Textual Analysis Of a Music Magazine

Textual Analysis of a Music Magazine Double Page Spread

In this assignment will analyse a double page spread from VIBE music magazine. In addition, using the correct terminology to describe the double page spread and the content it holds and analyse the pages in depth.

The denotation of this image is Solange Knowles posing in the ‘VIBE’ music magazine wearing Blue, Red, White, Black and Grey with lilac-purple shoes these are strong colours which are basic but effective it connotes the type of personality that they state that Solange supposedly has “Forget her sister outspoken Solange Knowles created one of the year’s best R&B albums”. Solange Knowles is on the left hand side of the second page, double page spread which is in colour and in the background there are miniature pictures of her in black and white posing in different positions with the same outfit. Solange is wearing lilac-purple shoes. Solange is standing in a very blunt position which is connoting that she is serious and direct about what she is doing.

The connotation of the colours worn by Solange Knowles, blue represents natural, original, calm. Red connotes fierce, fiery, passion, sexiness, romance, seductiveness, positivity. White connotes purity, cleanliness, also positive and safety. Black connotes dark side, cheeky, being bad and grey connotes stylish, chick, futuristic, fashionable and modern. Combining these colours together connotes that Solange is diverse, creative and innovative with her ideas as an artist and musician and works to perfect her craft, which is music and entertaining her fans.  The purple high heel shoes that are being worn by Solange connote spirituality, prosperity, mellowness and delicateness.      

There are no props used for Solange Knowles photo shoot, once again the photographer wants the buyers to focus on Solange, mainly the picture of her in colour. Solange costume consists of a dress, necklaces, a coat and shoes, she is wearing all the items. Solange’s dress is red, puffy, fitted to suite her figure and body, the top half of her dress is like a corset, while the bottom half is puffy to look similar to roses and look slightly scruffy in a sheek way it is quite rock chick. Solange’s dress stops just above the knees which leave her long legs revealed.

The scruffiness of the dress indicates that Solange is the type of person that likes to be in control of what they are doing. She is wearing a small bold blue necklace and a long thin pink necklace. The bold blue necklace implies that Solange is the type of person that likes to take risks with her creativity in clothes, fashion and music. The pink necklace connotes love, girly, youthful and that possibly Solange has a childish, girly side to her. The shoes that are worn by her are simple with little detail but stylish. Overall, indications show from Solange outfit and the way she is posing suggests that she likes to be the centre of attention and possible an extrovert talkative the one that is usually noticed within a crowd of people and remembered by all. The blue furry jacket this connotes power, strength and determination. The furry blue jacket reaches her waist which emphasises her hips and shows she keeps up to date with the fashion world.

The setting of the double page spread is probably a white screen or wallpaper. This setting is mainly used when celebrities are taking photographs for magazines such as ‘VIBE’ and glamour magazines; therefore the setting is in a studio which was booked.

The lighting used in the double page spread is a high key lighting which is very obvious as they wanted it to be bright because they wanted Solange Knowles to be the main focus because they could not have a low key lighting with a white background. I had come to the conclusion that it was a high key lighting because there are no dark shadows.

The body language that is being expressed by Solange is strong and upright which connotes that Solange is alert and ready for anything. Furthermore, that she likes to be in control and organised and focused. Solange is giving direct eye contact which suggests she is aware that the picture is being taken of her. Her body language also connotes a ‘not caring’ attitude, but a sense of determination to get the work done.  As for her pose, her leg stance she is trying to act innocent but as you can see from her miniature pictures on both pages you can see she is carefree. There is full eye contact which shows that she is fully concentrated on the camera which in turn will be the audience. There is hardly a face expressions like a straight face, her arms are behind her back which could represents she is shy and is scared of being open and letting people know too much about her, but on the other hand maybe approachable and easy to talk to. These are the NVC’s that I believe Solange perceived in the photo.

The anchorage used in the text of the double page spread is sans-serif as there are no flick ups and seems very modern and stylish to suite Solange’s personality. The font chosen also looks futuristic as some of the words have been written in grey and Solange genre of music is futuristic.

Analysing the image an asymmetrical composition is used on the left side which has the full blown picture of Solange Knowles which is also in colour is the picture that the audience will mainly be attracted to as it is attractive and eye catching as the miniature pictures are small not in colour and in a way out of focus so this gives the double page spread a sense of imbalance which will draw the audience to the main target which is the full blown picture of Solange Knowles.

The double page spread has a wide depth of field even though it has a blown up image of the artist in colour. The area that is focused on is the picture of Solange which is in colour; this is the area that is focused sharply. While the pictures in the background are not, this is mainly because they are in black and white.   

In conclusion, I have analysed the double page spread from VIBE music magazine. In addition, using the correct terminology to describe the double page spread and the content it holds and analyse the pages in depth.