Main Task: Front Cover Textual Analysis

Denotation: The magazine cover is a photographic image of 3 people standing bolding and looking directly at the camera. It is a medium long shot showing from their head right down to their waist. They look to be dressed very smart this shows that something important is about to happen and also it connotes that they are hardworking, Their stature is very confident as they are standing very boldly and firm. The background is dark with a hint of grey, and the photograph covers up the body of the magazine. Behind the image is the “VIBE” masthead, there are various cover lines in white, the main cover line is in black and red, a bar code at the bottom, selling line at the top of the masthead and the sell by date at the bottom left underneath the barcode.

Connotation: The meaning attached to the photograph image of the 3 people is to give a very hardworking and bossy look because of the way they are dressed, they way they are stood and how they present themselves, Their costume also makes them look very smart as the clothes worn look very neat and presentable. Also their costume is very modern but classy which appeals to a younger audience but also those who are older and enjoy listening to R&B. The two men in front (P-Diddy and Rick Ross) are both wearing black suits which could emphasise that class and that they are hardworking, their look may imply that they are only made to do music as their look is quite bold and their posture brings a more hardworking and bossy feeling towards the audience reading the magazine.

Masthead: Vibe masthead is very distinctive: plain white with no outline or drop shadow just a plain simple heading. The font for the masthead is similar to 'sans serif' and it is all in capital letters. The name 'Vibe' isn't a very well known name so it suggests that it's a new thing going on, something new to try and is suggesting that you 'try something new' everyday.

Costume: Their costume is very formal as he is wearing suits and mostly black clothing. The way they are dressed gives of a feeling of a very business bossy person as they looks neat and presentable and also like they are only there for business. The males are wearing watches and pinkie rings which may connote that they are rich. This costume has been chosen carefully to appeal to a younger audience for the magazine as they are the people who listen to this type of music.

Props: There aren’t any props used in this magazine
Setting: There is only a little amount of setting; however the black and grey background connotes the bossy image of the 3 people, the setting doesn’t have any drawbacks as the image of the people are still the main focus of the magazine.

Lighting: The lighting is high key as the light reflects of a dark background making the image quite even and free from dark shadows.
Non-Verbal communication: The non-verbal communication shown is the straight look of the people; it gives a very bossy look and also a look that they don’t play around with their music. Their posture is very strong as they are standing boldly.

Cover-lines: There are no main cover lines that are easily recognisable. There is no text next to the photographs so it is hard to distinguish weather or not they are in actual fact cover-lines. The cover-lines are quite confusing as there is no text so its not certain to the buyer weather or not they are cover-lines. The cover-lines not only overlap the main image but they overlap the other

Barcode: A standard barcode has been used. It’s positioned on the bottom left hand side of the page.

Date lines: The month and year of the magazine along with the price is located underneath the bar code.

Selling line: The selling line is short and snappy; it’s easily recognisable and is the trademark for VIBE magazine. Along the top of the magazine in a bold sans serif font band names are written. The font is white and red against a contrasting black background.

Website link: The website link is displayed within the bar code along with the date and price of
the magazine. It isn’t clear and is easily unrecognisable. It’s not very distinctive on the magazine cover.Target Audience: It appears to me that the likely Target Audience would be teenagers who listen to R&B and like these artists.