Codes and Conventions

Total Guitar Double Page Spread

The title of the band ‘Lostprophets’ is written in white, ghost like letters in a sans-serif font. Lightening is coming off from some of the letters giving it the ‘rock’ look. Having the letters smudged and the lightening coming off of them allows the title to stand out against the black background grabbing the reader’s attention.

Only 2 colours have been used here these colours being black and white. The dark, masculine colours used, again help the magazine to target its audience of young male adults. The background is black on the page on the left as well as the photograph having a black background on the right. All of the text has been written in white and a white spot light is shining behind the band drawing attention towards them. The page is quite simple because of only 2 colours being used but they represent the band well, as the photo is showing that this is them, just a normal band.

There is only one picture used which fills up the whole of the right hand side page. It is the same styled photo as the one used on the front cover but, the band is in different positions. The man at the front looked like the most important one on the cover, but even though he is still in front he is below the other two band mates making them look more important than he is. He is holding the guitar up right, allowing it to fill the page from the bottom to the top so the guitar now looks like the most important part. There is a spot light shining behind the band which focuses all the attention on them, grabbing the reader’s attention.

The text is mainly written in a sans-serif font with the sub-heading in a serif font. There are two columns of text with a dropped capital at the beginning of the sentence. The dropped capital is an ‘S’ which is written in black inside of a white box that look like it has been torn at the bottom. By having the ‘S’ larger than the rest of the text and in a different colour, it makes it look more appealing for the reader to read. There is a quote at the end of the article which is in the same style of writing as the title by it looking like it is glowing and having lightening coming off of it. The reader is more likely to read this first as it is eye catching and then be interested enough to read the whole article.

At the top of the page, above the title there is a picture of the bands album cover. The picture itself is small but has white, shape like wings around it as well as lightening therefore bringing the reader’s attention towards the album. At the bottom of each page there is a page number with the name of the magazine written next to it in small letters. Having the name of the magazine on each page means the reader is constantly being reminded on what they are reading so they are more likely to remember it in the future.

From this double page spread I will take into consideration when making my own magazine the way the page is set out. One main picture has been used filling up one side of the double page spread and on the other side there is the title with a short description below it and then the article underneath it all. I also like the fact a drop capital has been used at the beginning of the article and the border line used across the top of the page. I will try and incorporate these things into my own magazine.