states ‘Contents 1/3’; it is obvious that there are three parts to the contents pages. This is telling us that the first page has deliberately used a main image and also a simple structure to engage the reader to specific wording of text. The background of the content page has a gradient colour of black and white, this also displaying a simple design to the magazine, making it look apparent and not too crowded with objects. The masthead ‘Contents’ is printed in capitals against the black background; it contrasts against the background making it stand out, in order for the reader to know what page it is. The layout of the word ‘Contents’ looks weird, as it has been broken up in the corner of the page. This also comparing similarly to the way Ciara is posing; her body is lying down with her legs up in the air creating a V shape. Although the contents page looks simple, it seems to have a weird side to it created by the elements of the layout and structure. Ciara is wearing a short dress that is the same colour of the background. This shows a consistent style to the magazine, suggesting that the artists have a close relationship towards the magazine and also that the magazine itself can cleverly match images to its own layout efficiently. As we can see her skin from the legs, this image of Ciara is a sexual representation of a woman. One of the best features of a female is the legs, this implies that the female is sexy, seductive and has an audience appeal because of her bodily features.Other females would want to be more like her, maybe want to copy her dress sense or even desire to have the same aspects that Ciara holds. The V shape text at the top of the magazine, gives reference to what magazine it is. As we already know, it is Vibe magazine. To my belief, this is a clever way of promoting the magazine, as it also adds design to the contents page. Ciara has her legs crossed upwards, her legs are seen to be in the V shape to, this may suggest that she is related to the magazine, the 'V' shape standing for Vibe.

Hip Hop Magazine Conventions

These jpegs contains an analysed hip hop magazine. In this I have discussed the conventions of which a hip hop magazine usually contains and also the characteristics that it holds.

Emo Genre ; Characteristics

Boys:
http://www.theemolife.com/EmoBoys.aspx
- Are normally to be seen as highly attractive to girls, Emo Boys are always in demand and are the subject of many crushes and fantasies.They are usually very emotional, an emo boy is very artistic and express a great deal of his emotions through poetry, music or art. Furthermore, Emo Boys are usually found in large groups of emos and they get along well with each, sharing the same views and opinions. This particular type is extremely easy to spot, they are to be viewed to have a mixture of horn-rimmed glasses, tight clothes and Converse trainers or Doc Martins. The hair is another dominant feature of emos. It is generally jet back with spiked edges and styled carefully in order to hide the features of the face. These include vibrant splashes of color, piercings, dark eye make up and black nail polish. Another favourite possession of an Emo Boy is the tight fitting clothes. This consists of drainpipe jeans, undersize t-shirts, messenger bags and hoodies. These are usually of a black color although occasional splashes of bright colors. An Emo boy is generally tall and skinny, a physique that is needed to pull off the tight clothes.

Girls:
http://www.theemolife.com/EmoGirls.aspx
- The Emo Girl is generally aged between 14 and 25 and is held to have developed from the gothic and punk chicks of the eighties and early nineties. Emo Girls tend to feel most secure with other Emo Girls and Boy as they sense they belong towards each other. The Emo Girl likes all things black but manages to combine a dark appearance with a graceful femininity. Most emo girls decide to be sexually attracted to the Emo boy, as they feel more comfortable with them and their characteristics. Largely uninterested in the cheerleader way of life, they avoid any popular boys to society and will not be seen anywhere near the sports field. Furthermore, Emo girls are extremely dreamy and enjoy indulging in matters of the heart. They are extremely image conscious and generally choose for punk/gothic inspired fashion. Their hair will generally be black or dark brown although, in some cases, extremely light blonde varieties can be found. They are often accused of being anorexic; however in a positive view they are seemed to be slender.

Emo Genre

Emo is a style of rock music, mostly consisting of melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics. It originated in the mid-19080’s and was known as emotional hardcore or emo core including the bands ‘Rites of Spring’ and Embrace.

Rites Of Spring are considered at the first emo band from Washington DC, introducing post-hardcore genre of music. Post-hardcore is a music genre that evolved from hardcore punk itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. –Wikepedia. Former Members were of Guy Piccioto, Eddie Janney, Mike Fellows and
Brendan Canty.

