Feature Page Analysis

I will be analysing two different feature articles from two popular music magazines. This will allow me to gain an understanding of the design used in feature articles, as well as the layout and various other features.

NME Magazine Feature Page:

To start, the first feature article (an article describing the historic events of a band), is set out in a conventional style - there is a large header coupled with large sections of text in columns. This format follows a traditional style; however it is accompanied by a stylistic, almost retro theme. This allows the page to appear tidy while also making it interesting and easy to read.

The magazine article has been written in a style which exemplifies all of the required jargon and industry specific information. Furthermore, the article has been written in a friendly manor which invites the reader and allows them to become engaged and interested. This appeals to me because the text is relevantly written and only relevant information is included. The words chosen represent the context of the article - there is a large use of nouns in the article to describe relevant people and places. This allows the audience to keep track of what the article is saying along with the context. 

The basic layout of the page follows traditional values set by others of the same style and genre. This allows the page to appear attractive and within the set themes and common convention often seen in music magazines. To start, three columns are used to house the main feature article - this allows the text to be easily read and it also makes the page look tidy. This is relevant to my target audience because they want to look at a page which is easily read and easily understood. The three column idea is conventional to the genre so it is used by NME, moreover, it allows the text to fit onto the page in a fashion which looks attractive. Next, the use of text boxes on the page allows specific sections of text to stand out from others. The word 'news' is used in a text box so that it stands out and also so that NME can portray this same design theme on other articles. Furthermore, it is in a different colour to that of the text which makes it stand out further. Separation lines are used on the page to separate sections of text which are specifically relevant to themselves. This allows separate sections of text to stand out and become independently understood without trouble. This idea also makes the page look modern and professional as it fits conventions. The general layout fits the Hedbridge's theory that 'youth is fun' as an interesting, yet formal layout is created. This layout also focuses on the target audience's interest in music as it is simple and highlights the text rather than the surrounding layout. 

The typography on this feature page represents the audience through a youthful font which draws in the audience’s attention. This is complemented by the colour of the page, which in this case is a reasonably pain colour scheme which is sophisticated and modern. These features represent the target audience through their age bracket and also their social class - roughly 18-35 and C-A respectively. The type face is bold and modern and fits the common conventions associated with this genre - the secondary type faces are more formal and allow the reader to concentrate more on the information than the presentation. The smaller typography, used for the article, also fits conventions as it is formal, black, and the spacing makes it easy to read. Capital letters are used in the second section of text - the section that's separated - as it allows it to stand out further and creates a differentiation from the other sections of text - it tells the audience that this piece of text is in some way special/different and also it highlights its importance. The three different typography styles are three that are used in some way on most feature pages of this genre - they're the same in terms of how bold they are, their colour, their size and also how their chosen to represent different parts of the page.

The typography along with use of colour on the page allows for a coherent article design which represents the target audience through style and class. Moreover, the typography allows for an interesting layout that represents Bentley's theory of 'rearranging the old and making of the new'. This is shown through the modern layout which appeals to a young audience interested in this genre of magazine. 

The colour scheme on the page is simple and stylistic - it uses basic colours to highlight the importance of the content of the article, rather than entertaining the reader through an interesting layout. Black, white and grey are used as three main colours - they work as part of the rule of three - and red is also used to highlight specific parts of the text which need to stand out to the audience. Black is primarily used for the typography, it connotes Stanley Hall's theory of rebellion and depression in youths due to stereotypes attached with it. Furthermore, black is a colour which is conventionally used for typography as it often makes it stand out from the background. Grey is used to allow the page to seem stylish, without make it seem out of place. Grey is used so that there is more focus on the article as appose to the layout - it allows the audience to see it, read it an then move on, as appose to becoming distracted by the interesting colours/design. Finally white is used as a background colour because it's plain and simple and red is used for the section entitled 'news' as it makes it stand out, follows corporate colours and highlights the importance of the section of the page.

This page doesn't use any images which again, shows that they are trying to focus the attention on the article. It may also connote that there is a serious nature to the article. Through not displaying any images they have saved space on the page, however they've gone against conventions because most magazines from this genre use images to make sections stand out and grab the audience's attention.

The lexis of the page represents youth through an informal header entitles 'I was at rock bottom'. This connotes rebellion which links into Stanley Hall's theory. This, in turn allows the page to become something that has a slightly serious, grown-up nature, however has hints of youthfulness and informality which appeals to the target audience. The lexis represents that of others from this genre, e.g. Kerrang, Q etc. which makes it professional and grabs the reader's attention.

