Research and Planning: Contents page analysis

My contents page will take inspiration from that of Kerrang's contents pages. This is why I chose a contents page from Kerrang to analyse.

The genre of this contents page is rock music, this is clearly shown through the use of images and the poses the people are doing within them. The main image shows a man with tattoos and a messy typical 'rock and roll' haircut. The other images show frontmen of bands screaming/singing into a microphone which again shows what sort of band they must be from.

I think the target audience for this magazine must be young people aged around 16-21 mostly male. I think this because of the use of yellow, black and white as a colour scheme. This would appeal to males.  The font styles are edgy and a bit 'rock and roll' to also appeal to men otherwise the fonts might be a bit softer and more curved. All of the images in the photographs are male as well which must appeal to men as they will relate to people of the same gender. However for my own magazine I plan to use a woman to front the main band. This may also attract the attention of males as being something different.

The layout of this content page is set into three columns with one image running over 2 of them. In the left hand corner at the top there is a note from the editor which I like. The contents page consists mostly of images which keeps the layout more busy and interesting.The column furthest to the right contains the page numbers and information on what is going on in this edition of the magazine. The font stays consistent throughout Being around size 18 at it's biggest and size 14 at it's smallest. The lagest piece of text on the page is the word 'contents' in the corner, this drags your eye to the side of the page containing the page numbers and information. Others are at eye level creating a connection between the band and their audience.

The representation which comes through on most of the images is cool, collected and hardcore. A lot of dark colours are used in the bands clothing to reflect typical rock style. All of the bands which are shot together seem closely bonded as friends as well as band mates. The men who stand alone on stage seem extremely passionate about their music and what they are doing. Others who are shot in a photo shoot have an air of coolness about themselves. The typical hair style used is long and messy to show the typical 'I don't care' rock and roll attitude.

The images used on this contents page are a mixture of a close up, medium close ups, group medium long shots and a group mid shot. the largest image is shot from the side to give an impression of him being deep and brooding. Three of the other images are shot from below making the bands and singers look more powerful.