The main music banded groups now involving emo like songs are My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy; these groups have gained influence from the main Emo band ‘The Cure’, however they merge their own creations to modern emo within their songs and how they portray their image.The following video: The Cure – End Of This World shows these elements that I have just discussed of the characteristics of an emo personality. The lyrics underneath this paragraph show evidence that emo songs have meaningful libretto to do with love and lifestyle. Maybe expressing how they feel towards society. If you read through the lyrics you will notice a sense of escape from love as it states ‘Go if you want to’ and ‘I couldn’t love’, this suggesting that the emo personality doesn’t take much interest in love and kindness, but darkness and hatred.

The Cure - End Of This World


Lyrics
Go if you want to
I never tried to stop you
Know there's a reason
For all of this you're feeling
Love it's not my call
You couldn't ever love me more
You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love

Me I don’t show much
It's far too hard to hide you
See in a moment
I can’t remember how to
Be all you wanted
I couldn't ever love you more
I couldn't love you more
I couldn't love

You want me to cry and play my part
I want you to sigh and fall apart
We want this like everyone else

Stay if you want to
I always wait to hear you
Say there's a last kiss
For all the times you run this
Way, it's not my call
You couldn't ever love me more
You couldn't love me more
You couldn't love

Love me more
Couldnt ever love me more
I couldnt love you more
I couldnt love

You want me to lie not break your heart
I want you to sigh and fall apart
We want this like everyone else

Maybe we didn't understand
It's just the end of the
end of the world
Maybe we didn't understand
Not just a boy and a girl
It's just the end of the world

Me I dont say much
It's far too hard to make you
See in a moment
I can't remember how to
Be all you wanted
I couldnt ever love you more
(x4) I couldn't love you more.

Hip Hop Genre & Characteristics

Hip hop music originated in the 1970’s, block parties in New York City. Block parties usually where a neighbourhood community would get together in a house and entertain themselves with dancing and singing. The culture of hip hop consists of rapping, beatboxing, scratching, graffiti and break dancing, to feel the rhythm of the music created and to carry on promoting it so forth. The large parties, originally outdoors, were thrown by owners of expressing and expensive stereo equipment, which they would share within their community to compete amongst themselves, sharing lyrics and dance moves to each other. Mc’s began speaking over beats that were created as an artist. 'Rappers Delight' by the SugarHill Gang is the first song that was recorded & released by a rap crew, and therefore is considered the first true hip hop release –Wikipedia.

In the lyrics that the Mc’s used to use, were usually a mixture of slang and bad English, this meaning using shortened words and also self created. The culture of hip hop has productively spread across the word, introducing new music and expression to the genre. Early hip hop has often been credited with helping to reduce inner-city gang violence by replacing physical violence with dance and artwork battles to convey youngster’s emotions and feelings towards life. This brought out the positive aspects to their life, to see it a refreshing way by using the sound of Hip Hop. The fans of hip hop started to wear heavy gold jewellery and baggy pants, originated in the 2000. Alternative hip hop really borders itself from a mixture with other genres, it cuts deep through the real meaning of hip hop (this of which I have discussed). It uses lyrics to display their unique concepts. Verbal hip hop is to battle against each other using generally insulting lyrics to self glorify themselves to the audience, this being their evidence for success, and prophecy. Conscious rap is usually to promote knowledge and person discovery within the Mc’s life. Crunk was invented in the 1990s as a sub-genre of southern rap. This consists of high energy and oriented beats usually portrayed by the artist Lil Jon. Southern rap relies on straightforward lyrics usually consisting of slang, to capture their lifestyles of car culture, fashion nightlife and uniqueness.

