Case Study Part 4: Double Page Spread

The double page spread I chose to write about is on the article of Kylie Jenner. This article is 10 pages long, containing 6 pages of page sized photos of Kylie; two were on a double page spread. These photos are all from the same shoot; these photos were made purposely for the magazine.

The cover of the magazine is of Kylie Jenner as she is the main focus of the issue this month. 

The article is referred to as “BRAVE, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL”, which leads the reader to be drawn into the magazine as every woman wants to accomplish these adjectives and be like them. The alliterated B’s create a feeling of excitement. This helps these young women connect with the article more and draws the audience in as they want to relate to Kylie Jenner and be all these good things.

The title on the double page spread is “GENERATION NEXT" with the top right corner stating “cover star” dramatically highlighting that she is the main focus to this issue.

The title is written in black capitals with the “generation” being in a bold font only. This highlights the target audience of the readers being the same age as Kylie Jenner; 18, with also our generation being ‘Generation Z, born 1995-2015’. Beneath the title contains “Meet Kylie Jenner and Lucky Blue Smith” stating that these are the main people in this article, but the main focus is on Kylie Jenner as the most sought-after male model in decades only has a double page spread based completely on him at the end of Kylie's.

The bold black capital font/ non bold catches the eye of the reader as the white background enhances the black writing. It also catches the reader’s eye when the reader moves onto this page as this writing is the largest font with its placement practically in the top center. This also brings the article to life as it makes practically all readers intrigued about the generation. As all the writing is in black, it creates an organised, classic look.

The article is placed practically in the middle of the magazine, starting at page 114 and ending at page 123, the end of the magazine is page 162. This causes the reader to absorb much more about the magazine before getting directly to the Kylie Jenner article. I feel the majority of people would have only read the Kylie Jenner article and forgotten about the rest of the magazine if this article was placed at the front of the magazine. This shows the intelligence the magazine producers have.

With the photographs, there are 2 double page spread of photos (4 photos in total), two that are placed next to a page of writing and one which is in a double page spread of writing which is small and placed in the top left corner. She is modelling with a man called ‘Lucky Blue Smith’ who has a double page spread of writing and then a photo straight after the article of Kylie Jenner which links the two very well and shows a sense of organisation. On each double page spread of photos, the left is black and white and the right is in colour, this gives a theme of contrast. These black and white photos fit in well with the colour as the colours used in the coloured photos are black, white, grey and skin colour with a sense of yellow/blonde hair.These photos have used close ups (on the necklace), mid shots, wide shots and medium close up.

These photos keep with the colour scheme of black, grey, white and yellow which helps give a sophisticated, organised theme/ pattern throughout. The skin colour stands out from the page as it is practically the only colour on there. The male model has blue eyes which remarkably stand out from the page as it’s the only sense of colour there. The brown haired, brown eyed women and the blonde haired, blue eyed male create a good contrast in appearance. The cleanliness of the skin with no tattoos gives the feel of purity which makes the magazine have innocence.

Overall the entire theme that each article is about fashion and beauty which gives a message to the reader that they should wear the latest fashions to look and feel good. The target reader will find all of these articles interesting and even make them feel good about themselves as these women between the ages of 18 and 49 are extremely interested in these topics as that’s what most women love.

Case Study Part 3: Contents Page

In Elle Magazine February 2016 issue, It contains two contents pages. 

The first contents page starts on page 23 which is placed into 5 categories of “Fashion’s New Mood”, “Beauty”, “Features”, “First look” and “KJ”. 

There are 5 photographs on this page, One being the main focus placed right in the middle of the page of women modelling clothes, and the others being small relating to the categories. 

The titles are all different colours from each other and are in capitals except for the “FIRST look” that is in semi caps. This category is in a light grey font which makes in not be the main category of the page. The “Fashions new mood” ’s description cuts some of the photograph off which helps the photo blend in to the page more instead of it being a huge distraction from the categories. The colours used on this page are washed down so they are not so bold and help fit in with the colour theme. The images have also a washed down colour to it/ not bright bold colours;the washed out colours show a form of reality which helps bring in the sophisticated women readers.

