Contents Page Deconstruction 3

Navigation

From what I have seen, there are page numbers used in this article and the target audience would find it easy to navigate around the magazine. I will be using page numbers for my contents page because, not everything in the magazine will appeal to the target audience. Some people only buy a magazine to read just one article.

Layout

I am not a massive fan of the layout because, you can tell that there are other features in the magazine (the small text) but you can only see the cover star. For my contents page, I will make sure that my target audience know about everything that will be featured in the magazine.

Images

The image is very intriguing because, there is a mystery third hand and he is looking directly at the camera in a rather serious and sinister fashion. However, I will be using more images but little text because it enables the target audience to speculate.

Colour Schemes

The colour scheme, in my opinion, isn't very interesting because, it only consists of one colour. A colour that makes the contents page and the image look very old and out of date. As I have said before, the number of colours that I will use for my magazine will be limited but they will look more bright and lively than the colour scheme for this contents page.

Double Page Spread deconstrcution 3

Dominant Image

Again, there is only one image used in this article. However, I think that it can be justified with this particular double page spread because the image has been manipulated and it looks really good so the article doesn't need any more images to make it look good. I am not particularly good with photo shop so I will use more images to compensate that and to make the article look more lively.



Pull Quotes and Shock Tactics
The pull quotes used in this article are 'the most exciting people in music' and 'everyone trying to do something new is going to come up against a Noel Gallagher figure in their life'. I like the fact that, unlike any of the other double page spreads, this magazine is making good use of their pull quotes. I will be featuring a pull quote in my article as a way of guiding the reader through the rest of the article. 'The most exciting people in music' could also be considered as a shock tactic. It is another way of making the magazine seem exclusive.


Font Size
As ever, the font size is relatively small but if you had a hard copy of the magazine, you would be able to read the text very well. I like this format because, the reader should be able to consume loads of information from the article and read the text at the same time. I will be using the same format for my double page spread.


Drop Caps
As I have said, I will be using drop caps in my article because they are a way of guiding the reader to the rest of the article if they are finding difficulty reading the text. If the reader wanted to read a certain section of the article, they would be able to locate it by using the drop cap.


Quirky Angles
The only quirky angle used in this article is 'rap radar'. I am assuming that in every publication of this particular magazine, a different rap artist is used. All of the magazines in my article will be of a similar theme so I won't be using something like 'rap radar' for my magazine.


Overall Layout and Composition
The overall design is very colourful and engaging. I like the fact that the letter 'J' is spread across the article to emphasise the focus on the cover star Jay-Z. It also makes the article itself look more interesting. I also like the multi colour scheme used on the dominant image. I intend my article to be colourful and lively to keep the reader and my target audience engaged. The language used in this article is almost like Jay-Z is talking to the reader when he says 'everyone trying to do something new is going to come up against a Noel Gallagher figure in their life'. He is effectively giving the reader advice which would appeal to them because, it is like he is talking to them.

Double Page Spread deconstruction 2

Dominant Image
I personally would use more than one image for my double page spread to make it look more interesting but I think that the one image format for this article works because, there is still a lot of text and a lot of information for the reader.

Pull Quotes
Interestingly, there are no pull quotes featured in this double page spread. I would use at least one pull quote in my article because, I think it would guide the target audience to the rest of the article. However, I think that the no pull quote format works for this article because it allows the reader to just focus on the article. Also, an article without a pull quote would keep the reader guessing and it would also keep them engaged in the article.

Article Title
I am guessing that the title to this article is 'Lady Gaga' which I think is a good idea because, it allows more focus on her. It would also keep the target audience guessing because, the title doesn't say why they are writing a double page spread about Lady Gaga. However, I will use a pull quote as my title because it is another way of keeping the target audience guessing. The target audience would want to know what the quote means.


Font Size
As you can see, the font size is very small. The only disadvantage to this is that some of the text is difficult to read and you really have to look closley at the magazine to read it. When you are reading a magazine, you should be able to relax and read it easily. For my double page spread, I will make my text a size 16 because it is small enough for loads of information to be written down but it is also big enough for the reader to read it from a distance.

