House style: The house style of this magazine is shown as most double page spreads are quite informal and

unorganised to represent how the target audience will like to read it. Most double page spreads show the main

image in the primary optical area with the headline overlapping it. Underneath the main image mostly contains the

kicker followed by the article which is in columns; however there is no official house style shown on the double page

spread of how the columns are organised. There are also smaller images shown of double page spreads along with

captions which ate shown as badges over the image.

The Gutenberg principle: The

main image which is of who the

article is about is in the primary

optical area which makes the

reader instantly know who the

article is about. The strong fallow

area shows a ‘mini interview’ which

is shown in pink, standing out from

the rest of the page, and is

presented in an insert type of way.

The weak fallow area has the kicker

and the start of the article which is

useful as it will make the reader

look towards the weak fallow area

and read the article; exploring all of

the page. The terminal area

contains the ‘mini interview’ insert

as well as the end of the article.

Main image/images: The main image on this double page spread shows a wide, long shot of a man sat on the Great

Wall of China which is an iconic location. The man sat on the wall is wearing all black and has a hairstyle which

automatically suggests that he is involved in the music industry someway. The man in the main image, being Brandon

Flowers, a member of The Killers, suggests that the Great Wall 9of China is used to represent how big The Killers are,

as the Great Wall of China is huge and significant. The main image also uses the rule of thirds which focuses mainly on

Brandon Flowers, but also helps to establish the Great Wall of China behind him.

Design Balance: The Design balance suggests a degree of formality as the article is split into columns making the reader

read it easier. However, the overall design balance is informal as the main image is taking over more than half of the first

page, going into the second page. Also, there is a main image on the second side along with more inserts, making it

informally balanced. This is synonymous to the music industry, especially the indie genre as a creative and informal page

will suit the target audience more than a formal layout.

Text: The text uses language in both an informal and formal way. For example, the purpose of the article is mostly to

inform readers that the big band, The Killers, are performing in China and to explain how they are feeling and what

they’re going to do next. This shows formality as informative language is used, however, the second purpose could

also be to entertain the audience as the article uses humour when interviewing Vannucci about the trip as he jokes

about Justin Bieber ‘forcing flunkies to carry him up the steep parts.” This uses alliteration in the text and humour.

The text also uses taboo and slang language with phrases such as ‘Ball – buster,’ ‘Altitude Sickness’ and ‘Fucked’

which shows the informality of the text and helps to communicate with the target audience as they will find it more

entertaining. The text comes across as very chatty as frequent use of elision is used with words such as ‘don’t’ and

the texts consists of a lot of interviews which expresses the chatty language. Within the heading, alliteration is used

which makes the text more catchy and entertaining and helps the reader to remember it and be more interested.

Masthead/Headline: The headline of the double page spread is in simple, sans serif font with a white background behind

the black writing. The headline is shown in a creative way as it is overlapping the main image. The headline also uses

alliteration with the letter ‘C’ as it says ‘China Crises.’ This helps the reader to remember the headline and to understand

more of what the article will be about.

House style: The house style of this magazine in terms of double page spread shows that most double page spreads

consistently show the headline taking up most of the top half of one of the pages, along with the kicker, also the

article is mainly presented in 2 or 3 separate columns. The house style also shows that one page is usually a main

image with a caption in the corner, to show who or what the article is about. Within the double page spreads of

which I have looked at within the Q magazines, another example of the house style is how there is also a small text

next to the page numbers stating the month/year of the magazine with the ‘Q’ logo beside it.

The Gutenberg principle: In the primary optical area of the double page spread, the headline is used in large, bold writing

so that the reader will read it straight away; getting an idea of what the article is about. The strong fallow area of the

double page contains the band member subject’s head and facial expression; therefore the reader will know who the

article is about instantly. The weak fallow area is quite different from the normal layout using the Gutenberg principle as

the article is straight down the middle of the page, making the reader notice the weak fallow area but in a different way to

usual magazines. The terminal area contains a caption to the image saying ‘Sling it, people’ and explaining who is in the

image and when/where is was taken. This gives information to the reader and also makes them notice the entire page.

Main image/images: The double page spread contains just one image which takes over both of the pages by using rule of

thirds. Rule of thirds have been used as the subject is on the right hand side whereas the background takes up the rest of

the page. The colours used are reds and blacks, the subject is in a shadowy black colour looking towards a red type of light.

The colours red and black link the main image in with the text as the text is about an illness of which the band member has

and these colours represent death/danger. The colours being set out like this may suggest death for the band member as

the lighting which is facing him may be to create a heavenly effect. The subject’s physicality is also strong and seems as

though he is ready for battle, while he has his microphone in his hand, suggesting singing may be his life. The strong

physicality links with the article and ‘mortal combat,’ being a game suggests that the subject is prepared to ‘win.’

Text: The double page spread contains a kicker to start the article off, which the reader will read straight after the

headline. The kicker is in capital writing using bold text on important information. The article doesn’t use a lot of slang a s

the magazine itself, being Q magazine, is quite formal, and also the concept of the article is about a serious issue. However ,

reading through the article, the text uses a variety of colloquial and metaphorical terms. For example, the music industry is

described as a ‘shindig’ suggesting it is a huge party rather than work. The start of the article is more informal as it gets

more formal and serious throughout the article. Some other examples of informality which is used is fillers such as “Er” in a

person’s speech while being interviewed, and also colloquial, chatty terms are used in an interview with phrases such as

“wicked, healthy sex life you all helped us with.” This shows informality and humour within the text and uses quite an

expressive phrase. The purpose of the article is mainly to inform the reader of someone’s cancer, which shows how most

of the text is formal and serious and the sentences used are quite long and explained.

Design balance: The double page spread shows rule of thirds within the main image. Also, the design balance of the

overall double page spread shows how it is informal balance as although it is symmetrical with the main image being

on one side and the text being on the other, there is no balance within the layout as there is hardly any text on the

main image’s side and there are four different types of text on the other side. This shows how the magazine is

informally balanced, which is predictable for a music magazine such as ‘Q’.

Masthead/Headline: The headline of

this double page spread takes over the

whole of the top on the first page in

large, gradient type writing which

catches the eye automatically. The

headline saying ‘mortal combat’ helps

the reader to know what this article is

going to be about instantly as mortal

combat is a game and there is a band

member on the right side page. This

shows that there is something

happening with the band which is being

described as a ‘game’ what they are

fighting, suggested by the headline.