AS Media

1. Review
Of A Kerrang Magazine
Cover
By Charlotte Walsh

2. Magazine Used : Kerrang
Issue No 1536
September 27
2014
£2.20

3. Image
Photos and their connotations

4. The Main Image
This image is the main focus of the magazine article as its size
is rather largely proportioned compared to the rest of the
cover and it is positioned central on the page which is where
the initial attention of the audience will go to first. It is the
centre of visual interest.
To show that this image is such a dominant feature is that it
partially covers the masthead of the magazine. This is not
conventionally used by magazines, showing the significance of
the image.
The image is a medium shot and the camera is directly
opposite the main visual. The person is looking the camera in
the eye. This type of shot may be used to really connect with
the audience and address the reader and also to show the
amount of detail acceptable on a magazine cover without a
shot being too close up
When looking out at the audience and looking directly in the
eyes it shows the emotion of the subject and you can see
determination in his eyes, this relates to the splash of the
magazine about the subject advancing in a solo career
The body language of subject in the image
shows him to be very laid back and relax
and does not really have any concerns.
Showing he is confident for the future. The
fact that the image shows him slightly
leaning away from the camera and in turn
the audience, shows he does not need to
force himself to get the attention of the
reader, the audience can come to him.
The background of the image appears to be
papers scattered everywhere. This shows
disorder and messiness, to make the
magazine more different and out of the box.
Lighting has been used in a way to make the
image brighter than the contents that surround
it as the whole of the page uses very bright
colours. So lightning the image just a little bit
makes it stand out slightly
In addition to this a shadow effect has been
used on the image to help distinguish the
image more from the vibrant background. It
also gives the image a more 3D effect making
the image more realistic and too make it jump
off the page at the reader.
The colours used in the image are block colours that
are consistent and go well with the colour theme of
this edition
The hair of the visual seems to have been taken
into consideration when the colour theme and
also the selection of clothes in terms of their
colour. The clothing used appears to be quite
smart which could be to make it stand out and
contrast to the rest of the page which is very
disorganised. Finally, make up is used to emphasis
facial detail.

5. Smaller Additional
Images
These are added to the page fill negative
space on the page and to provide visual
support for a sub-head describing an article
On this specific magazine cover there are lots
of additional images spread across the page
As these images are smaller than the main
image they will usually be close up or
medium shots so that enough detail is visible
and shown. Background images are usually
block colours as it means that the detail in
these images can been seen more and as
they are smaller, if a background was used it
would not be seen.

6. Text
Title, sub heading etc. and their connotations

7. The Main Headline The main headline uses a font and capitals that’s
makes the text bold and stand out almost as if it is
being shouted. The exclamation mark emphasis
that point. This links in with the genre of the
magazine as shouting and a loud register and tone
is commonly associated with the genre of the
magazine which is rock.
The Fact that Kerrang magazine is a very common and well
known magazine allows them to have there main image
overlapping their headline. This makes their magazine different
but still recognisable. What does however follows the generic
structure of a magazine cover is that the headline feature at the
top of the page.
The font used is common
for this magazine as it
The fact that the title uses the house style.
is rather large in size
and proportion to the
rest of the page
shows that they want
it to stand out and
shows that it is a
rather important
feature on the page.
The colours have been changed for this edition. The colours of the main headline and all of the
other text seem to resemble fire, with the yellows and reds. It shows how the headline and
image may link. The yellow font also allows contrast with the image and the persons red hair
allowing both to stand out. Another reason why I think fire may be a theme used is because of
the effect added to the headline. Some letters have been smudged to give of a flame effect.
Other effects used are shadowing that makes the text stand out from the background and
others that try and make the headline more edgy and different from other magazines and to
make it stand out like its genre rock. Block colours have been used for the text as the
background is busy and it enables the reader to read the text more easily.

8. Subheading and
other texts
The colours used is how text can link to images.
Blue has been used in the text as well as one of
the main colours featured in the image. Also the
vocabulary used links the two as the text is
talking about the person in the image , (Left)
The colours of the text do vary but still follow a
colour scheme.
In both of these screen grabs it shows that the
most important text is larger and less important
information like the stand first is smaller. So the
size of the text varies. The style of font is very
much consistent but may alter if text is less
important to emphasis this.
Effects are used on more important text to
make it stand out like shadowing
In this magazine the text is very informal. This is
shown by referring to people on a first name
basis.

9. Page Layout
Use of the page etc.

10. Image and Text
The image is the main focal point and as a result of this
it is layered over almost everything else including the
main headline. However at the bottom of this main
image some images do overlap it and a banner. So
progressing down the page new layers are added.
As the page contains different effects and colours to
link it all together a straight structure is used, with all
the text in lined. With the odd anomaly at the centre
left. You could say like the magazine itself as it is
different from all of the other magazines.
All of the text is positioned around the main image to
make the image stand out even more and to occupy
the negative space.

11. Use of space and organisation
The use of space is good as there is very
little negative space.
Text is structured horizontally to make it
easier for the reader to read and their
attention does not stray.
Subheadings are used to make the key
information known and to group text
together
Text boxes are used to group information as
well but also to provide a different colour
background for text