Drop Caps
A drop cap is needed for this article because, the text is so small. I will be using drop caps for my double page spread because, they are a very good way of guiding the reader through the article (especially if the text is small). Drop caps are also very distinct and they stand out to the reader and that is one thing I certainly want my magazine to do.

Overall Layout and Composition
The layout of this article is no different to the other double page spread I deconstructed. I would make my double page spread look different to other magazines so that it stands out. However, I do like the fact that a large red 'L' effectively dominates the double page spread because, it emphasises the focus on 'Lady Gaga'.
The colour scheme, I think, is basic. The colours look old and worn out. I would make my colours look more modern and lively.
The language used in this article is rather vulgar and inappropiate and I don't really want use any examples of the language used in the article for that reason. The language that I will use for my double page spread will be more appropiate and less offensive. I think that Q magazine delibrately published that language to show off to their readers.
From what I have read, the article appears to be written in third person. The only person who is quoted saying anything is Lady Gaga and the writer is reporting on her career. It is like a newspaper article.
The pace of this article is very fast because, it is straight to the point and after the introductory paragraph, the article goes straight to the point to Lady Gaga's unusual plans for the future. I will use the same format for my article because, I don't want my target audience to find my article boring.

Double Page Spread deconstruction 1

Dominant Image

I like the fact that this the only image on the page because, it is this image that gives the target audience a clue as to what the article is all about. This image is also the first thing the reader would see when they look at the magazine. However, I will be using more than one image for my double spread magazine to make it look more appealing to the target audience.

Pull Quotes

Like the dominant image, there is only one pull quote used in this article ('people think I'm an attention seeker, but I'm just honest').However I think that only one pull quote needed because, it is essentially the title of the magazine and it would draw in the reader. Other magazines often use pull quotes as the title of their article. Also, this particular quote is a quote that would divide opinion amongst the readers and it would make them want to read the article to see what Lily Allen has to say. I will definitely be using a pull quote as the title because, it would either divide opinion amongst the readers or be shocking enough to make the target audience want to continue reading.

Captions

There are no captions used in this article. However you could say that the text in the article is the caption because, the text is so small and the image is so large. However, I will use more images in my article so that it doesn't resemble a newspaper article. I would also use captions below my images.

Puns and shock Tactics

I suppose the only shock tactic used this article is the title. It is a shock tactic because, the title would divide opinion amongst the readers. The title could also be considered as a pun because, it is the sort of quote that would make the reader want to read the article because it divides opinions. I plan to adopt a similar format because, I want my target audience to be shocked into reading the magazine.

Strap Line

I like the fact that the strap line uses language that is similar to a boxer being introduced to the ring. I also like the fact that Lily Allen's name has been highlighted in red because, it emphasizes the focus on her. For my double page spread, my strap line will also introduce the cover star because the article is about them.

Drop Caps

I will be using a drop cap at the start of my article because, it guides the reader to the rest of the article. It also give the reader a clue as to what word that letter is part of and what the article is all about. I also like the fact that the drop cap is big, bold and fat because, it would be one of the first things the reader is going to see when they look at the page.

Quirky Angles

I suppose you would notice the quirky angle in the title but I won't be using any quirky angles for my double page spread because, I don't see the point of them. I don't they add anything to the article or make it anymore interesting than it already is. The actual words should be the most important aspect of the article, not the position of the text.

Overall Composition
I think that the overall composition of this double page spread works well with the magazine itself (NME) and its theme. However, I would personally use more images to make the article look more engaging and interesting and I will also use a different color scheme so that my article doesn't resemble a newspaper article. However, I also think that the colour scheme for this article works well. I like the fact that Lily Allen is wearing a predominantly red shirt because, it is the same colour as the NME logo. It also works well with the colour of grey.
The language of this article is portraying Lily Allen as some sort of rock rebel. It mentions that she had a frame of a speeding ticket and the F word was used at least twice. I think that it works well with the theme of the magazine. However, I won't use profanities as such but the language would be more direct and straight forward than a pop magazine.
The narrative voice for this article has been written in first person. It tells the writers story and Lily Allen's story ('I am standing on Lily Allen's doorstep'). However, I will be writing in second person because I don't want the article to be about me. It should only be about the star and thats the way it should be. The pace of this article is quite slow because, it goes into some depth about her house as proof that he was actually there. My article would be more straight to the point to what the article is actually about. I don't understand what Lily Allen's house has to do with the title of the article.

