Clash is a popular music and fashion magazine and website based in the United Kingdom. It is published 10 times a year by Music Republic Ltd after Clash Music Ltd went into liquidation.
The brand's content alternates between modern bands such as The Horrors, Florence & the Machine and Jamie xx as well as hip-hop artists like DJ Shadow, Kanye West and Beastie Boys, who have all had cover spots in recent issues. It concentrates on music and fashion, and often their effect on surrounding culture, as well as film and technology.
Denotation Masthead The masthead is a black font in italic, serifs and includes decorations. Just below that there is a black italic font in bold with serifs and just below that there is a black thick font that is bold and is sans serif; all of the fonts are capitals. All of the text is irregular and it reads “Torrential Reign the gritty balladering of King Krule” Anchorage text The Anchorage text is thick,small black and capitalised. There is an increased size 4. It reads “ones to watch- chapter 4: Royalty this chapter focuses on a regally monikered introvert: our favourite former kid” There is a thick underline beneath it. Additional text The additional text uses drop cap and also displays names in bold; it is a small simple font. Main Image The border around the additional text is a black squiggly line going down. The background behind the text is a long shot of the artist looking up to the left it is very saturated and very faded. The left side of the page features “King Krule” he is wearing a green and black patterned shirt, his hair is neatish, he is against an orange background. His face is completely in black. The house style The house style is a mix of many different fonts and types and they are all in black.
Connotation Masthead The masthead is very peculiar and defiantly not conventional. The use of irregular spacing makes the words flow more and this works well with the look. The use of three fonts adds a variety and flare to a normal bland looking convention, although it is innovative it is also slightly distracting and makes it hard for you to know where the attention is meant to be on the page. Having “king Krule” In bold makes It stand out more from the rest of the page and clearly highlights what the article is going to be about. There I a clever witty use of word used; “Balladeering”. This gives the connotations of it being a craft to sing ballads like this singer does and that everything he makes is done as an artist; It also sounds quite slangy and would be something you would expect to hear from youth. “Torrential Reign” Is also a very clever use of words because “Reign” relates to a monarchs reign which seems to be what this article is suggesting this person is also “Reign” could also suggest to torrential rain which is rain that keeps on coming down and can’t be stopped this gives the idea that this artist is a rising star and cannot be stopped. The use of the word “Torrential” before “Reign” provokes an idea that the artist is a tyrant. A man who treats his subjects with disrespect and abuses his position of power, this works very effectively with the use of shadow in the image, both together suggest a slightly darker side to this person and that they want to be seen as artistic and deep. “Torrential” Also means that it can’t be stopped that it is an oncoming force that’s only way is forward and nothing is going to stand it its way. Anchorage text The anchorage text differs from the masthead because it is following more of a house style and is less irregular but it still keeps the same random, contemporized feel with the use of the larger “4”. “4” gives
the sentence a breather, it’s a clever way to include a breath without using a comma and is much more inventive and aesthetical pleasing. “Ones to watch” this phrase makes me think that this magazine often includes a section where they scope new talent, this would suggest the talent in question is relatively new and upcoming, this works well with the previous language “Torrential Reign” used in the mast head; this statement is further backed up by the words “chapter 4” suggesting this is newest addition of this series. “Royalty—Regall Monikered” This again references the regal imagery we are given,but from this use of language it gives the impression that the artist in question is relatively young and that his life has been “Brought up like a king”. “Monikered” much like “Balladering” (Used in the masthead) Is a young clever witty use of language, it sounds like something someone younger would say; the use of this younger language makes you feel a slightly more innocent, pure mashup with the other darker imagery used a clash of youth and adulthood this is further backed up by the image and other language used such as “Our favourite former kid”. I feel that he is trying to portray himself as a kid who has grown up and is now ready to face the deeper darker side of adult life. Additional text Surprisingly some more conventional aspects are used in the additional text such as the positioning and the use of drop caps and standard fonts. There is also additional information showing the people who contributed to this article, this gives the magazine a (Up till now lacking) Professional look. Main Image The use of the odd squiggly line is following the unconventional feel of the magazine it also clearly separates the Image from the information. The background for the information is quite effective because much like before it shows the clear difference between the
good and the bad, the young and the adult the Understood and the misunderstood between the two images and the line is a clear border between the two sides of him, both the images are looking away from each other this is very effective and shows the conflict inside him. The use of an orange and white background is effective because it separates the two it also makes them contrast even more than before. House style The use of house style in this magazine seems to be minimal, there Is a constant clash of styles but I feel that shows the very ideology of this magazine, it’s very unconventional and its very different. Trying to stray away from the norm and try something different. In conclusion I find that this magazine is trying to do something very different I trying to break down conventions and barriers, although I find that it’s sometimes a clash and it doesn’t work well. The use of Language and wit in this has been extremely effective and I find that it adds to a deeper side of the magazine when I make my magazine I will take this into account.