Magazine Analysis: Complex magazine
Title
The name ‘Complex’ could relate to the music genre is contains (RnB) or perhaps the content. The content in this magazine is mixed, there are many different cultures covered so this may be why it is named complex magazine. The connotations of the word complex are varied, mixed, in depth just like the content. This magazine is released every few months and is a men’s magazine containing music articles and other male orientated articles. Its founder is Mark Ecko who runs Mark Ecko enterprises (publisher), the other media interests are his interactive entertainment projects in his company.
Target Audience
The target Audience for this magazine is definitely a male audience and would perhaps appeal to an audience from the ages of 25+ as it has more adult content. I know that this is the target audience because the articles are very male orientated: ‘BBQ Grills, Bikes…’ these appeal to men. Also the banner makes it very clear that it’s for men: ‘The ultimate buyers guide for men’. The main layout picture is targeting men, Rihanna is in a bikini posing provocatively’ this would appeal to men in the above ages I have wrote. The niche audience it is aiming for would be attracted to the article: ’85 things you need to know about comic books’ this is obviously an add-in article to the music side of the magazine which is the main basis of the magazine. The representation of the audience is that they are the ‘boys with their toys type’ hwo aren’t the mainstream RnB fans.
The reader interacts with the magazine through letters to the magazine, the reader can send in their thoughts and feelings of the magazine. Also they can go onto the website and watch videos, get the latest news etc. And subscribe to the magazine.
The ideology of this sort of men’s magazine is that it is a ‘boys with their toys’ type magazine with a few grown up music articles, it shouldn’t look too masculine as it is not aimed at hardcore RnB fans, it is merely for those with a slight interest.
Style and mode of address
I have noticed that unlike other music magazines this magazine has bright colours and has a big bright masthead and text over a deeply coloured background. It is still sophisticated however because of the layout of cover lines which follows the proper conventions of music magazines gives it this look. It looks expensive because of the main picture of a very famous RnB star and the layout which is very bold and shouts at you. Also it looks glossy and quite full. It is very similar to Vibe magazine however it has more variety of content and is more bright and colourful in its looks. The articles are very individual and I have struggled to find a magazine with this variety of articles in it, this makes it very unique.
It addresses its readers in a brave confident way; by the pose Rihanna is modelling, to the bright blue and yellow colours which represent boldness. It shows Rihanna isn’t afraid to cover up, her movements are open and this shows that she is represented as being happy to show her true feelings and to not hide away’. It isn’t threatening and would appeal to a variety of male audiences as it contains mixtures of articles.
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS
The masthead of this magazine is bright, bold and the yellow stands out against the bright blue background. The font looks computerized to link in with the occasional media orientated articles in this men’s magazine.
The colour-scheme is summery with blue and yellow to represent the time of year and the way in which Rihanna is dressed also reimburses this idea (bikini). Her clothes match the colour scheme and the dark black tones of her hair stand out extremely bold and match the car which she is posing on. These colours give the magazine a striking and very eyecatching style which gives the impression that this magazine doesn’t conform to the normal conventions of a man’s music magazine; the colours are not that masculine and the text isn’t sharp or brutal, it’s soft and simplistic. These still manage to give it a sophisticated look.
This magazine cover appeals to its target audience because of the provocative pose in which Rihanna is using; she is washing a car in a bikini; this is represented as being a sexualised scene that would appeal to its male audience. The car is also represented as a masculine object; it is something that interests many men and relates to the ‘boys with their toys’ theme of this magazine.
The main cover line is relating to the main image, it is the biggest to stand out. ‘Bad meaning good’ this shows a rebellious and sexual side to the magazine, the fact that it then says ‘Really good!’ gives the magazine a slightly informal and colloquial format, it is conversational and the simple sentence brings impact. Two of the cover lines contain numbers in them for impact and to show that the magazine is full of information that would interest the readers, it reflects the size of the two articles and is used to get noticed.
Finally the tagline names the target audience and the adjective ‘ultimate’ brings powerful impact and gives the impression of popularity within the magazine. The other graphics that are used on the cover such as the 360 degree arrow reinforces the informal side again and the coloured text box around the cover line ’85 things you need ..’ highlights this article as it is obviously of interest to the target audience.
