Q – DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD (DAFT PUNK)This sequence of double-page spreads on Daft Punk is about the thoughts behind the release of their new album, as well as about the genre of the duo as a whole. The text of the pages speaks of how Daft Punk has taken their own spin on the ‘punk rock’ style by making music that is positive and optimistic. This overall theme of the interview is evidenced by the pull quote by Thomas Bangalter in which he states: “In an insecure, ‘no future’ state, the most punk rock thing to do is something optimistic.” In this way, the purpose of the article isn’t necessarily to inform the reader, as much as it exists to entertain them. A lot of the language consists of jokes and humour. As an informal interview, it is chatty. However, it is conversational in a manner between adults talking. Colloquialisms are not overused. Some of the sentences are quite long, but this style should naturally be appreciated by Q readers.

The music journalists behind ‘Q’ magazine use a variety of colloquial language techniques in writing this lead article about Daft Punk. It is specifically styled to be informative and amusing. An interesting use of language is when the writer compares the outfit of Bangalter to that of a ‘beardy Jewish professor’; the simile presents a strong and humorous image. He is suggested to be unfashionable, which is an unusual representation of a musical artist in this current wave of fashion and artists. The carefree and smart picture of the artist created also reflects the genre of the group.

Similarly, Homem-Christo says “”In a shitty state of reality people want to laugh and party. You either stay in the shit and be cynical or you take an opportunity to enjoy life”” The use of taboo language within reason attracts the older demographic that the article is aimed at. It doesn't discourage people from listening to what the artist has to say, as some of the heavy metal groups in 'Kerrang!' might be ignored by Q readers, so much as it really emphasises his point and gives the reader a moral that they will remember. Including these hard-hitting, punchy lines is effective journalism.

Although the entire article is compromised of carefully selected language, some aspects stand out more than others. For instance, the article says “So here Daft Punk are standing up, heads bowed, having their helmets polished. Ooer. Slip-slide goes the duster across the gleaming, iconographic chrome, removing pesky specks.” Assonance plays on the word 'slip-slide' and 'pesky specks', makes the line punchier and more entertaining piece. As the article is written to entertain (Uses and Gratifications Theory), this apparently random language use is found funny. Likewise, the onomatopoeic use of 'Ooer' reminds us that the journalist is a human interviewer, and makes it seem more conversational.

Behind the largest pull quote of the article, an entire A4 page is taken up by an image of the duo in sparkling black suits holding ice creams, with a bright blue sky in the mise en scene. The photograph carries the connotations of Daft Punk making the summer brighter. It is used to create humour because Bangalter and Homem-Christo are wearing their iconographic chrome robot helmets, so couldn’t possibly eat ice cream. This is made funnier in the text of the article, which states “and [today the duo] wielded synthetic ice-creams – real ones declined due to the perilous properties of melting raspberry ripple on seriously expensive gloves…” A smaller caption on the photograph states “Daft Punk (from left, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo) reach melting point, Paris, May 2013.” The pun here is the reference to ‘melting point[s]’ as they are depicted as enjoying ice cream in the sun.

Besides the shining black, gold and chrome of the artists dress codes, the recurring colour scheme of the double page spreads seems to be blue and white. These colours connote the light beauty of the summer as well as the cheer and buoyancy of the interview and Daft Punk’s new album.

In the introductory double-page spread, a large image of Daft Punk looking at one another bleeds across two pages. It is taken from the same photo shoot as the other image but is employed as a cover photo for the sequence of pages containing the interview. The camera has been positioned so that the sun shines in between them, so that the photo matches the caption. The article headline is “How Daft Punk made the sun shine again.” The language here is unusual as, before reading the article, the reader may take the metaphor seriously and be confused as to how the group made “made the sun shine”. If they read it, they discover the meaning of the metaphor. It links to how their optimistic album was a massive success in a time when other music was, in contrast, pessimistic and negative.

Another interesting feature of this double-page spread about Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ is the way the text kicker is a fraction of the first sentence in the text itself. The text is ‘kicked’ off with “HEROIC BUT MIRACULOUS” and expanded on in the actual text with “… is how many would describe Daft Punk’s real-life anonymity in our era of reality TV insta-fame.”

