Magazine Advert Analysis

After looking at alot of magazine layouts, they mainly follow this same sort of layout with the title of the artist and sometimes album, followed by a central image either of the band members, lead singer or a concept image that relates to the band. There is then some text about the album usually release dates, websites and social media links. The record label logos are sometimes shown in the corners of the advert too.

After researching how we read print and layouts in magazines, I came across two different layouts. The 'Z' layout is one of the most commonly used designs for magazines due to their simplicity. The 'F' layout is also used in magazines adverts but typically used in articles, as they contain more information. Due to most adverts containing the important information and little of it, the 'Z' layout is used more often.

On first sight, the magazine advert is quite simplistic. This helps to make sure the viewer of the advert isn't distracted and takes away the important information. This would be the title of the album the artist name and the central image. Therefore to sell the album, the essential information would need to be addressed in order to get sales from the viewers of the advert.

The Z layout can be applied to this design due to the title and the information at the bottom following the layout design. By following this layout means that the design helps people to follow this Z pattern. By assisting the viewer in how they read the text means that they feel more comfortable with reading the text and it is more likely to stay in their minds.

The design of the magazine help to signify the genre of music, that is going to be played on the album. This is due to the central image, the fonts and colours. The main image shows the band members sat at a table. This is a typical convention of rock music, the band members shown in music videos, on the cover of adverts, and on album covers. Due to them all being dressed in dark clothing, suggests the style of music that they play. This helps to encode meaning into the image, so the viewer realises what type of music they play, so they attract the correct audience.

The central image is merged into the background of a stormy sea. As the image is unusual, this helps to keep the image in the viewers mind, so they remember the advert, therefore it being successful. The waves and the sea connotes the genre of music as it is unpredictable, potentially dangerous which can symbolize the music that is played by them. As the band is floating on the waves, it shows that they are a bit unpredictable in terms of their music. The colours of the waves and the sky are very grey. This connotes emotionless, moody, dullness, etc. Therefore the image can signify these connotations and ideologies, stating the genre and style of music that they play.

The fonts of the advert helps to fit with the whole style of the advert. By using these fonts, it helps to connote the genre of music. The fonts are clear to fit with the theme and keep the simplicity of the advert. Black and white are used to contrast the text from the background so it stands out. By using contrasting colours helps to make the important information stand out. Due to the text being in all capitals helps it to stand out. The text is on an angle, this connotes that something is wrong and suggests the style of music. This helps to fit with the alternative rock genre. Also due to the main image being in waves, this helps to fit with the idea of the stormy sea.

The next advert is also simplistic, even more than the one before. The title of the artist and album is clear but also has the appropriate fonts. The red title helps to contrast to the blue background therefore making it stand out, so it is clear to the viewer.

The main image consists of a guitar 'skeleton'. This symbolizes the style of music that they play. As a guitar is used it shows the type of instruments that they use but also the style of music. By using a skeleton, helps to signify the mood of the music, which can be assumed to be deathly due to the connotations of a skeleton. A heart is place inside the skeleton with veins and arteries wrapped around the 'bones' of the skeleton. This can signify life within the guitar, telling the viewer that the music that is played has meaning and is un-ordinary. The viewer can assume that the music is on its last legs, but still has life left in it, due to the heart. The heart has connotations of love, therefore the music can be associated with the aspect of love due to this image. Some people love the music even though it is on its last legs as shown in the image.

The skeleton image is shaped like a guitar, therefore symbolizing the style of music. I think that it is really effective not only just because of the meaning behind it, but how realistic the 'sculpture' is. The heart and veins wrapped around the 'bones' look realistic, which helps to symbolize the meanings behind the image. Due to the power of the main image, there can be minimal text, which makes the advert look alot better. As the important information is left with the viewer. The viewer can then think about the main image after viewing it, due to it being so unusual it stick in their mind.

The background of the image helps to complement the main central image. There is and idea of depth, therefore it is shown being stood on something, instead of it floating. The texture of the background also helps to complement the main image due to the 'skeletons' cleanliness and it being polished. The colours help to contrast them main image helping it to stand out.

On first sight, the fonts and main central image matches the genre of music. The colouring of the image and titles are monotone therefore connoting the style of music. The central images is border by the text so it keeps it in place and makes the text and image stand out from each other. The white contrasts the black background behind the artist title text. This then also makes the title stand out from the background, causing it to be clear. The text below the image, also stands out as the pale yellow and red help to contrast the colours of the backgrounds and the central image. The fonts of the titles can be related to the genre of the music therefore viewers can decode the fonts to realize what type of music they play.

The main image is divided into four sections, this splits the image to help the effect of the merge of the different faces. As an eagle looking bird and three other people are merged together (all from the same angle) the divide helps to define the merge effect so it looks good.