Comparing two magazine
covers
In the two magazines I have compared (Kerrang! & Total
Guitar), I found many similarities and differences between the two covers and
what language and presentational devices that they have used. Both of them fit
into the ‘rebel’ rock genre and it is very interesting to see what both of the
magazines put on the cover for it to sell and how they differentiate and also
how they’re similar.
A similarity in both of the covers is that Billie Joe
Armstrong is the key figure on the cover, and in both of the magazines his head
covers the title of the magazine but the big subheading ‘Green Day’ goes over
his picture in both of the covers. This is showing that usually, the readers
from Kerrang! and Total Guitar will know what the title looks like as they
would have most likely purchased the magazine before so they will be able to
spot it in the shop easily without the worry of the title being unclear to the
customer. This means that both of the magazines can allow themselves to put a
key icon such as Billie Joe Armstrong on the cover of the magazine.
The subheading which is going over both of the cover
pictures which says ‘Green Day’ is there incase someone is unaware that Billie
Joe Armstrong (in the picture) is in Green Day as they may like the band, they
will be more likely to purchase the magazine based on the fact that they like
Green Day but just may not know what the members look like. In both of the
magazines, Green Day is in big bold writing in bright colours (In Kerrang! it
is a florescent red colour and in Total Guitar it is a bright hot pink), this
automatically grabs the reader’s attention.
A difference in Kerrang! and Total Guitars is the colouring
used on the covers of the magazine. Total Guitars generally have used dull
faded out black and white colours throughout the cover (apart from the
subheadings) and Kerrang! have used bright eye-catching colours such as yellow
and red on their magazine. I think that Total Guitars have showed a more
sophisticated approach in their cover whereas Kerrang! have just used eye
grabbing colours which would most likely catch the eye of more people who are
interested in music rather than Total Guitars.
Both of the magazines have used pronouns such as ‘your’ on
the cover of the magazines. This speaks directly to the speaker and makes them
feel like the magazine is speaking out to them. Kerrang! have even underlined
the word ‘your’ which is allowing the reader to feel apart of the magazine and
like they are interacting.
I have learnt from comparing and looking at both of these
magazine colours that presentational devices and language used on magazine
covers are highly important because presentational devices such as colour could
effect on how many readers the magazine has due to some magazines such as
Kerrang!, using eye catching colours and getting a huge amount of readers and
possibly being more well-known than Total Guitar which uses more dull colours
throughout their cover which grabs less readers attention. Language is also
important because when pronouns such as ‘your’ are used, they allow the reader
to feel involved and I think I will be including pronouns on my magazine cover
to allow readers to feel involved.