Title
The name ‘Complex’ could relate to the music genre is contains (RnB) or perhaps the content. The content in this magazine is mixed, there are many different cultures covered so this may be why it is named complex magazine. The connotations of the word complex are varied, mixed, in depth just like the content. This magazine is released every few months and is a men’s magazine containing music articles and other male orientated articles. Its founder is Mark Ecko who runs Mark Ecko enterprises (publisher), the other media interests are his interactive entertainment projects in his company.
Target Audience
The target Audience for this magazine is definitely a male audience and would perhaps appeal to an audience from the ages of 25+ as it has more adult content. I know that this is the target audience because the articles are very male orientated: ‘BBQ Grills, Bikes…’ these appeal to men. Also the banner makes it very clear that it’s for men: ‘The ultimate buyers guide for men’. The main layout picture is targeting men, Rihanna is in a bikini posing provocatively’ this would appeal to men in the above ages I have wrote. The niche audience it is aiming for would be attracted to the article: ’85 things you need to know about comic books’ this is obviously an add-in article to the music side of the magazine which is the main basis of the magazine. The representation of the audience is that they are the ‘boys with their toys type’ hwo aren’t the mainstream RnB fans.
The reader interacts with the magazine through letters to the magazine, the reader can send in their thoughts and feelings of the magazine. Also they can go onto the website and watch videos, get the latest news etc. And subscribe to the magazine.
The ideology of this sort of men’s magazine is that it is a ‘boys with their toys’ type magazine with a few grown up music articles, it shouldn’t look too masculine as it is not aimed at hardcore RnB fans, it is merely for those with a slight interest.
Style and mode of address
I have noticed that unlike other music magazines this magazine has bright colours and has a big bright masthead and text over a deeply coloured background. It is still sophisticated however because of the layout of cover lines which follows the proper conventions of music magazines gives it this look. It looks expensive because of the main picture of a very famous RnB star and the layout which is very bold and shouts at you. Also it looks glossy and quite full. It is very similar to Vibe magazine however it has more variety of content and is more bright and colourful in its looks. The articles are very individual and I have struggled to find a magazine with this variety of articles in it, this makes it very unique.
It addresses its readers in a brave confident way; by the pose Rihanna is modelling, to the bright blue and yellow colours which represent boldness. It shows Rihanna isn’t afraid to cover up, her movements are open and this shows that she is represented as being happy to show her true feelings and to not hide away’. It isn’t threatening and would appeal to a variety of male audiences as it contains mixtures of articles.
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS
The masthead of this magazine is bright, bold and the yellow stands out against the bright blue background. The font looks computerized to link in with the occasional media orientated articles in this men’s magazine.
The colour-scheme is summery with blue and yellow to represent the time of year and the way in which Rihanna is dressed also reimburses this idea (bikini). Her clothes match the colour scheme and the dark black tones of her hair stand out extremely bold and match the car which she is posing on. These colours give the magazine a striking and very eyecatching style which gives the impression that this magazine doesn’t conform to the normal conventions of a man’s music magazine; the colours are not that masculine and the text isn’t sharp or brutal, it’s soft and simplistic. These still manage to give it a sophisticated look.
This magazine cover appeals to its target audience because of the provocative pose in which Rihanna is using; she is washing a car in a bikini; this is represented as being a sexualised scene that would appeal to its male audience. The car is also represented as a masculine object; it is something that interests many men and relates to the ‘boys with their toys’ theme of this magazine.
The main cover line is relating to the main image, it is the biggest to stand out. ‘Bad meaning good’ this shows a rebellious and sexual side to the magazine, the fact that it then says ‘Really good!’ gives the magazine a slightly informal and colloquial format, it is conversational and the simple sentence brings impact. Two of the cover lines contain numbers in them for impact and to show that the magazine is full of information that would interest the readers, it reflects the size of the two articles and is used to get noticed.
Finally the tagline names the target audience and the adjective ‘ultimate’ brings powerful impact and gives the impression of popularity within the magazine. The other graphics that are used on the cover such as the 360 degree arrow reinforces the informal side again and the coloured text box around the cover line ’85 things you need ..’ highlights this article as it is obviously of interest to the target audience.
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