Analysis of Contents Pages

Analysis of Contents Page 1

Here is a contents page which is bang on with the conventions of a contents page. It has the main image of the main feature, with a text box sticking out into the picture with a heading and a brief description of the feature. There are section for the different topics, with the heading and brief description convention. As this is a special edition it has a whole section dedicated to Oasis. Once again using the heading and brief description convention. I think they have stuck to the conventions as they know they are tried and tested and will always work, it is done so the reader can get and insight into the article and then get engross so they wan to read on. Here the pictures have been airbrushed making them look hyper real. This give an effect which makes the artist look of higher class, however at the same time the mise en scene of the main artist picture makes them look life they represent the reader as they are wear causal clothes which the readers would wear. However, the every month section only uses heading, I think this is because they do not want to overshadow the Oasis section as it a special edition.

Analysis of Contents page 2

The magazine here follows some of the conventions of the contents pages but challenges others. Firstly it follows the main image of the main article engrossing the reader. It uses sections so it makes it easier for the reader to look for different topics in the magazine, the article headings have a brief description of them underneath giving the reader a taste of the magazine, making them want to read on.However the conventions have been challenged here as instead of using the heading and slight description convention when talking about the different articles in the magazine, they have just used headings, therefore leaving the reader with question marks in their head so there for making them want to read on, so by challenging the convention they have got the same or even better effect than the heading then brief description code.On this contents page a lot of airbrushing has been used , the main image at the top has been lightened up , the image has generally given a facelift, this airbrushing gives the picture a different mise en scene, which is that it show he changed and he is ready to tackle something new.

Analysis of Contents Page 3

The content s page on left follows the normal conventions of contents page but with a few developments, firstly the main picture of the on the page is of the main feature, it has a title and a slight description under it, this conveys the meaning of this is the ,an of the moment as it takes up most of the page, making the reader focus most on the main article. At the bottom where it shows the contents, it follows the conventions of contents page by having sections, for example here there is the section, ‘feature...beat....gear...drum lesson...buyers guide’. The articles page numbers are order chronologically and the descriptions of the articles are following the conventions as well, by using a heading of the article with a slight description of it under it. As this contents page follows the codes and conventions of the magazines, it cannot be flawed as it is using tried and tested methods to engross the reader.However, the conventions have not challenged here only slightly develop by giving an extra incentive with the win heading which looks like it is invading the picture which will engross the reader even more.

Evaluation

From looking at existing contents pages I have learnt that the best choice for a new magazine hitting the market would be to stick to the base of the ideas of the codes and conventions. All the double page spreads which I had studied all followed the conventions of traditional magazines, with the different sections, headings and sub-headings for the different features.

I have also learnt that the contents page images have a lot of meaning and connotations to them , this may be to complement the article, may be to draw the reader to the made articles.

Also that I should include an extra incentive on the content, as the contents is the place where the reader will look for the article they want to read it will be the perfect place to put and extra incentive or competition in.