Contents Page Deconstruction 2

Navigation

Like with Q magazine, I think that the target audience would be able to navigate around this magazine easily. As I have said, I will be mentioning what will be featured on what page of the magazine because, the target audience can go to that certain page of the magazine immediately.

Layout

Like Q magazine, this contents page resembles a newspaper article. I don’t think the target audience would really want to read the contents page because, it is a magazine; not a newspaper. I would make my contents page look more bright, colourful and approachable in a way. I would at least make my contents page look appealing to the target audience, something that NME has failed to do.

Images

This contents page only uses one image, which is why the contents page resembles a newspaper article. I would feature more images on my contents page to make it look more exciting and interesting. However, I do like the fact that this one image is large and that means that it stands out. This image will be the first thing the target audience sees when they look at the contents page. I will use slightly large images so that the target audience will immediately know what will be featured in the magazine.

Page Numbers

Like Q magazine, page numbers are a constant presence on this contents page. I will do the same thing because, it will be easier for the target audience to navigate around the magazine. They will know exactly which page to go to, without hesitation. Page numbers are essential for a contents page. Without them, the target audience would find the magazine too complicated and they wouldn’t buy it again.

Article Titles

I like the fact that the article titles are highlighted because, it makes the contents page look more interesting. I also think that this a good idea and I will probably use this format for my contents page.

Article Description

I like the fact that the contents page only features a minimal amount of information because, it keeps the target audience guessing and they would have to read the magazine to see what it is all about. I will adapt a similar format for my contents page for that reason.

Publishing Details

I like the fact that the exact date of publication is featured on the contents page. I will do the same thing because, I am aware that a lot of people like to keep magazines as a souvenir. Also, news changes fast.

Captions

There are no captions featured on this contents page which I think is a good idea because, having a caption would give too much information away and I can use captions on the articles themselves. The whole point of a contents page is to tell us what will be on what page; not what it is all about.

Colour Schemes

I think that the colour scheme works well for this contents page. I wouldn’t personally use these colours because, they make the contents page resemble a newspaper article. I would use the colours of grey and red because, they would make the contents page look more like it is part of a magazine.

Contents Page Deconstruction 1

Navigation

From what I have seen, I think it would be very easy for the reader to navigate around this magazine because, it mentions what will be featured on what page of the magazine. I will be mentioning page numbers in the contents page because, not everything in the magazine is for every one. A lot of readers will only like certain features of the magazine and the navigation allows them to get straight to that section of the magazine.

Layout

I am not a massive fan of the general layout of the contents page because, I think it resembles a newspaper article and it is a magazine, not a newspaper. I wouldn’t base the layout of my contents page on this. I would at least make my contents page look like it is part of a magazine.

Images

For my contents page, I would use more than two images for it because, it doesn’t really give much information away. There is too much text on this contents page and the target audience wouldn’t find reading too much plain text exciting.

Page Numbers

There are page numbers that are featured across the entire contents page. I think that it is a very positive aspect because, it allows the target audience to navigate around the magazine very easily. I will definitely feature page numbers in my contents page because, the target audience wouldn’t be able to navigate around the magazine otherwise.

Article Titles

The contents page features an article title for every important page of the magazine. I will use an article title for my contents page because, it only provides the basic information. It is up to the target audience to find out what the article is all about.

Article Description

The contents page again only features the basic information that is needed so that the target audience can make a judgment over whether they want to read that section of the magazine. For my contents page, I would only feature as much information as a caption to keep the target audience guessing.

Publishing Details

The contents page for this magazine only features the month and year of publication. For my contents page, I would feature the exact date of publication because, a lot of people keep old magazines as some sort of souvenir. Another reason that I would mention the exact date of publication because, news changes fast.

Captions

There are no captions used on this contents page. I wouldn’t feature a caption on my contents page because, it would give too much away and I can use captions on the articles themselves.

Colour Schemes

The main colour scheme on this contents page is white and red. I will be using the colours of grey and red. I will be using the colour of red because, my magazine has been inspired by the magazines of Q and NME. However, I would make my colours look more modern and colourful. The colours on this page look very tired and worn out in my opinion.