“Billboard (stylized as billboard) is an American music magazine, originally headquartered in New York City, New York and now owned by Prometheus Global Media. It was first published on November 1, 1894. It is distinguished as being among the oldest trade magazines in the world. The magazine originally focused on bill posting and outdoor amusements before specializing in the music industry in the 1950s.” Source Wikipedia.
Denotation The image is of the magazine Billboard, at the top right of the magazine there is the masthead “PRIMARY COLORS”, the mast head has a solid black fill and is a sans serif font. There is shading around the masthead that is a red. The shading is coming from the middle out toward the audience giving it an outward look. The masthead is positioned away from the image. All the letters in the mast head are capitalised. Just above the mast head there are three circles that are primary colours The anchorage text is positioned just below the masthead and is a different font from the masthead. Unlike the masthead not all the letters are capitalised the anchorage text reads “The story behind Taylor Swifts block buster “Red”
and the pallet of producers ,song writers, experiences and emotions she used to create it” There is additional text bellow the Anchorage text, there is use of drop cap, the typography is the same as the anchorage text, bellow all the additional text there is the issue date, website and page number. The main image is positioned on the left hand side of the page, the main image is a long shot of Taylor Swift. The image uses bright colour and is positioned on a grey background. There is a direct mode of address. She is posing with a guitar and she is sitting down with her legs crossed. She is wearing a white short sleeved sweater, blue three quarter length jeans with brown casual shoes. Her guitar is brown and there is wood showing in the top left corner. She is wearing makeup (Lipstick and eye liner). Her hair is short-medium in length. This is different from the front cover of the magazine. The house style is black, red and white, they use the same fonts for the anchorage text and the additional text. Connotation The mast head being positioned in the top right of the DPS draws the attention to the image straight away giving it more attention. The use of the language “primary colours” relates the album red and it also related to the article, Primary colours references to the producers and other people that helped to make her album “red” much like how primary colours work. This use of language is effective because it’s witty and creative use of title. The solid black font makes the masthead stand out from the white and grey background behind it, it also gives the appearance of it bursting out from the page. Also the black fill and sans serif font follows the same style from the front cover of it being simple and modern. There is red shading bursting out from the centre of the words outwards toward the audience this gives the effect that the words are projected out of the page, this is very striking and strong and makes an impression on the reader. Also the use of the colour red, mirrors the red circle above it as well as working well with the other primary colours as well as this it also is a direct reference to the text which is talking about her album. The capitalised font is aesthetically pleasing and adds to the effect of it coming out of the page. The circles above the mast head are primary colours this directly references the masthead itself.
The anchorage text is different from the masthead this adds variety to the image and makes it look less plain, along with this not all of the letters are capitalised. The language used such as “pallet” and “producers, songwriters, experiences and emotions”. Much like the mast head the use of the language is a direct reference to use of “primary colours” in a “pallet” making an image, in this instance the image is the album red. Also the use of a list is very effective because it emphasises the point, this is also done by the use of alliteration in “experiences and emotions” Additional text In the additional text there is a lot of focus as Taylor as a professional singer and creative person, I feel that it is clear to see that thought this text that she is a perfectionist this is reflected by the perfect image of her, where everything seems simple but perfect. The use of drop cap in the text is common in most magazines and shows the more formal side of the magazine has started. There is also dates of release, websites & page numbers; these are simple but important because they help the reader find out more and explore more if they want to. Main image The main image is on the left hand side of the DPS this distances it from the text it also adds attention to the image itself because it would be the first thing you see when turning the page, rather than text. The image is a long shot this shows us all of Swift and shows us what she is doing, it also allows for the guitar to be in shot which is essential because it shows her creative look. The image is very bright and is bursting in colour which is a good contrast from the grey studio background, it emphasises Taylors Happy go lucky attitude and her creativity, and it also gives the image and text more attention. There is a direct mode of address with the audience this makes us identify with Swift and feel more involved with her music and what she is doing, she also seems almost playful with the coy angle in which she is looking. She is sitting down with her legs crossed this emphasises her more playful attitude and her more childlike side because children sit with their legs crossed ; but it also shows her creative side because artists often sit with their legs crossed. She is wearing a white short sleeved sweater and blue three quarter length jeans this is a simple but effective look and is very aesthetically appealing this is very much like the cover image which portrays her like the “girl next door”, also the image looks almost perfect, her outfit was obviously handpicked and isn’t dirty in any way
shape or form this is very reflective of Swifts almost perfectionist attitude. She’s wearing brown casual shoes this with the rest of her outfit is very casual and chilled. Although she is wearing makeup she is only wearing lipstick and eyeliner which is very minimalistic and simple which is aesthetically pleasing. House style The house style follows a simple black red and white colour scheme with the same font throughout, this is simple effective and aesthetically pleasing. Conclusion In conclusion I feel that this magazine focuses heavily on Taylor Swift using clever language and is witty. It also strongly reflects how Taylor Swift is and her attitude and style to a point where everything is perfect. When making my own magazine I will take this into account and try and use witty clever language as well as reflecting my subject closely.