I have noticed that there are different types of double page spreads: interviews, reviews and articles. In this analysis I will make notes on all types of these features as it will help me to decide which type of article I will write about for my magazine.
Album review
What strikes me on this double page spread is the contrast between the two sides of the page - the left hand side appears to be rather empty in comparison to the really busy and bright right hand side. However, the two sides are brought together through the colour scheme: rich golds, oranges and reds from the main image have been replicated and used for the text in the article to show how they are linked. Mise en scene in the image is very important and although every single item looks misplaced and odd, they have all been carefully thought out to create a messy - but organised - picture, centred around the main artist which is Florence. I really admire how the two sides have been created so that the brightness and the simplicity contradict each other. Despite this, some of the ideas I have for my photos were that they would be in black and white. The title is situated on the left hand page and is the first thing the reader's will noticed once turning the page. This means that the chosen font is important as it will form the basis of the reader's opinion on the page. The word 'Review' is in italic serif font which looks classy and feminine, however the following words 'New albums' in capital serif font changes the mood: it is bolder and very in-your-face. The change in colour fits in with the redish shades in the photo and the text in the article. Along the left hand side of the spread there is a column which offers the reader alternatives to Florence, inviting them in with 'Like this? Try this...'. The use of ellipsis leaves the reader wondering what the column includes, and intrigues them to read on and find out. Beneath the title there are three different albums, with the name of the artist, a quick summary and review ('A touchstone for British pop individualism), and a star rating, which means it is easy reading for the target audience. I will be using this feature in my magazine because, if I name the magazine 'Intro', I am intending it to reflect how the magazine introduces the readers to so many new and interesting artists who are set for big success. This means that the readers will buy the magazine for the artist they like on the front, but then once finishing the magazine they will hopefully be aware of a more artists who produce similar music in the genre they like, so - essentially - they feel like they are getting more for their money. In terms of the language, Q is infamous for using explicit language which may be unsuitable or offensive for certain audiences. I assume their target audiences are highly educated people in their late teens or early twenties - as that is the age group which is known for keeping up to date with new music. I can tell this because some of the non-explicit language is complex; words such as "androgyny" as well as other non-existent words such as "otherwordly" which can tease the tongue when spoken outloud. I like how the central quote stands out so much between the two columns in the article, and it is written in italics, but in the same colour font as as the article to show that is where it is taken from. The box around the quote makes it stand out a lot more than it would without, but I want my double page spread to be less regulated and separated into sections so I don't think I will use this technique. Lastly, beneath the article, there is a little section which advertises Florence's successful single releases which Q recommends for download. The rather demanding 'Download:' in block capitals commands the reader the download these songs, however if I was going to do something like this in my magazine, I would use some fun and enticing language like 'Why not do this...' because I think it appeals more to the target audience.
New album releases
This double page spread taken from Q magazine is an introduction to Jay-Z's new album American Gangster. Firstly, I think the main image on the left hand page reinforces this idea of 1920's gang culture and crime through the use of props. Jay-Z appears to be smoking a cigar, which are known for being quite expensive, but which were popular many years ago. The shallow focus shot allows for the reader's concentration to fall onto Jay-Z in the foreground so they immediately know what the article is about. It is also very clear that Jay-Z is alone in the room, as the light space on the left hand side of the photo is dominated by overturned stools, as though Jay-Z has authority over other people and is allowed to be there when no one else is. Furthermore, the absence of his eye contact with the reader may make them feel as though they are intruding, and I think it appears to be rather arrogant that he is turning away. This technique is something I will experiment with, however, I don't want my readers to have a similar reaction to the artists in my magazine; I want them to like them. Whilst taking one of my photographs (a long shot of the artist leaning backwards onto a wall with their head turned to the side) I will keep in mind that I don't want the readers to feel this way, but I will try to do this without changing my initial ideas. Next, the title 'New albums', in capital sans serif typography is bold and catches the attention of the reader. The change in colour from the white 'new' to the red 'albums' makes it seem as though this is a one off feature, though we know that this will most likely not be the case. Although, I do like how the title is folded over the picture on a canted angle because it suggests that there is something unusual about the artist which can only be seen if the reader reads the article. I think this is a good option for me to use because it means my page wouldn't be regulated into sections or columns, and it would have an edge to make it stand out from other music magazines. The bold sans serif font used for the title is replicated for the the first letter article, and the first letter of the second section, titled 'The concept is equally coherent', which suggests that the album being reviewed is informal - which would be expected from the rap genre of music. The article's use of language itself is fun and often uses short, snappy sentences to entice the reader into reading on. "Jay-Z was born with dollars in his eyes" is an example of this, a metaphor which reflects the success - or predicted success - of the artist, which would make the reader want to read because we are in a society where there is competition to be one of the first people to know about the next big breakout act. Despite this, I have decided not to do my double page spread of a high-profile artist because, judging by the people I have spoken to so far, they are more interested in learning about new artists than existing ones. This would also help to tie the idea of my magazine being called 'Intro' together with the features.
