Real Media Analysis 5
Vibe magazine contents pages more than often have a big “V” (for Vibe) near to the centre of the page. Usually behind the main image of the contents page, this is often an image of the featured artist from the front cover; this aids the magazine to create a sense of unity. On this specific issue of the publication the cover star was Hip-Hop artist Kanye West. The “CONTENTS” typography is always positioned in the same place on the contents page and always done on three lines, “CO” followed by “NTEN” with “TS” underneath that usually in the far right third of the page. Again this is the magazine creating unity from issue to issue of the magazine. The colour schemes may vary from time to time but the V and the contents typography always stay in the same position and in the same font. Vibe also always keeps the “Features” and “Fashion” sub-titles the same in every issue, although from time to time they will go from the left to the right. This is for the same reasons as the above two. The contents only use three fonts, this is industry standard and is done commonly in magazines in order to keep it simple to the reader. Vibe challenges the codes and conventions of magazines with its contents page. A lot of magazines will have a thumbnail of the front cover on their contents page, Vibe does not. Some magazines will have band/artist indexes, Vibe does not. Vibe is predominantly music and fashion; given his stature in both music and fashion having Kanye West featuring in the magazine attracts a wide audience, admirers of his music and admirers of his clothing.