The magazine I have chose to analyse is VIBE magazine, it originates and is distributed around the USA
Model and actress Amber Rose graced the cover of the July 2011 Vibe issue. The magazine adapts their colours and images seasonally. We can identify that it is summer without looking at the folio but looking at the image of Amber wearing sunglasses.
A block colour of blue has been used for the background. The reason is to keep the magazine simplistic and to make Amber the focus point. Colours are contrasted on this background, all these features to make a statement. Blue would not usually be associated with summer however it connotes the coolness of amber and also when used with yellow can be associated with the sun and sky. Ambers peach lipstick and nails along with yellow are bright and give reference to the season.
The mastheads font, style and setting remain the same in all Vibe magazines produced, however the colour adjusts in accordance to the season along with the other colours used in the house style. In this issue the text is white and this can also be seen in the puffs. White connotes purity and cleanliness, this also shows the season of summer. The masthead is in bold capital letters connoting importance and making a statement.
The image is central and overlaying the masthead on both covers I am analysing. These are the only images on the page and feature the artists in the copy – which is the main article. This again is for simplicity. The copy of the issue is within the puff right of her face, this shows the relevance to the image.
Although not showing anything, Amber appears to be nude, this is selling sexuality to the reader. It may be appealing to both men and women as woman may aspire to her and men will like her. However brutal, unless making a statement or using an extremely successful singer, there is always going to be an attractive person on the cover, you will understand this more in my post about feminism. Usually on a music magazine somebody who people would class as classically beautiful, however this is very different with Amber Rose. She does hold features of a classically beautiful person with her perfect skin and make up, however a woman with a shaved head does not really fit in that category although we must remember that Amber Rose is not only associated with the hip-hop business but is also a fashion model, fashion magazines are definitely very different.
This person is also usually quite close in age to the audience in question so that they are relatable.
This person is also usually quite close in age to the audience in question so that they are relatable.
I notice that on both covers quite neutral colours have been used with a pop of colour. This seems quite suitable to the genre and its artists who aim to portray themselves as real as they can added with glamour now they are in the spotlight. I would consider using this on my own magazine.
There are puffs around the image on both sides. Throughout the puffs the fonts and colours alternate. The colours alternate between yellow and white with no relevance to importance but to make a statement and create more interaction for between the reader and the page. The text above the masthead also alternate between yellow and white. All font is of a serif font alternating again between bold and regular and also capitals and lowercase. It appears that the more important text is bold and capital for example in the puff stating the copy “AMBER ROSE” is in capital letters and bold, however where it is stating what the article features “on Wiz, women and lessons from Yeezy” is regular and with the correct punctuation for proper English.
A pug of a barcode is used in both magazines I am analysing, this is very conventional of any genre of magazine. Connected to this pug on the Amber Rose cover there is a barcode. This offers exclusive information to those with a smart phone and shows the magazine is aiming to its audience of young people and moving with technology. There is also a folio of a website in the bottom left corner which is very conventional as it tends to be either at the top under the masthead or at the bottom.
In the February/March 2012 edition of Vibe magazine, singer and rapper Nicki Minaj was the main feature.
As in the previous cover I analysed I notice that the colours have changed in accordance to the season. This shade of orange is very representative of autumn. Black text is also used alongside this to connote boldness and fierceness, two things Nicki Minaj aims to represent her brand as.
The image again has used neutral colours with a pop of colour which fits very well with the genre., this is definitely something I would consider for my magazine of a similar genre. In comparison to the other cover I analysed I notice that both covers are very in tune with the brand image of the artist featured.
The puff promoting the main feature inside is next to the head of the artist as it is in the Vibe cover of Amber Rose. Text still alternates colour, size and boldness however all text on this page is in capital letters. The text that reads “NOTORIOUS K.I.N.G” is identifiable and shows the brand image through association.
Something I identified to be different between this cover of Nicki Minaj and the cover of Amber Rose was that in this issue there is no barcode attached to the actual price barcode. This is unusual as magazines usually progress with technology however it appears the bar code has been taken off since this issue was produced after the first. Reasons for this could be that because it is exclusive or possibly expensive Vibe magazine only use the barcodes every so often. Another reason could be to make the audience equal as they may have realised that not everybody owns a smart phone and not enough of their readers used it.
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