Mini biography
Firstly, the tea-stained-look background of the photo gives me the impression that the band are old, however, this contrasts with what the article states in the first line beneath the title: "They've been together for under a year...". Therefore, this leads me to the conclusion that their music must be made with some influences from older music. This idea is supported by the band's clothes - shirts and bomber jackets were popular in the 1980s and are making a comeback over 20 years later, and their hairstyles which aren't a conventional representation of young men in 2013. Although, Justin Young from the band does claim in a bold blue quote in the middle of the article: "We are a pop band and we want to be a pop band" which makes it unclear what type of music they're trying to create, and which genre they belong to. Personally, I don't think they look like a stereotypical pop band. Despite this, I am going to try and recreate the same edgy and individual style in my magazine. As displayed in my photo ideas, I am wanting my friend to wear a shirt and a Harrington jacket (also popular in the 80s) to give the photo a vintage edge, and maybe go as far as to try and create a figure which will inspire people to want the same look. In terms of camera angles, I think this particular photo is unconventional of a music magazine: the slight high angle of the camera gives the reader a sense of authority over the artists in which they are using to then go on and read the article. It may make the reader feel as though they are finding out things about the band which not many other people know, which may appeal to them, for the reason which I said above about competition among friends about who knows the most about a celebrity figure. The closeness of the men in a tight four-shot shows their solidity as a band and their fixed eye contact with the reader shows that they are confident with themselves, their music and their possible audiences. This confidence is repeated on the other page, with aid of the bold sans serif typography, and printed 'The Vaccines' in black. Next, the colour scheme on this page is different to that of Q; NME has made the bold decision of using a light blue colour - which may carry the risk of being perceived as strictly a boys' colour - which I think works very well. However, there are squares and lines in the same colour on canted angles placed oddly around the double page which gives me the impression of transient in the band, which I don't think is a good trait to have.
Mini biography
Unlike the two double page spreads above, this Lady Gaga article from Q uses the natural centreline of the magazine to split the page in two. On the left side is a very explicit and sexual picture of Lady Gaga, with only a metal chain hanging around her neck - any reader who is familiar with Lady Gaga would understand that this shocking behaviour is normal for her, and it may have been questioned if any other artist had done it instead. Regardless of the nudity, I think the black and white effect on the image makes it seem very glamorous, which reflects positively on Lady Gaga as an artist. The article is written as an opinion, claiming "Lady Gaga's appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in December 2009 was one of the most thrilling, audacious and unexpected moments of pop theatre" in the first sentence. Using this claim as the first line of the article appeals to many people, including the typically younger fans of Lady Gaga and the older fans of the Royal Variety Performance.
I've decided to use this format of writing for my article because it persuades the readers to read on, portraying the artist in a good light and making them seem like they are set to be - if they aren't already - the most popular person in the music industry. Despite appealing to such a vast audience, the language itself looks to be fairly simple (not including phrases such as "comically pretentious" and "unapologetically cryptic") and immature in how it's written, constantly referring to other celebrities whom the readers will be interested in and enticing them to read on further.
Weekly Features
This issue of Q from February 2013 contains a weekly double page spread of different celebrity's houses, highlighting certain items of interest for the reader. Some of these are humorous and quirky, for example the Barber's pole and the ceramic tiger