Grime Genre: Characteristics

(This image has been searched as 'JME' on www.google.co.uk and has been founded on page 1). Name: Jamie Adenuga
Origin: Meridian Walk ; London, Uk
Genre: Grime
Associated Acts: Boy Better Know
Website: www.myspace.com/jmeserious

JME is a grime artist from Tottenham, North London. He used to be part of the grime crew Meridian alongside his brother Skepta, another grime artist however now is focuses more on his solo ambitions also with his new group BBK (Boy Better Know), he is known as the founder of this label which includes big artists such as Wiley and Frisco as well as DJ Maximum. ‘Boy Better Know’ is a catchphrase made by another artist in the grime genre named Big H. JME has come into sight on many grime DVD’s including Practice Hours where Bossman, Big H and JME did a freestyle over the beat to his hit single 'Serious'.
This DVD was supported by
http://www.ukrecordshop.com/item/practice-hours-a-media-gang-production.html.
On this link you will be able to see the trailer to the DVD, giving you an insight to what it is about; this conveying the conventions of a typical grime genre publishing.

'Serious' was JME’s first song to be published on MTV Base and Channel U. Both of these are well known television stations, this therefore helped the song to become a success in sales and hearings. JME himself first displayed on his MySpace his music that he was making, gaining views from his friends and fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygIp3WzvR0U&feature=player_embedded

The clothes that a grime artist would wear is what is usually seen as the representative of a young boy in mainly London (as this is the area of which Grime was originated from) or even Birmingham that has the latest brand wear, this usually embracing the image of having ‘swagger’, this meaning to have an appealing look to others including all the updated clothes wear and having the likeable personality.

England 10 - She Likes To


If you look at this video, it contains all the well known grime artists into one song. This definitely was a big hit for from the entire fan base. All of the artists are males, this of which attracts the female audience as they may admire what they see. However, this is not said that the video is aimed at only females. The male audience of which may desire to be more like the male artists in this video, will be attracted to this video as they would want to view the characteristics that they could then act upon in their daily lives as they have been influenced by what they do. The age audience may be 15+ as this contains different aspects to the video such as sexual preferences however not into a major way. Also, the lyrics suggest to be aimed at this age as they can understand what they are addressing to the audience. The setting is set in a club, this of which most young and old teenagers choose to do to be entertained in their free time. Therefore, they can relate to this and recommend the video within its grime genre.

Grime Genre

Grime is typified by complex 2-step break beats, generally around 140 beats per minute and constructed from "different" sounds. Stylistically, grime takes from many genres including UK Garage, dancehall and hip hop. The lyrics and music combine futuristic electronic elements and dark, guttural bass lines -Wikepedia
Grime is seen as the movement from UK Garage, set into more deeper and darker themes and sounds, this including the convention of a mix between drum'n'bass, a splash of punk and also hip hop. Grime was invented in the inner cities of London, mostly in East London. MajorFm.come was a major promotive institution online station there to support grime music & gave grime its first appreciation to the international market. This genre has been exposed by a number of television stations, these including Channel U, (which is now known as AKA), Logan Sama's show on London station Kiss FM, and also the BBC’s youth oriented radio station 1xtra; these of which most young teenagers enjoy watching as they display maybe similar things that they want to do as a career or sometime in their future.

Dizzee Rascal and Wiley, both members of Roll Deep (Roll Deep are a MOBO Award-nominated London based grime music group). They were established in 2002, by a group of MC’s including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal (who have both since left). Both artists are closely associated with the modernised group, Boy Better Know. Boy Better know is a British grime label within the grime genre. It was created by Jme and Skepta - http://www.boybetterknow.co.uk/
http://www.grimepedia.co.uk is a website of which gives an insight to what grime is as well as information about the different artists, DJs and producers.

Stylistic Origins:
- British Hip Hop
- Uk Garage
- Dancehall
- Drum And Bass
- Dub Step

Cultural Origins:
- Late 1990's-2000
East London in the Uk

Instruments:
- Rapping
- Toasting
- Musical sequencer
- Computer technology

Mainstream Popularity:
Underground with some chart success in the UK/Britain

Fusion Genres:
- Rhythm and Grime
- Electro Grime

RnB Genre: Artist

Artist Name: Trey Songz
Real Name: Tremaine Aldon Neverson
Born: November 28, 1984
Genres: R&B, Hip Hop
Occupation: Singer–Songwriter, Record Producer, Actor
Instruments: Vocals, Keyboards, SamplerVoice types: Tenor ‘of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register’ –Wikipedia

