Analysis Of Classic Rock Magazine

Analysing Classic Rock

Target Audience

The primary target audience for this magazine is aimed at white middle class straight men, who are in the social class of E-C1 that are aged between 14-30+ and this magazine has a star vehicle of Axl Rose upon the front cover, meaning this magazine will then contain the common conventions that will suit the fan’s needs. This means that the main theorist that will apply to this analysis will be Marxist who in short states that the media is run by straight, middle classed, white men.

As the target audience is such a huge group, this means I will be applying theorists into the analysis to show it will approve or disagree of what they have said. The main theorist I will probably be mentioning most will be Stanley Hall, to see if it suits the Youth's who are most likely to read this magazine. His opinion in short was Adolescences are usually depressed, have been involved in criminal activity between the ages of 12 to 24 and teenagers enjoy drinking and sex.

Following the Blumer and Katz (1974) theory, this could suggest that the purpose of why Youth's read this magazine is to find their own personal identity by following the bands they are interested within being easily influenced by their actions as well as style in dress. Also this target audience could be reading this magazine Kerrang! because of the identification of celebrities that are mentioned within teasers or portrayed on the front cover.

Another target audience for this type of magazine will be parents/careers who are purchasing the magazine for their son/daughter (Or maybe themselves) who are fans of this music genre. The social class that this target audience will fall into will be ranging from D-C1 and would probably fall under the theorist of Marxist as he states that the dominant people portrayed in media are straight, middle classed (working class) and white men.

Masthead

The big bold masthead to this magazine fills up the whole top section and really stands out against the black background for the target audience. But judging by the font type chosen for the masthead, it looks very rebellious and will appeal to those who are 'true rock' fans as it states “Classic Rock.” This therefore will support Stanley Hall's theory because the main target audience for this magazine will be supporters of rock and rock supports sex and drugs so Youth will be easily influenced into this lifestyle. But overall this will relate to the target audience because the title alone relates to rock.

Over the top of the masthead is a trashed yellow post it note that states “Free CD!” This will encourage the target audience to pick up this magazine as they will be easily influenced by the rock music that’s provided. Again showing that this is suitable for target audiences and may support Stanley Hall's theory due to what lyrics the musical CD may contain relating to sex, drugs and crime/violence. This would be suitable for the primary target audience who are searching for a personal identity, following their role models example.

Images

The front cover only has one main image; a medium shot of a famous rock star from a successful band called Guns N Roses. This will immediately attract target audiences who are a fan of this certain figure/star vehicle. This character alone would support the Stanley Hall's theory because he would easily influence the target audience to get involved in drugs, sex and violence due to how Axl Rose has in the past. But this will be appropriate for a target audience as he is a rock star.

Secondly the main image has a slight dark fade upon half of Axl Rose, mainly around half of his face connoting there is a dark side rebellious act to this character, meaning once again this would support Stanley Hall's theory as the majority of the target audience's are youth and will follow this example. Also this would be suitable for the primary target audience who are searching for a personal identity, following their role models example; falling into the Blumers and Katz theory (1974).

In terms of mise-en-sense of Axl's clothing it gives away he is trouble/rebellious by the leather jackets and rough hair do, yet cool looking sunglasses on top of his rag looking headband; that could be connoting he's reckless. This will once again fall under Stanley Hall's theory as the large amount of target audiences (Youth) will be encouraged to look more rebellious as if they'd have been involved of crime, drugs and sex by only stereotyping. Also this would be suitable for the primary target audience who are searching for a personal identity, following their role models example.

In terms of connotation the star vehicle Axl Rose is a portayed as a white, middleclass and straight male and in terms of denotation could fall under the Marxists category because he produces media (Music). Therefore this makes this magazine cover suitable for the target audience’s attention.

There is many additional magazine common conventions in this magazine, such as the bar code and magazine addition, but this magazine states it’s a “lost” issue, showing that its a collectors item for the target audience. Showing it is suitable for the primary target audience who are within the Blumer and Katz theory (1974) searching for a personal identity, following their role models example.

Text

The text comes in terms of connotation comes across in 4 variety of colours that are easily readable against the dark background. A light pink, white, red and black. The teasers headlines are bold stating many gossip type information about star vehicles such as “Def Leppard. The truth about Steve Clark.” This shows how the magazine is suitable for the target audience who enjoy the genre rock and will encourage them to purchase this magazine.

The variety of text fonts used are very interesting and suit the genre, especially as the magazine announces the main storyline of the story by targeting for Guns N Roses fans with a bright pink and dangerous looking; meaning this will attract target audiences who fall under the Katz and Blumers (1974) theory because it connotes that some of the people reading this magazine maybe searching for a personal identity or maybe to escape reality problems.

Yet the main headline story alone will back up Stanley Hall's theory because it states “Machine-guns, LSD” and “Sixth Silent Member Speaks Out” connoting a semantic field for violence. Showing the target audience will want to pick up the magazine as it relates to the singers personal point of view of something and make them curious about the teaser given. This would be suitable for the primary target audience who are searching for a personal identity, following their role models example.

Different types of punctuation and text symbols (Such as stars and voltage signs) is used in some teasers on the front page of the magazine cover, connoting that this could be urgent/must have and shocking news about certain bands and rock stars. Whilst the symbols will only make the front cover design look more appropriate for the genre its designed for. This will encourage target readers to pick up the magazine.

The slogan for the magazine is “High Voltage. Rock N Roll” in a small white bold font underneath the masthead. This also stands out because of the voltage symbol that is placed half way in the sentence, meaning it will be suitable for the target audience of this magazine as once again it looks natural and 'bad ass' upon the magazine cover and will be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Katz and Blumer (1974) theory because they will be looking for a personal identity and to escape reality problems.

Overall this magazine in terms of connotation is suitable for the target audience because the layout of the magazine cover has all the common conventions that is needed for the target audience’s desires and falls under the theorists quite well.

Annaleigh Benn