In some photos, the person is placed in the exact centre of the photo with the rest of the photos using rule of third and symmetry, this shows professional in photography. Each photo contains a model modelling clothes which helps emphasis the fashion in the magazine being a theme.

The structure is the same but is based around the main photograph. Its simplistic and brings a fun feel to the magazine. It pops out from the white background.

The top left corner is based on the model on the front; Kylie Jenner, with her initials being the only thing apart of the white background and an article about her.

Formal language is used followed by a rhetorical question of “Is there life after death?” helping you in cage with the magazine

The contents pages aren't at the front of the magazine. The first contents page starts at page 23 and then the more detailed contents page is placed on page 26. 

Before the first contents page, there are pages of pure images advertising brands for fashion and beauty, these advertisements were each double spreads giving them more importance and helping the reader get into the fashion vibe. I believe that the magazine company Elle did this strange magazine layout to get the readers already in the vibe of beauty and fashion before jumping right into reading about it.

In-between the first and second contents page, there is one double spread advert for Giorgio Armani giving this brand more recognition as everyone would see this advert and not skip it as it’s the only one in-between the two. Also the first contents page has a bootleg veneta advert on the left page with the second contents page having a chloe advert on the right page. These are prime spaces to have your advertisement as they are placed on the contents section.

The second contents page is a more organised structure with each article having the category on the first contents page, but a more detailed page with exact page numbers and briefs. They added three new categories called “on the cover”, “travel” and “regulars” which are either a different colour from the other categories or a different style of font, this helps them stand out more and inform the audience that these categories have been added. These new categories are in bold and in capitals which helps it fit in with the other main categories. The travel suggest that the audience will have a good salary, enough to be able to go on holiday and travel. The white background and black/ some coloured writing helps stand out with the contrast. This page has 3 main images which are not the main focus of the page as they are small and fit into the blocks of writing. The images are still of models and of Kylie Jenner as she is the main focus of this issue.The black and white photo with the nude colour photo helps create a feel of organised and sophistication which once again draws in the target audience.

On both contents pages, the categories are all bolder and bigger than the rest of the writing which makes each section separate. This creates a sense of organisation and the reader to want to read on and keeps the reader excited to read on as of the fonts.

This contents page also uses direct language as “If you don't have these in your wardrobe then go shopping” makes you feel like they are talking to you as if you guys are friends instead of just a reader. This is also a persuasive sentence which makes you spend your money on items as these fashion writers who are in the known tell you that you should get it. Also a rhetorical question of “ are you sitting comfortably?” is used which draws the reader in and feel apart of the magazine.

This contents page states “utilitarian+white=awesome”. The magazine has slowly changed its formal language to a more casual language which could be giving the message that now the reader and magazine are more comfortable with each other, they don't have to be so serious. 

From mediakit.com the statistics show that the magazine consists of:

Fashion 56%

Beauty and health is 10%

Entertainment/celebrity/culture 21%

Living 3%

Other/Misc 10%

Also I came up with the fact that an advertisement of a page would give Elle good money income. Elle wouldn't state how much advertisement cost unless you are signed up but I found that an average double page spread cost $6,225 followed with a single page spread $3,460.

This would mean that Elle make a lot of money from advertisements which could participate to how they are so successful.

Case Study Part 2: Front Cover Analysis

Elle is a worldwide lifestyle magazine of french origin that focuses on fashion, beauty, health and entertainment. Elle is also the worlds best selling fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945.

The title, in french, means “she”.

