The Representation Of Eminem In Two Magazines.

Firstly, one way that Eminem is represented is through the cinematography and specifically the angle of the shot. In ‘hip-hop connection’, we see a low-angled mid shot of Eminem. By showing a low angle shot, it shows Eminem towering over the reader, making him seem powerful, strong and superior. This correlates with the target audience and the genre of the magazine. As the genre is hip-hop and a key theme that runs throughout it as an image for an artist, is power. Therefore, this is what the target audience consequently expects to see in a hip-hop artist. Also as the target audience is predominantly teenage males, they value this trait more than other audiences. They consider power to become a sign of a good hip-hop artist. Therefore, Eminem is represented as being strong and powerful through using a low-angled shot; in order to conform to the genre and the expectations of the target audience. In comparison, Eminem is represented very differently in ‘top of the pops’ through the shots cinematography. We see him in a high- angle mid-shot. The reason for this is to make him seem almost submissive, as we, the reader are looking down upon him, which is the opposite effect to that created in ‘hip-hop’ connection. Eminem is made to seem submissive in order to (like in the other magazine), conform to the genre and expectations of the target audience. As the target audience is primarily teenage girls for this magazine, they do not value or expect power in an artist and they do not value it as a trait as much as males. Therefore he has to be represented differently. He is shown as submissive in order to appear more sensitive, a characteristic the target audience would expect more.

Secondly, another way that Eminem is represented in the two magazines is through his costume. In ‘hip-hop connection’, we see him wearing a white shirt, tie and a Rolex watch. These items are what we would associate a business man wearing. As a result, the connotations we associate with a business man is success and wealth. Consequently, this shows Eminem is successful and wealthy, through his costume. This representation targets the target audience, as, stereotypically, men value wealth and aspire to be wealthy and consider success in a field such as business as being the mark of being a ‘man’. Therefore the target audience identifies with this with Eminem, this represents Eminem as a figure that the target audience should look up to. This would be a factor in their decision of whether to buy the magazine. Opposing this, in ‘top of the pops’ he is represented in a very different way to that in ‘hip-hop connection’. Where as in the latter, he shown to be successful, in the first, he is shown as being ‘family friendly’. By having Eminem wear clothes that you would associate with an average, normal or everyday person, it detaches him of the stigma attached to his genre (rap), as being violent and misogynistic by representing him as someone that the target audience recognises. Therefore, in both magazines, Eminem is represented in a certain way to cater to their target audience; in ‘hip-hop connection’, he needs to be seen as successful, where as in ‘top of the pops’, he needs to appear ‘family friendly’.

Furthermore, in both ‘hip hop connection’ and ‘top of the pops’, Eminem is represented through his props and costume. In the first, he is holding a gun, this portrays him as being dangerous, but also powerful. This is effective use of mise-en-scene as in the genre, power and an aspect of danger is expected to be affiliated with an artist. In comparison, almost the opposite is created in ‘top of the tops’, in terms of costumes, his image is manipulated as they cover up his tattoos that are clearly visible in ‘hip-hop connection’. The reason for doing this could be that, often, the connotations of someone with tattoos is someone rebellious, alternative or ‘different’, or specifically musically related, it is often related with more underground scenes within the music industry. This completely juxtaposes the identity of ‘top of the pops’, which caters to teenage girls, with the genre being pop music, which is typically family friendly. Therefore the connotations set with Eminem’s usual appearance, with his tattoos, are eradicated by covering up his tattoo’s, in order to appeal to the magazines own audience. Consequently, in evaluation, costume and props are used in order to create connotations of an artist and to control what audience the magazine should appeal to.