Trey’s vocal abilities were recognised at the age of 14. He began performing with friends and family when record producer Troy Taylor discovered him during a talent show which then led him a contract with Atlantic Records. He was to move to New Jersey to start his music career.
Trey Songz is a major influence to young males out there who choose to sing, and somehow gain their confidence from listening to his songs. It’s not likely that males will decide to sing as it is thought to be a woman’s role in the music industry. He has been compared to other RnB artists such as Chris Brown, Usher and Ginuwine, 3 extremely known artists who is mostly admired by women from their good looks, voice & personality. In this picture, he is sitting on a beach from the video ‘I need a Girl’; as you can see he does have a girl sitting behind him. It is likely in an RnB video to have women interacting with men and a narrative is based from there. This could also be seen as the male celebrity’s possession, it gives a chance for them to portray themselves as ‘a lady’s man’. The smile that is witnessed in this picture shows a positive aspect to him, as he might be seen as a respectable artist towards his fans therefore he is to pose in an affirmative way. His sunglasses and watch may be of a certain type of branded name, this shows his wealth as many stars love to show off their ‘swag’ this known as effortless portrayment in a quality being. Tattoos are usually seen on RnB males as it is the type of ‘follow fashion’, this meaning that the exposures of most celebrities are all to have a symbolising tattoo to reflect on their persona.

RnB Genre

Rhythm and blues (also known as R&B, R'n'B or RnB) is the name given to a wide-ranging genre of popular music created by African Americans in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When urban, rock and jazz based music with heavy insistent beats were become more popular at them times, this is when RnB was introduced to modernise each genre to become a mix of all. The term had a wide variety of meanings. One of being ‘Rock & Roll’, this stated in the 1960’s, it was used mostly by white groups as it was also referred to having a music style of incorporated electric blues as well as gospel/soul music. Nowadays it is perceived as a contemporary view of soul/funk influenced pop music. Thus one of the reasons why my group and I are using both a Pop and RnB genre for our music video as they have similarities. Some of which I shall discuss within this blog. In the US, it was recognised as "race music", which originally came from within the black community, but was believed offensive in the post-war world. Instruments used frequently within the RnB genre were consisted of piano, one or two guitars, bass, drums, and sax, this reflecting the rhythm and blues viewpoint. In music videos, singers are emotionally engaged with the lyrics, often strongly so, they remain cool, relaxed, and in control, feeling their lyrics in order to make their audience to understand what they would want to lime out. Lyrics seem accepting and the music feels somehow to be expected, to evaluate what I just wrote this connotating the typical RnB flow of music which is portrayed as a combination with elements of soul, funk, dance, and labelled hip hop. The vocal arrangement of RnB usually consists of smooth, lush and calm manner of lyrical content mostly based on love, relationships with a member of the opposite sex, and deep emotions. Uses of hip hop beats are also used within this genre; Hip Hop is another genre within the music industry representing artists who may Mc, Rap or DJ. In addition to this, the culture is to express the reality of human association within each other and to free them from oppression that artists/bands may have had inside the past. Lyrics within the RnB genre seem laid back and the music feels somehow expected to have a certain concept such as talking about love hate relationships.
Nowadays males in the RnB music industry are being perceived as the most listened to gender as they have made a high comeback with their music. Both sexes tend to listen to these as they may relate to one’s relationship status or may give another pleasure.

Pop Genre: Artist

Name: Britney Jean Spears
Born: December 2, 1981
Genres: Pop, Dance Occupations: Singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, author, pianist, director.
Instruments: Vocals, piano.
Voice types: Alto (High).

