Codes and Conventions

Double page spread of NME

The title of the band Kasabian is in a bold, black, sans-serif font that spreads across both pages grabbing the reader’s attention. The letter ‘K’ has a green circle going around it highlighting it so it stands out against the grey sky background of the picture used behind it.

A 3 colour scheme has been used with the colours green, black and white. This has been carried on from the contents page which also used red colours. The patterned border used on the contents page has been repeated here on the drop capital as it goes so far down then starts to separate into green and black colours creating a interesting pattern.

Two pictures have been used on this page; one main image filling up the left hand side page and the other, a lot smaller, placed on the right hand side page. A low angle shot has been used on the large, main image looking up at the band Kasabian. The man at the front looks the most important as he is in front of the other 3 band mates. The picture presents a very casual look of the band just walking along in a car park targeting its audience of young male adults who are stereotypically known to just ‘hang out’. The smaller picture used also presents a very casual look with a few of the band mates in the studio making music. Having a smaller picture, showing the reader the band back stage, gives the magazine article a more personal approach therefore the reader is more likely to read the article.

The titles and headings used on this page are written in a sans-serif font unlike the actual article which is written in a serif font. Using a sans-serif font for the titles and headings makes them clearer and easier to read which is good because they are the first thing the reader would look at. Once the reader looks at the title, if they are interested enough, they will read the article which is in a serif font which gives the magazine a more sophisticated look.

Both pictures used have a caption underneath them telling the reader a little bit about what the picture is showing. This is a good technique to use as if the reader has looked at this page then they must be interested in the band so would be interested in things like what they are doing in the pictures. A green text box has been used at the bottom of the second column which has a quote inside of it taken from the article. This is a good method to use to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read the article because it gets them wondering what the article is actually about.

I like on this magazine how there have only been two pictures used one showing them properly on a photo shoot and the other one behind the scenes with them in a studio. I also like how the quotation taken from the text has been made a feature of by putting a green bubble effect around it continuing on with the colour scheme. I will try to incorporate these features when I come to do my own magazine.