As of the title being one word, this makes it short and snappy. It sticks with the audience as its just one word to remember. As of the title meaning “she”,  it means the magazine has a theme, which is women. This means that their target audience is obviously women as thats what the whole magazine is practically based on. Also Elle is in fact a girls name which helps people who don't know french still get the gesture that its a women theme magazine. The magazine has taken one L out of the name for space of Kylie Jenner which could have the message that she fits in with this “women” theme. The white, bold, capital letters followed by the biggest font on the front cover, help stand out remarkably helping to capture the readers eye.

The image on the front of the magazine is a portrait of Kylie Jenner, who is an American reality television personality, socialite and model. She is the centre of the magazine cover/ page with the image taking up the whole page with writing over/ around the model. As of the photo being the main focus of the page, it shows importance and thats what attracts the audience to the magazine. Magazines often use celebrities that are in the spotlight at that current time as they are in the focus of people.

The image is aspirational to the reader. Especially as the readers/ target audience are mostly women from ages 18-49, which is the same as Kylie Jenner. The photo looks a bit fierce as she isn't smiling but as of the pretty, young, female with subtle makeup and the calming soft colours on the cover, it makes the magazine more approachable. Her looking into the camera lens gives a sense of her looking at you.

The subtitles play a huge roll in drawing the audience into the magazine.

The tagline “ BRAVE, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL” helps draw in the audience as of the alliterated describing words attracting the audiences eyes to maybe help the audience become what these words are and what the model looks like (the model resembles these describing words). This also links to the fact that the only yellow writing on the cover are “Elle exclusive-model- BRAVE, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL” which is how the magazine creates also see her and want to portray her as. The colour helps it stand out most from the rest of the page.

The rest of the coverlines are about fashion and beauty which is what the main magazine theme is.

These are in white with a mixture of capitals and lowercase with some more fashion coverlines being in the colour black but standing out as of the white clothing behind the font.

The target audience would definatly be interested in this cover as women love beauty and fashion which would draw them in to want to read more about it and be up to date with the new trends.

The black represents power, sophistication and seductive with the innocence of white and elegance of grey, the meanings of them fits in well with the group of upmarket women which is exactly what the target audience is.

The language used on the cover is formal which is also presented throughout the rest of the magazine. The use of formal language represents the readers as intelligent and a higher class.

The use of direct message of the magazine saying “to conquer your world” makes you feel apart of the magazine as if they are talking directly to you. But on the other hand with “hair rebel cuts to suit everyone”,even though they are saying everyone, making the audience not feel special, the way they used it made a feel of these women being a team and having a haircut that will suit them.

The magazine costs £4.10 in the UK which is pretty expensive suggesting that their audiences are more upmarket woman as they would be in a job that pays well. As we know, the median household income of Elle’s women audience is $69,973 suggesting that they can afford this magazine.

Case Study Part 1: Colours In Magazine

Front cover

The magazine has a vast majority of its audience being women between the ages of 18 and 49 (82 percent). The readers having a median age of 34,7 years with forty percent of the readers being single with a median household income of $69,973.
 On the front cover of Elle there are 4 colours. These colours are white, grey, yellow and black.

The colour yellow is the most luminous of all the colours of the spectrum. It’s the colour that captures our attention more than any other colour. It’s the colour of happiness, and optimism, enlightenment and creativity, sunshine and spring. Yellow is the only colour that reacts badly to black: Add a little black and it becomes a sickly yellow-green. But goes nice with the colours together not mixed.

The white is known to portray a complete, perfection, purity, innocence, awakening, simplicity message.

The colour grey is an unemotional colour. It is detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive, but on the other hand it’s a sign of elegance and formal.

The colour black can show a sign of power, intimidation and unapproachable as of its power, but it can also include protection and comfort, formal, strong and sophisticated and seductive. 

Black hides, while white brings to light with also what black covers, white uncovers. Meaning that there is a huge contrast in the two but they still work good together.

The white, grey and black are all in the same colour group of a grey scale, there are also analogous colours which are any three colours which are side by side. They complement one another well. This also keeps the cover looking clean and organised.

