Enrolment Task

The contents page is actually made up of two pages. The first page lists the main features with supporting photographs while the second page has incoming events, regular features and the Q review. On the first page the logo is used for continuity followed by the bold banner headline. Also there is a continuous use of red, white and black for continuity. Red is used for the page numbers making them stand out. The list is in a vertical column and is framed by three colour studio photographs in different sizes of the featured artists. Text in each of the photographs is informal and appealing to the reader and contains a page number making it easier to find. This theme is continued on the second page but using different colours to link the headings and page numbers together, and separate different categories clearly. There are more photographs used including performance shots. A Q review is in a separate section placed horizontally across the bottom of the page. On both pages this layout of clearly defined different sections make the pages clean, clear and professional. Throughout these pages all the explanatory text is informal, chatty and engaging to the reader.

Q magazine is identifiable as a music magazine because of its distinctive logo and the bold slogan: “The World’s Greatest Music Magazine”. The front cover only consists of a close up of Liam Gallagher, the main feature. This is a studio shot using 3-point lighting making the image three dimensional with effective highlights and shadows. The camera angle is eye-level and the subject’s emotionless stare into the camera creates a direct look at the audience which attracts and seems to follow them around. The connotative aspect is one of intensity, darkness and dangerous, usually associated with Liam Gallagher. The clothing is also dark for a sinister look. A limited use of colours for text and a plain background make the image more prominent, and the use of the same font also cuts down on distraction. It is bold and informative using capital letters. The red trim on the clothing is balanced in the text position and used to emphasise key words to attract the audience e.g. “world exclusive interview”. This is the main feature and the headline “Liam” is larger, bolder and silver using only the first name to make it informal. Direct speech and rhetorical question “It’s been boring without me, hasn’t it?” makes a direct connection to the audience. “Then. Now. Tomorrow” shows the extent of the article and increases interest. The puff draws attention to the statement: “All the music you need this month.” The target audience is more mainstream, appealing to a wider age group with a large range of music genres including new and also established bands.

One article is the Q review live. “Q review” is written on a grey banner background with “Live” in black to stand out. The first two pages are dominated by a full body photograph of the band on stage. The main figure is a guitarist clearly outlined and illuminated from one side. He is in clear focus with the other band members in softer focus behind. This gives a three-dimensional look. The other guitarist to the right is pointing to him directing the reader’s attention back to the main figure. The colour use is vibrant in a combination of purple, pink, blue and orange becoming black at the edges where the text is found. This denotes stage lighting in a dark venue. The photographs on the other pages continue the theme of the band performing but include wider angled shots with less detail of the band and more on audience numbers and clear enjoyment. On the larger photograph the band is in softer focus whereas the audience is clearer and illuminated by the stage lighting. This gives a feeling of actually being in the audience, as does the slight low angle of the camera creating a feeling of looking up towards the stage. These photographs give realism to the review as live. The last photograph is of the band in a medium close up portraying them as cool and edgy with high key lighting. As the band’s name is “Wild Beasts” this theme is continued through the text. The main headline is large in a different font “Prowl” has a connotation of danger. On the darker background the text is white and, unlike the other pages, varies in font. Without the dark background the text returns to black. The stand out statements are outlined in red, and a prominent set list is included. Throughout, the text is edgy, sexual and contains many swear words. This denotes the sexualised rock genre.