“and wielded synthetic ice-creams – real ones declined

due to the perilous

properties of melting

raspberry ripple on seriously

expensive gloves…”

“So here Daft Punk

are standing up, heads

bowed, having their

helmets polished.

Ooer. Slip-slide goes the duster across the gleaming,

iconographic chrome,

removing pesky

“”In a shitty state of reality people want to laugh and party. You either stay in the shit and be cynical or you

take an opportunity to enjoy life…””

“Yves Saint Laurent would surely be appalled by his civvies: … Like a beardy Jewish professor…”

VIBE – DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD (N.A.R.S.)Vibe’s double-page spread featuring a small independent record company ‘N.A.R.S. Records’, and is a very short interview with a musical star brought to limelight by the company. Three quarters of the double-page is taken up by a photo shoot image of five people, which bleeds across both pages. In large, the purpose of the article is to inform. The language could not really be considered entertaining, but some aspects are in order to hook the reader. There is a slight element of informality, but the article isn't chatty or conversational. In contrast, it is serious. This works in conjunction with the formality of the well-suited people in the photograph and the style of the article as an informative piece. For example in the quotation ""His ability to write songs from anybody's perspective - especially his own - is amazing." says Danja of the lanky, baby-faced crooner." The quote itself is formal and suitable, but the description of Dania as a 'lanky, baby-faced crooner' is informal and amusing. The imagery created is fun, unusually contrasting the severity of the rest of the article. Likewise, in the quotation: "In the music industry, hasty roll-outs are usually speedy detours to the bargain bin." The topic of the speech is serious, but the alliterated metaphor of the 'bargain bin' is slightly informal and used to entertain.

The headline of the article is "N.A.R.S. Attacks!", which is a pun playing on the title of the well-known 1996 comic science fiction film, 'Mars Attacks!' 'N.A.R.S' is short for 'New Age Rock Stars' and is part of the name of the record company which is being discussed. The intended purpose of the pun is to say that this company are making a comeback and will b in our faces soon, and making an appearance in popular media. This is quite informal as it is based on a film of the comedy genre which is about aliens. It could imply that the new artists to be unveiled by this record company will be none like we have ever seen before. Moreover, 'Mars Attacks!' was released in the late twentieth century, and so would appeal more as a reference to older readers; it is likely that some young readers would not recognise the link itself. This is significant as the article is quite formal, and suggests that the double page spread is targeted towards older readers of the magazine. The humour in this pun is a form of encouraging someone to read the article, possibly giving the illusion that this small featurette in 'Vibe' is more than it actually is, by using a popular fiction reference to make it seem interesting.

The house style of this magazine repeatedly uses black, red, and white. The magazine has been well designed and these colours are reflected in the dress codes of the six people featured, and each colour used to a similar degree. These three colours represent the rich and glamorous lifestyle that these celebrities live, and makes them seem slightly imposing. This is what we can assume is the desired effect of the photograph.

The structure of the double page spread is unusual as only a very small amount of the page space is taken up with text. The majority of space is taken up by a single image. This is because this article was taken from near the back of 'Vibe' magazine and would not be classed as a specifically important read. In this way, the editors of 'Vibe' have used two methods to make people want to read this article. Firstly, they have used a large image and only a small amount of text, which quite a lot of people prefer. It makes the text appear short and concise, so people are more likely to stop and give the time to read it as less time is necessary. Other than this, they have placed the headline of the article in the strong fallow area of the second page. If a reader is flicking mindlessly through the magazine, they will spot this as it is on the edge of the page. Most articles will not achieve this as the headline tends to be placed on the top left inside of a page, away from the average mode of quick-reading.

Overall, this double page spread from 'Vibe' magazine appears to have serious content, but uses informal language where possible and references to popular fiction in order to secure a readership; these are modes of effective journalism.

"In the music industry, hasty roll-outs are usually speedy detours to the bargain bin."

""His ability to write songs from anybody's perspective - especially his own - is amazing." says Danja of the lanky, baby-faced crooner."

"The N'awlins native holed up in the studio for two years undergoing vocal lessons and brand development and emerged with the instantly classic swooner "I Want You." helping him earn an opening tour spot for Beyoncé."

"It was during these lags..."