The grey scale and the yellow makes the yellow writing pop out dramatically. All the colours together give a feel of soft, calm, formal/organised. The yellow draws you to the front cover as of the only bright colour being on there and provides pops of colour which are very iconic. Also the writing that is yellow is the second boldest and biggest writing making it hard not to miss. The colour emphasises the three alliterated B’s of describing words making you link them to the main person on the page.

The black represents power, sophistication and seductive with the innocence of white and elegance of grey, which is presented in Kylie Jenner which makes the reader want to know more about them which makes them want to read and purchase the magazine.

Analyse the colour that is used in the magazine

The magazine proceeds with the colour theme of white, grey, black and yellow throughout the magazine which will create a sense of organisation and flow to the magazine; the theme being continued through the magazine creates a strong, attractive magazine. This will attract the audience as the audience will feel that the writers put time into this and made it at the best potential which will make them trust the magazine/ the magazine are professional.

Like most other magazines, the articles in elle use a white background with black writing creating a sophisticated look and keeps the reader focused.

The white title and coverlines stands out from the darker background which helps the reader engage with the magazine more and the yellow gives a fun feel to the magazine making it more approachable.

Analysis Of Language

                                Transworld Skateboarding:

The language of a magazine more than usually reflects the content of the magazine and more importantly the target audience. It helps the reader to connect with the content and feel included. Transworld Skateboarding is aimed mainly at skaters, probably younger readers in their teens or younger adult years. 

The magazine uses colloquial and informal language to relate to the readers, as formal language would be too distant from the target audiences’ own ways of speaking. Words like “livin” and “pro” are very much informal, reflecting the demographic that the

magazine is trying to reach (mainly being skaters). Words like “Dude” are also often seen as slang and associated with skaters as well as teenagers and young adults. Many sentences are written the way they would be spoken, almost breaking a text barrier. “So yeah, we skated,” the laid back nature of the short sentence written like it had been said over a phone conversation, also the use of swearing without the intention of adding emphasis when saying “shoot the shit” is meant to appeal to the younger and more informal audience, probably of middle or lower class with less of an importance placed on propriety and social image.

“Since when are kids doing nollie lasers?” The use of rhetorical questions, along with second person pronouns, makes the reader feel as though they’re being addressed directly rather than being presented with an anecdote.

The imagery created by the text is also meant to appeal to people looking for something more raw and gritty; “livin dirty” helps to attract the idealised, partially stereotyped skater. 

                                    National Geographic:

On the other side of the spectrum, however, National Geographic is a more scientific and informational magazine, aimed mainly at older adults and people with an interest in science and scientific news. 

The cover gives a rather philosophical and intriguing statement, being “Why we explore,” which would pique the interest of most people interested in space exploration. The taglines also go as far as to highlight words that emphasize the nature of the magazine’s content, words like “Surviving” and “Stars,” as well as “Microbes,” despite it not being highlighted. These words that are mostly associated with science and would help to attract the target audience, probably mainly being well educated people of middle or even higher class.

In the articles the magazine uses much more formal and sophisticated language, unlike the Transworld Skateboarding magazine which uses more slang and colloquial language, showing the difference in target audiences as Transworld caters more to younger and less formal skaters while National Geographic is tailored towards older, probably more educated, adults. They also use scientific language, like “dopamine,” “Chemical,” and “geneticist,” words that would most probably be better suited for a more educated person. National Geographic also uses quotes as evidence for a more scientific topic while Transworld Skateboarding uses them much more rarely and usually to create the impression of an unknown character talking, e.g. “Dude, are we lost?” 

The language used in National Geographic is also much more informational and doesn’t address the reader directly with rhetorical questions and second person pronouns, this detachment from the reader truly highlights the less intimate nature of the articles and the more matter-of-fact approach that would be more likely to appeal to a person interested in gaining information for information’s sake rather than connecting with the content emotional and feeling more involved.