Magazine Contents Page Analysis- Glamour
A contents page of a magazine is usually the second page of the magazine which shows you what is involved within the magazine on what page.
Within this essay I will be analysing the contents page of a well-known magazine Glamour.
The first thing I noticed when looking at this magazine is the masthead. The word ‘Glamour’ is shown in bold, simple font on the top of the contents page. The bold lettering is effective as it shows readers the company of magazine they are reading. The masthead is also patterned in three different colours (green, yellow and light blue). These colours all connote positive attitudes, for example yellow connotes happiness and blue is a calm and peaceful colour.
The issue date is just below the masthead in big lettering. This is effective as then readers know what issue they are reading and if the information (fashion advice) is up to date.
The strap line reads the words ‘The Style Issue’. The strap line is just a short description of what the whole magazine is about. In Glamour’s case, the magazine is clearly based around fashion and beauty as the strapline says the issue is about style. The word ‘Style’ is in a bold pink font which stands out to readers as it’s a bright colour meaning its eye catching. The colour pink also connotes femininity which is what the magazines target audience is. The numbers are also in pink and in the bottom section the numbers are the same colour as the title which is effective as it continuous the colour scheme attracting audiences.
The main image takes up the majority of the page this means she is most likely to appear within the magazine in one of the main articles as it’s obvious to audiences what page she will be located on. The image is also in black and white, monochrome filter which symbolises class. The style the model is trying to represent may possibly be from a classy range due to what she’s wearing on the image and the filter used.
The website is also included just below the masthead so if audiences are interested in what they’ve seen within the magazine they know where to visit for more information. The website may also be included so the magazine company can promote themselves to wider audiences as websites are free and easier to access rather than going to buy a print copy of the magazine.
Magazine Contents Page Analysis- Vogue
The primary target audience is females who are interested in fashion. Not only is the magazine targeted towards females, but homosexual males, as their secondary target audience due to them being stereotypically camp and also obsess over fashion. As the magazine is considered to be the most well known fashion magazine being sold, it has not aimed itself towards teens, as they have another magazine called 'teen vogue' that covers that; though a lot of teenagers purchase the magazine regardless.
The overall layout of the magazine is simple and easy to read. The columns are present to ensure the contents page does not look confusing to potential readers. This is effective as people who perhaps are not particularly good at reading will be willing to read on due to the simple design. There is a clear gap between each paragraph, this breaks the text up. The masthead, the magazines name: Vogue, is clear against the background. It overlaps the image, as though the name is more important than the content of the magazine, which can be compared to designer clothing. The masthead is larger than any of the other writing, and stands out against the white and grey background. This draws the readers attention immediately. Subheadings have been used above each section of writing, to ensure the reader finds it quick and easy to find each specific section. The image, located to the left, is the centre of attention (other than the headline) but has words layered over it, almost making it look as though it is vaguely part of the background.
The colour palette of this contents page is red, black, and grey. Though grey is not as bold as the other colours, it occupies both of the images. The red font has been colour coordinated with the dress. With the magazine using minimal shades of colours it keeps the professional feel to the magazine. The white background is common in contents pages, as to not take away attention from the text and keep the audience focused. The subheadings are in red, which works well as its the boldest and brightest colour on the contents page attracting audiences attention. The white background means that the text shows up well. The black and white is complete contrast, which means that the text is so easy to read.
The imagery is always an insight to what the magazine contains, relating to the genre. It is clear to see that the main image is fashion-related, as the denotation is a model wearing a garment, which is not a usual piece of clothing you'd see individuals wear in public places. There are two images on the contents page. One relates to fashion, the other is a beauty product. This connotes that the magazine is not only based around fashion, but also alternative ways of improving yourself which helps widen the audience to people who are looking for a magazine that shows you how to look good in various different ways. The model is posing which connotes maturity and, somewhat, sophistication. She is also wearing a garment which is quite revealing in places, suggesting to the audience that fashion is looking good, not covering yourself up. The image is of a female, which can relate to the female target audience, and so the readers carry on reading as they are drawn in by the imagery more than anything else. It is also a reflection of the upcoming seasons' trend.
The typography is effective in a simple format. All fonts are similar, except the masthead of the magazine, which is typically going to be the one part of the magazine that is unique against other magazines. The fonts are not varied, as the magazine would look untidy and unprofessional. Fashion is considered to be elegant, which could relate to the font selection of the masthead. A common convention of magazine contents pages is to have subheadings of which have been typed in capitals, this creates emphasis, allowing the reader to find what they want to read quickly.
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