Analysis of Media Text

Music Magazine Double Page Spreads

This is a “Mixmag” magazine double page spread which is advertising a band known as the Black Eyed Peas. The double page is effective in attracting its target audience.

The image used presents the band black eyed peas in an interesting manner as they are portrayed in Long shots showing their whole figure. They’re made to look cool in many different ways such as “Fergie” who is the female of the group who is displayed as a sex object as her revealing top gives this impression as well as her pose and make up which make her seem attractive. This attracts the male target audience. The other three singers are in interesting costume with serious facial expressions indicating to the target audience they are serious about something which could be referred to in the article. There clothing is very un-common command appears to be designer which will intrigue target audience as fashion is an interest of the reader. In particular and more evidently, “Will I Am” who is the second from the right seems to be illuminated making him more obvious and powerful on the page. The lighting signifies to the reader that he is the most important member of the band and he is what the article is referring to or focusing on. This technique and the way in which the image is presented entice the target audience to want to read the magazine. The way in which the band are presented gives off the impression that they are glamorous and important because of the bright lighting which is typical of R@B and dance magazines whereas dark scenes reflect more rock and indie types of music. Because of this you could say the image does relate to the bands genre. They are all presented showing their whole body which means their whole outfits and they all seem to be wearing designer clothing which is an interest to the target audience. The clothing is not what you see everyday and far from common and they seem expensive garments such as “Will I Am” with the gold clothing on with interesting materials which are likely to be expensive and therefore designer. Designer clothing appears to the target audience because it is a great interest to people who go out clubbing and partying that want to look good. The fact that they are all dressed up and the shot is in a bright lighting could reflect the target audiences interest in getting dressed up and going clubbing or to a party. This helps the target audience relate to the band. This is an effective technique in interesting both the male and female members of the target audience.

The text is very conventional for a “Mixmag” magazine as they use the same font style and use of effects in which they use for both their front covers and contents pages which you could say creates brand identity. On the left hand side of the page is the large text saying, “Will He, Wont He?” The use of a question creates intrigue as to what the article is about. It refers to “Will I am” who is the singer lighted up as the most significant figure on the page, so this large text which clearly relates to him gives the impression to the target audience that the article is mainly focusing on him. The way in which Will is lighted up in a dark yellow light and the rest of the band is in a faded grey is used to effect as in the large text the bit explaining Will is also in the bright yellow saying “Will He” whereas the dark faded grey saying “Wont He” refers to the rest of the band. This technique is very effective as it makes the audience wonder what is happening and in entices them to want to read the article and find out more about the situation. The mode of address is typically basic for “Mixmag” magazine as it is not over complicated and easy to understand with basic language such as the heading “Will He or Won’t He,” which is basic and easy for the reader to understand. The audience will expect the article to be about “Will I Am” due to the lighting on his image and the main heading and this is an effective technique in getting the target audience to read on because he is arguably the most recognised figure in the band and therefore attract the most attention and entice people to read the article. The way in which the colour is used and the relation between the main text area and the image entices the reader and makes the article seem interesting and entices the target audience to want to read the rest of the article. The font is similar to that used in both the front cover and contents pages as the magazine uses the conventional technique of making the most important issues bigger and bolder which makes the magazine so much easier to interpret and entice the target audience.

The text to image ratio strongly favours the image on the page as it is used as the main effect or technique to entice the target audience. The visual side of the page takes over this article signifies the fact that it might be focused more on attracting the male target audience as it has been proven that men are more attracted to visuals than woman. Also an image is more likely to grab our attention and make us want to read it. The technique and effects used between the text on the left hand side of the page and the main image relate to make the article seem more attractive for the target audience and make the article easier to digest as the text on the right hand side of the page doesn’t seem as interesting nevertheless the effects used with the rest on the page layout entice the reader to want to read the rest of the article therefore making the smaller text easier to digest and it does not take over the page. Because of the images taking over the majority of the page, more of the target audience are going to be attracted because naturally people respond better to visuals and because of the image which has locked the reader into the piece, the text becomes easy to digest because the image has provided enough for the target audience to want to know more and reads the article.