Front Cover Analysis Five

  

Vibe’s usual red and black colour scheme has been manipulated for this issue, featuring Usher, adding more vibrant, edgy colours such as blue, yellow and pink. A yellow outer glow/drop shadow has been used, on the more important things, against black text and a white against blue text, vice versa. This created a more immature feel, compared to vibe’s well known sophisticated/urban theme. Using colours like this would usually target a younger audience; however it is named ‘The Sexy Issue’, targeting an older audience.
            The close up image of artist Usher is taken at a low angle, representing the power he has over both the audience and industry. The accessories used such as sunglasses, suggesting a sense of mystery about his article, a gold watch and wedding ring reinforces his urban genre and wealth. His fourth finger is sticking up, revealing a bling, silver ring, creating a dual representation. His feature article is about him being married, therefore the ring represents his marriage, however, at first glance it looks like he is swearing, emphasizing the edgy, urban theme that Vibe has.

            The text on this cover suggests that it is targeting a younger audience of around 18-30 as it is a lot more sexual, being called ‘the sexy issue’, informing us about the content of this special issue but also maybe suggesting that Usher is a part of this. The word ‘Swagger’ is printed diagonally across the corner of the page, in graffiti like text, again highlighting Vibe’s urban and R&B genre.

            Although the image is presented directly in the middle of the over, text is overlapping the image but never touching the artist’s face, as that is the main feature and what the reader is instantly drawn too. Like Rolling Stone magazine the artist’s head is covering part of the magazine’s title, highlighting the fact that it is a well-known recognised magazine within the industry. This issue’s layout is exceptionally chaotic, suggesting the lively vibe it may have inside for this certain artist, and chosen ‘sexy’ special issue.

            This front cover is extremely chaotic and vibrant, I don’t want my cover to look like this as they are focussed on different genres and I want a more sophisticated higher class styled cover. However I like the use of the simple, bold text as I think it stands out against the dominant pictures and I will hopefully create the same effect in my magazine.