Before I create a magazine cover for my J-Pop/punk magazine, I will research the conventions on a J-Pop magazine cover. Pop/Punk isnt pressed on as much in Japan, therefore the only source of research I could find was one that revolved around J-Pop. I will research the conventions of a Japanese pop magazine, but I will also research the conventions of a traditional pop/punk magazine and then combine these for my final music magazine.
J-POP MAGAZINE COVER - The most well known part of Japanese fashion all over the world is associated with the girly look that the females incorporate. This heavily includes girly items of clothing such as frills and dresses and other wacky accessories.This magazine cover goes along with the Japanese trend very well, with the use of bright and feminine colours in the text, and it also runs along the common conventions of a magazine with only using one or two colours. In this case they are pink and yellow, apart from the masthead to make it stand out from others in the market.
The feature article photo of Britney Spears is taken with a soft effect to create an innocence and run along the femininity of typical Japanese female 'idols'. However, the slight glance from the corner of her eye also suggests some sexual references, to run along with her famous image.The feature article photo also runs along with the photography rule of thirds, so Britney's head is put correctly in the top third of the image. Secondary leads are also used but with the main article to make it the only thing that they weant their readers to read.
However, this magazine doesnt run along with the common conventions of anchorage. Where most magazines have most of their articles on one side of the page, this one has their secondary leads spread all over the page. Most magazines also use kickers and cover lines to display other important articles, however, this one doesn't, it only displays the article about Britney Spears. This then ensinuates her character of being an 'idol' even further.
The masthead is also not right in the centre on the top of the page, but it is allocated on the left of the cover. The shapes and images within the masthead are cute and girly, so it runs along the Japanese traditions, but it also makes it much more eye-catching so there is really no need in allocating it to the middle of the page.
Japanese books and magazines and not read from left to right, but they are read from right to left, therefore they are read backwards. This is why it doesnt typically place the barcode on the left hand side but on the right hand side of the cover. When I create my magazine cover, I do have to take into consideration the traditional use of conventions within the Japanese market, therefore I go along with it very well.
POP/PUNK MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS
In comparison to the J-Pop magazine, this pop/punk magazine uses a lot more conventions and a wider variety of techniques on the magazine. Firstly, the feature article photo is draped all across the page and is taken at a high-angled shot, therefore it makes their comical emotions even stronger, and enhances their beauty. More than two colours are used this time around with the use of yellow, blue and black.
Secondary leads are not used for just one article in comparison to the Japanese magazine, but this cover uses it for other articles, therefore promoting more than one feature of the magazine so it looks like it has a lot of material inside of it. The use of framing of the text at the bottom is cut around the picture to avoid it being covered, and it is seperated into two different colours so the different articles can be identifies. Only band names are given therefore it makes it look like the readers should know who they should be, that the readers have to be part of the music scene to capture the idea of the magazine. The fonts that are used on these articles are very scribbly, as if they have been hand-written making it look much more suburban as if it was grafitti on a wall so it relevates itself with a teenage audience very well.
Magazines in America and the UK are read normally from left to right, so the common conventions are used for putting the anchorage towards one side of the page. It is commonly placed on the left hand side of the page, but in this case it used on the right hand side to create some variety for itself and seperate itself from the rest of the market. However, the masthead looks as if it has been stamped upon the cover with the use of its font, highlighting attitude in the magazine. Its what they want from their audience.
A graphic feature is used on the cover in the form of a circle to create excitement that not only do they recieve this magazine, but also get a FREE CD so they gain more appeal to the audience. The feature article photo also appeals to the audience also, because it creates fun and immaturity within the emotions that are portrayed on their faces. Hayley Williams then portrays herself once again as the frontwoman of the band by pushing her way through the rest of the band and with the use of thirds in the image, her bright hair is in the top third but it is also in the middle to make it eyecatching.
With the anchorage of the main article, in the biggest text is just the name of the band Paramore, therefore people are drawn into just that straightaway. Cover lines are also accompaning the main-heading, so it adds extra information so the readers know what they are reading.
In both of these magazine covers they reach out their audiences of teenagers well with the use of text and bright colours because texts to attract them. The conventions of barcodes and where they are allocated along with the anchorage of the page so it follows the cultural aspects of the magazine. However, with my creating a Japanese magazine cover, I need to use Japanese text, but as I dont know that much Japanese, I will only use it for the masthead or the main article heading for my magazine, and then accompany it with English text.