A deliberate choice of artist to use when analysing the Pop genre. Britney is a highly known pop artist from when her first single ‘Baby One More Time’ was released. She became an international pop culture icon immediately after launching her recording career. Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "One of the most controversial and successful female vocalists of the 21st century”. Spears is a major influence to other pop artists of our day today like Lady Gaga, Little Boots, Taylor Swift & Pixie Lott all of which may follow her roles to the music society. Also, she has a major impact on her fans as her achievements throughout her music career have affected them to follow her traits and want to become more like her. In this picture it is seen as though she interest her audience by her style of clothes, the time of when this image was taken may have made fans to want to duplicate her individuality of dress sense. The hat of which is still in style for summery occasions, in most pop music videos the release time is in the summer as the videos mirror the season, this makes them to be a positive look and the happy theme relates to this also. Britney Spears is smiling in this picture; most people in this particular industry will do so aswell as this details the aspect of being a pop artist (to show pop sensation and portray their living). Her hair style approach would maybe reflect on what young females would want their hair to be like, therefore they would consider to have the same hairstyle as their desired artist/group to make them ‘look alike’.
Britney Spears has always been compared with Christina Aguilera, another identified artist withing the pop genre.

Pop Genre

Pop music is a music genre that developed from the mid-1950s as a softer option to rock 'n' roll and later to rock music. It has a focus on commercial recording, this meaning it is suitable for a wide, popular market often orientated towards a youth market, usually through the medium of relatively short and simple mostly happy but sometimes sad love songs. Furthermore, the pop genre has followed on from Rock however using softer, smoother and calmer techniques in a modernised way. The term ‘pop’ is originally seen as ‘having popular appeal’. I believe that Pop genre emphasises more on its appeal as much music videos introduce attractiveness such as dances, love narratives and other content themes. Its song lyrics usually deal with emotions and talk about love, loss, emotion or dancing. Unlike other popular music genres pop songs are usually written by professional writers and popularized by singers.
It also shows existing trends that such audience may follow in the outer world. I say outer world as being in the music industry can be seen as an individual world of success and purity of living, this of which not everyone gains, most audiences decide to go behind their favourite artist and their traits, as every music video does, Pop videos exaggerate on what is alluring to be/have nowadays and so this effects its audience hugely as it makes them believe they have also achieved that bit of accomplishment that the artists/bands have. Following onto this, Pop artists/bands interest their audience with their vision appeal.

Annotating a music magazine

The following jpeg's shows my annotation examples referring to traditional codes and conventions, type of font, colour, size of font for effect, house style, colours, mode of address to the audience of a music magazine. It also shows evidence of myself discussing target audiences and information exploring and explaining a brief description of magazine institution and distribution.

- (Click to enlarge)

In the next blog, an analysis of different sub culture genres within music will be discussed thoroughly.

Codes And Conventions Of A Magazine Front Cover

A magazine usually consists of different elements such as ‘ingredients’ that all adjoin together to make a successful production.
These elements consist of:

A Masthead: The title used by known typography to make the readers become familiar with what magazine they are reading.

Main Image: Typically consisting of a leading artist(s) or band(s) within the music genre of the magazine, to attract readers.

Strapline: Seen as an introductory headline below the main title (the masthead), to give an insight to the magazine.

Top and Bottom Strip: These are the strips below and above the magazine that give further information to what may be included in the magazine. Mostly being the interesting parts of the magazine.

Pug: ‘The ears of the magazine’, can either be at the top left or/and right-hand corners of the front cover. The prices of the paper, the logo or a promotion are positioned there or even a freebie is placed there to catch the reader’s eye. When the reader is to open the magazine it is likely that they are too see the pug this of which can aware them on the positive aspects inside the magazine.

Tag: This doesn’t have to be on the front cover but I believe that it makes the magazine more efficient as the word or phrase is used to engage a reader’s interest in a story by categorising it e.g. ‘Exclusive’, ‘Sensational’, this showing that the magazine has high compliments.

Coverlines: The essential articles inside the magazine are stated through sell lines, these are regularly seen at the right hand side of the cover.

Left Third: The left third contains the main feature article (Exclusive interview or ‘Puff Piece’), as this is the core part of what may be inside the magazine. It also includes the main artist or band situated within.

Barcode/Dateline & Price: A dateline in which the date of publish and the price are shown, the barcode is just the importance of the retailer.

Keylight: Usually highlighting the main artist or featured lines, (Coming from the left hand side onto the right).

In the next blogs I shall analyse a certain magazine and talk about how codes and conventions are used to make it look efficient for readers.