Denotations and Connotations

Denotation is a simple description of what can be seen or heard - It is factual and can be agreed by everyone.

Connotations are the meanings or associations suggested beyond this literal meaning - these are more dependent on the individual's perspective.

The denotations of this Musical Stages magazine are that it has John Barrowman on the front. This is because no one argue that he isnt on the front making it a denotation. It is also in black and white. 

The connotations of the is poster is that it may be in black and white because it is an old magazine. This is a connotation because people can argue that it is either in black and white because it is old or it is for added effect and is meant to be like this. 

For my magazine the way the model is posing on the front may give the reader hints as to what the magazine is like. Facial expressions will be an important part of how the reader will perceive the person on the front and the person on the front may play a part in whether the reader would buy the magazine or not.

Poses

I learnt that the pose on the front of a magazine can indicate what the magazine is about and who it is aimed at. For example on the front of the loaded magazine the models pose is combined with the sexual and super smiler pose. Although this indicates that the magazine could prodiminately appeal to men it may also apeal to women as she looks elegant and classy. Her face is lit so that the main focus of the cover is her face and not other areas of her body.

The different types of poses are:

Invitational: The mouth tends to be shut with just a hint of smile. The eyes are emphasised. The look is mysterious with the head tilted or looking back over the shoulder. This is a soft sell.

Romantic/Sexual: Either the overt 'come on' usually directed at the single male or the sensual, dreamy, self absorbed female icon only hinting at availability.

Super Smiler: A full face shot usually with a big smile. The models head is usually thrown back showing she is confident and assertive. This is a hard sell.

Chocolate Box: The look features a slight parting of the lips with a glimpse of teeth. The face is shot full on or slightly turned away. The emphasis is on flawless beauty.

Regardless of whether I do a musical theatre magazine or a chart music magazine I think that on my front cover I will use either an invitational or super smiler pose. This will allow my magazine to be available to a wider audience as the image will appeal to more people.

Although the magazines below are not music magazines the poses on them are similar as to what I may include on the front of my music magazine.

Billboard Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Music Magazine Front Cover Analysis

This Magazine has a very professional look as it contains more detail and looks more like a typical magazine front cover. The barcode is in the bottom left and for this magazine it seemed the obvious place because if it was placed in the bottom right it would have covered some of the picture and that is more important as the barcode is only for use of the retailer. Although this image is not very clear I presume the writing above the barcode is the essential information such as the date, price, issue number and website. The website is important as it gives the reader a chance to extend their music knowledge through the internet as accessibility to it continues to grow.

The colour scheme works well with the darker shades of colours, with the main image, ‘Lady Gaga’, dressed in a black coat with bright purple hair. This contrasts well against background.

The masthead is covered by the main image giving the appearance that the image is dominating the front cover. The name ‘Billboard’ may also suggest it has a wide audience like a billboard that is advertising something suggesting it is seen by many.

The cover is relatively simple as it just has the image of the artist; this makes all attention drawn to her bright hair and face. There aren’t too many sell/cover lines which is a good thing otherwise it could make the cover look over crowded/cluttered which could make the readers lose interest and may symbolise that the magazine is only for highly educated people as there is a lot of writing. By there not being a lot of writing this may make the magazine appeal to a wider audience. We can tell straight away which story is the most important as it is always in a larger font and is frequently associated with the main picture.

Hannah Batchelor

Magazine Proposal Form

AS Media Proposal Form

Hannah Batchelor

Proposal Form

Describe your idea for the brief: I am going to create a Music Magazine. It will either be a musical theatre magazine as I feel there are very few of these on the market. My other idea is a magazine including current chart music and popular music that people enjoy listening too as I feel this may appeal to a wider audience.

Genre/ sub genre: list similar texts which have inspired your thoughts: A Musical Theatre magazine may include many different genres of music depending on what musicals that particular issue is talking about and which historical period the musical is set and the portrayal of its society. Examples of Musical Theatre magazines are; Musical Stages and M Magazine. Also if I do a chart, current and popular music magazine it will also include many different genres as there are many different types of music in the charts today ranging from Pop, Rap and R&B. Examples of this type of magazine are; Vibe, RWD, Billboard and Q.

Target audience: gender/ age/ characteristics/ behaviour: I want to try and make my magazine accessible to a wide audience aimed mainly at teen and older people.

Major conventions I will use: My front page will include a bold title/masthead situated at the top either top left or all the way across, a main image and interesting storylines/sell lines which will catch the reader’s attention. It will also include the essential info such as barcode in bottom right and date and issue number.

Conventions I may subvert/ change/ not use: I feel for my magazine to look how I want I will have to include one main image instead of having a front cover with several images on like Kerrang.

Original images: what/ where/ what: I will recreate images which people symbolise with musical theatre like the phantom of the opera mask and the yellow brick road. My front cover will differ if I choose to do a current music magazine as I might have a close up face shot of somebody dressed up as an iconic singer/popular artist.