I like this article because it works coherently in terms of design and layout. The page also appeals to me because of the content and the style in which it has been written. This makes the page interesting and it also makes the page an enjoyable item to look at.

Kerrang! Magazine Feature Page:

Next I am going to look at a review feature article which focuses on the history of The Vaccines. This article is again laid out in a conventional fashion when it comes to music magazine feature articles. A large image is used, coupled with engaging typography and two columns of text, laid out in a convention style. 

This magazine feature article differs to the previous one because of the target audience that it is aimed at. This article is aimed at a slightly younger audience which explains the large image and the slightly more engaging layout. This also relates back to the simplistic, sophisticated background due to stereotypes associated with youth interested in this genre of music. 

The basic layout of the magazine article relates to the target audience through a tidy, modern layout that is easy to read and is interesting to look at. Moreover, the page follows on from conventions associated with you n terms of engaging images and also interesting text. The idea of columns is portrayed on the page as text is divided, making it easier to read and navigate. Moreover, the use of columns also fits the common conventions of this genre and represents the audience through a page which is traditional and coherently laid out. Use of shapes on the page is there so that the page becomes interesting and engaging, it helps to grab the readers attention and eye and it also helps to break the page up. The idea of this may relate to a theme set by Kerrang! in that particular magazine or it may just be a theme linking in with 'The Vaccines'. 

The page is split into thirds - two thirds is took up by the picture and the final third is the text at the right hand side. This shows us that the magazine is engaging the audience through use of an intersting design as appose to an interesting article - despite the fact that the article is already in place to grab the reader's attention.

The typography on this page is varied and it fits the conventions of magazines of this genre. The main header type is bold and the smaller article type isn't, this shows us that Kerang! are sticking to convention and creating a page which wants to portray the same themes as its competitors. Moreover, this type works well as the main header stands out and the eye tracks down the page as the type is read - it goes from bold and large to a smaller, thinner typeface. The colours of the type, as you may expect, is black - this connotes a formal nature and it also connotes Stanley Hall's theory which notes depression. A large letter is used to start the main bulk of the article, this is conventional and is also used in a different colour to make it stand out. Text is used only in the final third of the page which shows us that the producer wants to create a piece which is simplistic and something which stands out due to its stylistic design.

The page uses a colour scheme which allows the specific sections of typography to stand out and become more noticed than they may otherwise. The main font styles are bold and stand out from the page; this is complemented by the colour of certain aspects of text. The main colour scheme is traditional and uses few colours to ensure that a conventional design is in place. This allows the target audience to be represented through connotations attached to their desires and interests. The three colours which are used are blue, black and white - these three colours work well together and they also work well alongside the main image on the page. Blue is used because it connotes a 'mellow', laid back feel which makes the page look informal, black is used because it portrays themes from Stanley Hall's theory and white is used so that other sections of the page stand out. Moreover, white it traditionally used the most for a background colours because other colours stand out from it. These three colours are used because they work as part of the 'rule of three' which states that almost all magazine feature pages use 3/4 main colours. 

There is a main image on the page, as you would conventionally expect to see from a magazine of this genre; it takes up two thirds of the page which is roughly the amount which you would also expect. The shot type is reasonably low which gives the band power from the photography and makes the audience envy them. Furthermore, the band are stood in a position which you would generally expect from a band from this genre. This shows us that Kerrang! are trying to stick to convention and aren't making efforts to 'stand out from the crowd'. Finally, there is a filter on the image which helps to make it blend in with the rest of the page and ensures it doesn't stand out and become something which looks on its own and fragmented from the rest of the page. This filter also gives it a stylistic/retro design style which appeals to their audience and helps to gain their interest. 

Finally, the article uses language which represents the audience through relating to them. It does this through using a lexis that is friendly and uses jargon associated with the genre. Moreover, the article uses word choices that represent the audience's interests - this allows the audience to become engaged and want to read on. The language is friendly and formal/informal in places which helps to keep up the friendly atmosphere. This in turn helps to keep their audience interested and also creates a magazine which competes with others in the market place. 

This article represents its purpose well; it uses various stylistic techniques that make it an ideal article for the target audience. Furthermore, the article represents its purpose and genre through the basic layout as well as the lexis which connotes interest in the genre and a purpose to inform as well as entertain.