Research/ case studies on real magazines

Top of the Pops 

Textual Analysis

Here I analysed and discussed the front cover, contents page and double page spread of the magazine. 

The front cover

Images:

Above shows the front cover of the magazine. 

The main image on the magazine is of a boy band called (5 Seconds of Summer). 

Each member of the band each have their own individual style. The magazine went with this style as that is how their fans portray them in looking also if they were dressed differently they would be un noticeable by their fans and also by their style of music. 

Therefore it is good that the magazine have chosen the image for the front cover to be simple also as there is a lot going on the page ( other photo cropped images) it was best to make it plain and simple as it would of made the magazine look messy and tacky.

I also noticed that some of the members pose in an amusing and pleasing way. I think that this was used purposely to maybe relate towards the magazines audience. Which makes them look childish which could relate to the magazines audience (child). 

I also found that one of the members tattoo on the chest, was showing. I think this has also been used purposely as it makes him appear quiet sexy as the issue for the band is about 'getting romantic'. 

The lighting for the front cover is bright and vivid. This makes the entire front cover stand out more to the audience as it also makes the texts stand out with its variety of colour choices. 

 Lastly, props used in the front cover for another issue of another boy band (The Vamps) were cookies. This was also purposely used they selectively picked out an object which attracts audience (food) also as their issue is also on romance aswell it kind of advertises them. 

Conventions of page layout:

Above shows the masthead of the front cover of the magazine.  

The masthead is white in front of a bright pink box. This is used to make the masthead stand out more as it's the most Important piece of text on the magazine.

I found that they've made 2 words on the masthead bigger than the others. This is because, the two words rythme (Top & Pop). This was used to make the magazine sound catchy and quiet memorable to the audience. 

The 2 words were also made bold as it links to what the magazine refers to which is the top artists in the music 'Pop' music industry. 

Above shows the main cover line of the issue.

The main cover line includes the name of the band and main heading on what the issue is about. 

The main cover line is in pink. This was used because, the issue is about love 'getting romantic' and because the bands fan base is related to teen girls the magazine uses pink to link it with the audience. 

Also, the name of the band in the main cover line is in yellow. They've done this to make the name stand out more than the other  heading 'getting romantic' also it relates to the name of the band (5 Seconds of summer) thinking of summer bright, suns out so by using the colour yellow links to the name of the group. 

I also noticed that besides the main cover line is drawn love hearts. Which is also in the colours pink and yellow. This was used to make the topic of the issue (romance) stand out more. 

 

They've used this as their skyline for the front cover. 

This was used to add some of the features of the magazine to the skyline for instance; gossip, cringes, shopping and boys. This is also used to make a tease to the audience quiet like sneak peak of what's inside the magazine. 

Beside shows a logo of the BBC. This has been placed in the front cover of the magazine because the BBC made top of the pops which was before a British music television programme. therefore the BBC logo is there to promote the magazine. 

Lastly, above shows a pull qoute used on the front cover of the magazine. 

The pull quote has been used to tease the audience on what the issue might be about. From this as an audience I wouldn't know what the issue is about as the quote is used for amusement making the audience question why the artist might have said that.

Another thing was that the image used beside makes a link to the quote. Also that above the pull quote the writer uses a question ' Eh, Ariana?' Which makes the face beside look as if it was from the interview itself. 

The Contents page

Images: 

Above shows an image of the contents page. 

Firstly, they've used a small image of the front cover of the magazine. This was used to plot to the audience from the images on the front cover to show what pages they are in. As a reader, I found this quiet helpful as the front cover is the main part instead of flipping through the magazine trying to find where the image from the front cover was there's a direct page given in the contents page.

I also noticed, that they've included an image of the band for the main issue images of the from behind the scenes of the issue. This was used to quiet tease the audience again better than one image on the front cover but also on the contents page I think that each time you turn the page they'll be there like clues. 

It also shows an image of the staff writer in the contents page. This was used to adress directly to the audience as above her image and texts she calls out to the main audience (girls). 

It also shows an image below of an artists (Rita Ora). They've used this image as the artist has a bold makeup in this image. For instance; the bright red lips makes her and her smile stand out more, her eyes her directly looking towards the camera and the use of eyeshadow makes her eyes look bigger and lastly her blonde whith dark roots hair stand out a lot. 

Conventions of page layout

This above is an image of the masthead of the contents page.

The masthead keeps the colour scheme going of the magazine it's use of pink to attract its audience of young teen girls. 

The masthead is like an opening of the contents page as it kind of welcomes the audience into the magazine. And it's use of allipses makes it more dramatic and exciting.

Above shows an image of the main cover line.

The main cover line uses a font which is quiet fancy and different from the main font it uses. 

I noticed that it is not placed in a straight line almost like a wave linking to maybe to opening more of the magazine to find out more information on the issue of the boy band. Also, it is the main cover line as it's issue of the boy band is the most important as their image was on the front cover making the audience more concerned about them. 

The double page spread

Above shows half the page if the double page spread.

The image is bright and vivid linking towards the front cover. This makes the artists appear more clearer. 

Image shows that they are still being playful with the reactions (poses) of their faces. 

The use of props in the image are instrument. This is a good thing to use as they all know how to play them and it also makes the image look interesting and realistic to their fans which are also the audiences of the magazine. 

They've also changes the outfits each member of the group were wearing but have still kept them looking quiet simple and formal. 

I also noticed that the background is of stripes going across each other which are in grey and pink which still keeps the colour scheme of the magazine going showing how consistent the magazine is. 

Conventions of page layout 

The masthead of the double page spread is ' Of course we'd date our fans!'. 

The masthead is big and bold for the readers to see, it's font was quiet a vintage themed writing, I think it's surprising and amusing as a masthead for the audience also I noticed that the masthead is a pull quote as we'll from one of the members of the group speaking on behalf of the whole group. 

Lastly, I noticed that beside all the members of the group is placed a text box of quotes each of them say. This is used to make the page layout look more organised but still fun and interesting. 

Language:

 

The overall language of the magazine was not so formal as most of the artists issues (interviews) are of teens, they would have spoken the way they speak and also they would write in a way that it was understandable for the audience but also quiet amusing and pleasing for them to read and be interested in.

Audience and Institutions 

Above shows the media press pack of Top of the Pops magazine in 2011. From reading the statistics, it shows that the age range whom buy the magazine is between the ages of 11-15 years showing that they are young teens. Also it shows that the majority are girls from 85% and the percentage of boys is 15% which shows from their images, and magazines design why the colour scheme, main issues were used as it all attracts young teen girls. 

The BBC publish Top of the Pops magazine as at first it was a British television programme which had started in 1964 as a programme and ended in 2006.