LIIAR Analysis of Kerrang Magazine

Language

•     The photograph is covering the mast head of the magazine which shows that the magazine has been around for a while and is an established brand. They expect the audience to know the full name of the magazine by only seeing a part of it. The style of font represents the type of music that Kerrang promotes and connotes the loud, rock ideology that the magazine is all about. The font looks as if it has been broken or smashed, giving the idea it is supposed to have been smashed by a guitar or by some music playing too loud. The colour of the mast head is black which is a common colour associated with rock music and how people dress who listen to that particular genre of music. The photograph is composed to show all three band members of 30 Seconds to Mars, by looking at it you can assume what music means to them. The lead singer, Jared Leto, has his hand over his heart and is looking directly at the audience, this could mean that music is a part of him, is close to his heart and could also connote that his fans mean a lot to him. The cover lines aren't positioned in the conventional left third, instead they are in the far right of the cover of the magazine. They are accompanied with images which make the magazine more appealing to the audience as there isn't too much text, therefore making it more exciting and fitting for the target audience. The main cover line links with the main image which is positioned underneath it as it advertises what is most likely to be featured in one of the magazine’s double page spreads. It is big and bold which draws the audience in, making readers want to know more about 30 Seconds to Mars. ‘The Making Of A Modern Masterpiece’ positioned underneath the main cover line sounds exciting and makes the reader want to know what the ‘Masterpiece’ is and what it is all about.

Institution

         The publishers of Kerrang magazine are the Bauer Media Group. The other magazine that Bauer publish is Q, which is also devoted to alternative music and accounting for people with different music tastes. Its head quarters are in Hamburg, operating in 15 countries worldwide. Worldwide circulation of Bauer Media Group’s magazine titles results in about 38 million titles a week. Since the company was founded in 1875, it has been privately owned and under management by the Bauer family. The company was formerly named Heinrich Bauer Verlag KG, abbreviated to HBV and usually shortened to H. Bauer. Bauer Media Group has been managed by four generations of the Bauer family. It started out as a small printing house which has grown into a worldwide publishing and media company. Bauer started in the UK with the launch of Bella magazine in 1987.

Source: www.wikipedia.com

Ideology

Kerrang magazine’s slogan is ‘Life is Loud’, this represents the genre of music that the magazine is devoted to and what it is all about. Its slogan conveys the idea that you can’t live without rock music and that rock music represents the things you go through in life. It gives the idea that you shouldn’t care about what people think of you and make as much noise as you want to, preferably through music as that is what the magazine is trying to promote. Kerrang’s ideology is to oppose the mainstream side of music and encourages people to be more unique and broaden their taste in music. This is shown in the front cover by the colour scheme, images and mast head. The sort of colour scheme shown wouldn’t usually be seen in a popular mainstream music magazine so it’s going against a majority of people’s ideas of music. The band, 30 Seconds to Mars don’t look like a conventional pop group, they promote the idea of being different and unique.

Audience and Representation

The magazine appeals to the target audience as the models shown in the image are looking directly at the camera, which seems as if they are looking directly at the audience. This portrays the idea as if they are reaching out to their audience and want to personally connect with them. 30 seconds to Mars fit into the genre of music which Kerrang is devoted to and what the majority of the magazine’s readers will listen to, therefore this caters for the target audience’s needs as Kerrang is advertising bands that fit into the rock music genre. One of the cover lines is showing You Me At Six and is partnered with the phrase ‘Josh’s guide to love and sex’. The magazine is targeted at young men and women, a lot of people have a lot to say about this topic, so this cover line being shown allows the audience to relate to the celebrity and gives the audience some reading that would interest them. 30 Seconds to Mars represents Kerrang as they are passionate and care a lot about music. This is reinforced by Jared Leto being pictured with his hand over his heart. The band look like a conventional rock band as they are wearing casual clothes, they are looking relaxed and laid back.