Research & Planning: MixMag Contents Page Analysis

Contents Page © MixMag Publications

For my first contents page analysis, I have chosen to use an example from a music magazine that is similar to my own, MixMag. I have also analysed a double page spread from MixMag, so I am familiar with their target audience/demographic and representational features. I will analyse this for it's use of genre, audience, layout, shot type and representation.

I will not go into detail too much about this magazine's genre as I have already spoke in-depth about it in a previous post, I will, however, discuss it's features that are typical of it's genre. A clear feature is the typography used throughout the page. The headers of the content's page, ie. "VIP" and "club country". The font used is very retro and modern, it is a sans-serif typeface and is a pinky-red which is a colour typical of the genre. The size of the text isn't too big but it is successful in attracting the readers attention. The sub-headings, ie. "The End is nigh" and "Fashion" are bold and easily noticeable  Again, the font used is a sans-serif and the colour is black to signify importance. The text stands out and draws your attention to it immediately. Beneath the sub-headings are deck's, ie. "Oh no - our face London club is closing down - forever!" and "Welcome to our teenage fashion wasteland". These are used to give the reader a 'snippet' or brief description of what they will expect to read in the respective sections.

Again, I will not go into this magazine's audience as I have covered it in-depth in a previous post.

This page has a very typical contents page layout, although it does feature more images than you would usually find in a music magazine. Traditionally, there would only be one or two images on the contents page where as here we can see that four different images have been used. The layout is clean and the images are laid out in a grid-like formation. Each image has a large number presented on top of it, directing the reader to it's respective page number. Beneath that is a caption describing the article in which the image originated from. The layout of the typography is modern and minimal. The minimalism comes from the limited number of fonts used, and they are all sans-serif (to enforce the modernism of the magazine). The headers of each section are large and in a different colour to the rest of the body, and the page numbers are in the same font as to relate the two pieces of information. Beneath each sub-header is a description of the article. At the bottom of the page we can see a folio containing the page number, issue date and url of the magazine's website.

The shot type of the main image present on the page is a medium longshot, used to emphasise the subject's body and clothing (or lack of). The background of the image is patterned but not too complicated, as to not confuse the reader. The images below the main one are colourful and bold. One is taken from a live performance and the other from an interview with an artist.

The magazine has represented it's audience as being young and out-going. The main model is young herself, and her fashion is very modern and fresh. The text is attractive and inviting.