Analysis Of Kerrang! Magazine

Analysing Kerrang!

Target Audience

The primary target audience for this Kerrang! magazine is white females who are aged between 14-25+  and are in the social class of E-C1. This target audience will be fans of the genre rock and fans of the star vehicle Hayley Williams/Paramore. This means that the primary theorist that will be mentioned through out this magazine being analysed will be Laura Mulvey (1975) who states in short that woman are objects to men's sexual desires and are portrayed this way judging by the way the camera is used upon the character.

As the target audience has Youths involved, 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 masthead for this magazine front cover is one eight down the page with a white separate background colour (White) away from the original background colour. But the font used for the masthead is very destructive looking with the smash line effects going through it. This would be suitable for the primary target audience as most of the target audience fall under Stanley Hall's theory; Being reckless involved in criminal activity, sex, drugs and alcohol.

On the top right corner of the masthead is a small red bald text saying “Loud” which is a stereotype for rockers being loud by the music their producing and wild lifestyles. But judging by the selected colour for this text it could connote trouble, so this would be suitable for the primary target audience that the majority of this audience will be reading; Youth's who stereotypically fall under the Stanley Hall's theory of drinking, drugs, sex and criminal activity.

Images

The main image chosen for this magazine front cover is very rebellious looking as it is a medium shot of the young main singer from Paramore sticking up her two middle fingers in a swearing manor, but judging by her appearance all over from the facial expression to the red/orange hair, this could connote that the main singer is being cocky and rebellious. So this would be suitable for the target audience because it would fall under Stanley Hall's theory as this would encourage Youth members who are just a few years younger than her to be rebellious by the criminal activity, drugs, sex and alcohol.

In terms of mise-en-sense for the star vehicle Paramore’s singer; the messy hair is orange and can connote that she is a rebellious and wild character, which can be suitable for the primary target audience because of how the youth’s who fall under Stanley Hall’s theory. Except also the star vehicle Hayley Williams in terms of mise-en-sense also is wearing make up, a low cut red top and a trendy hair cut meaning that can fall under the Laura Mulvey theory because she is placed upon the magazine for men's desire.

But also this main image would immediately put off other people who would fall under the Malik theory because people who are religious and from a strict country abroad (who immigrated to UK) will stereotypically not want to purchase this magazine because of the obscene language and photo's produced upon the front cover of the main singer from Paramore sticking up her two fingers.

The magazine also has the usual common conventions such as the bar-code, headlines, teasers, issue number and etc. Although this magazine has something to tempt people to purchase Kerrang! by giving away free posters of a successful band called Panic At The Disco. This would suitable for the primary target audience who fall under the Katz and Blumer (1974) theory searching for a personal identity because they could keep the item as a souvenir if they are fans of the band.

There are also 3 other smaller images upon the front page of other bands who are being featured in this magazine issue of Kerrang! Other star vehicle bands called Good Charlotte and two of Panic At The Disco, Free! Judging by them in terms of mise-en-sense they are wearing clothing that looks suitable for middle class men. This could support the theorist Marxist because in shorts he states that white, middle class men are responsible for running the media.

In big bold white letters on a grey arrow pointing to these star vehicle bands, looking as if its been graffiti sprayed on, this once again can connote criminal activity and rebellious behaviour, meaning this is suitable for the target audience this magazine is aimed at; Youths who fall under the Stanley Hall theory, sex, drugs, criminal activity and alcohol.

Also the image of the main singer from Panic At The Disco has half of his face darkened, this could connote that he also is a stereotypical rock star who has two sides to him, he is rebellious and reckless. This image would be suitable for the primary target audience who fall under the Stanley Hall theory as well as Katz and Blumer (1975) searching for a personal identity (Constructing their own identity and Diversion (Escaping from everyday problem).

Text

In terms of text upon the front page, the main headline is big and bold so it will immediately attract the attention of fans and people who are familiar with the band, encouraging them to pick up the magazine and take a closer look to notice the medium orange dirty font underneath stating “Pop-Punks Brightest Young Rebels” connoting their trouble. This text will be suitable for the target audiences who fall under the theorists Stanley Hall because it will attract the attention of youths who are criminals, alcoholics, druggies and the sexually active.

Also the bold orange theme runs through the magazine as it goes on to another teasing feature of gossip about another band, Good Charlotte “The Madden boys are back!” This will also encourage fans of this particular band to pick up the issue as they will want more information, which in shops can sometimes be a reason why some people pick up a magazine. So this will be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Stanley Hall theory; sex, drugs, criminal activity and alcohol. Also the target will find this suitable if they fall under the Katz and Blumer theory (1974) searching for a personal identity (Constructing their own identity and Diversion (Escaping from everyday problem).

“Dirty Little Secrets.” Already this Kerrang! Magazine had attracted a certain target audience by the vocabulary used. “What’s your favourite rock star got to hide?” In while smaller bolder letters that blend in naturally with the whole page layout. But this will encourage the target readers of this genre to be rebellious, alcoholics, sexually active and involved in criminal activity; This falls under the Stanley Hall theory.

Then finally at the bottom and top of the magazine is more star vehicles with bands who are mentioned upon the front cover such as “My Chemical Romance” “Evanescene” “Iron Maiden” and etc. These mentions will be attract the primary target audience's attention who fall under the Stanley Hall theory because they are bands who are connoting depression with their music and reckless behaviour. Meaning it could also be suitable for the target audience who fall under the Katz and Blumer (1975) theory; searching for a personal identity (Constructing their own identity and Diversion (Escaping from everyday problem).

Annaleigh Benn