CONTENTS PAGE ANALYSIS

BY JONI SOMMERVILLE

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PAGE 1 As the background of the page is black, the use of white writing on top connotes imagery of chalk on a chalkboard, one you’d find in a classroom. As though it wasn’t a contents page but a lesson into all the aspects of dance music. It suggests that mixmag is a professor when it comes to dancemuisc and the industry. The font of the word ‘Contents’ is rather futuristic and abstract, in comparison to the other fonts used. This is done to grab the attention of the reader. The date is also presented to the right at the top so that readers know that it is the most current issue to date.

The contents list itself has the title of ‘cue’ which is a pun because its used to signal the beginning of music but its been cleverly used here to signal the beginning of a contents list. Unusually the list doesn’t run from page 1-80 for example. But it actually begins at page 8 instead, and generally goes up in twos from there which tells us that this issue has a lot of double page spreads inside it. At the bottom of this column there’s an ‘Industry insider: charts and analysis’ which we presume is a review, this will prove to be helpful for the readers because it’ll give them the “who’s who” in their music taste.

PAGE 1This extreme long shot has been used to encourage readers to engage in a party lifestyle. The rainbow of colour and edit of high key purple lighting presents a whimsical, psychedelic, and dreamlike atmosphere. From the busy mundane lives of the readers this acts as a form of escapism for them. In their spare, time they want to be attending festivals (we understand they’re at a festival due to the large inflatable puppets) and having fun with friends. As those are their hobbies.

108 in the corner refers to the page number that this picture is featured in and thus it becomes easier for the reader to find what they’re looking for/learn more about the picture.

PAGE 1At the bottom of the contents page is a freebie, a gift for free from the magazine. This gives the reader more incentive to buy the magazine because they’re getting more for their money and it adds a more personal touch as though the magazine is their friend doing a favour for them. And so more faith is put into the magazine. In this case it’s a track from the group MAJOR LAZER, again this constantly promotes the consumption of dance music and the more that they feature and promote music is the better of a magazine they’re becoming. Even more so artists want their music to be heard as much as possible and so by releasing a track to the readers for free, the readers are then more likely to tell their friends about it so they’re more likely to buy the album, go to the concert etc.

The dateline and website feature at the bottom to show that this is the most current version of the magazine. As well as the website moves readers onto another media platform; e-media and so the consumption of mixmag as a brand increases.

PAGE 2As the contents continues onto another page it aims to show that the magazine is jam packed with cool articles and information. At the top mixmag is in the largest and brightest white font as it is the logo and magazine name so it needs to standout and be clear for the readers to remember. Unusually the cover of the article itself is printed underneath- this could be reinforce the magazines image so that it remembers the issue quickly. As studies show that repetition makes the mind consume and remember more. The different subheadings discuss other aspects of lifestyle such as fashion for example. This tells the reader that mixmag has almost become a lifestyle, they are the know how when it comes to image and that in order to fit in you must read/consume mixmag. They even have a directory- tools used to help the reader so that they feel confident within their new/current lifestyle. Again the dateline is repeated to emphasise how trendy and current the magazine is, it can also inform readers if they need to pick up the new issue (promoting the purchase of mixmag) if it’s “out of date”.

PAGE 2This photo collage reflects the layout of the individual picture on page 1. As each picture has the page number attached to itself, mixmag cleverly uses images that will conjure up curiosity to so that they’re more like to read the article. The images themselves don’t necessarily reflect the codes and conventions of a music magazine, aside from the bottom left one pictured: white opaque smoke to give ravers a more fantastical experience, and a laptop-dj set up blasting techno music. The top image looks as though it should b featured in a modern art museum which suggests that mixmag readers are into creativity and are of a cultured background.

The most interesting image remains in large at the top as it is the one that will draw the most attention. The colours used throughout the images on this page aren’t very bright, aside from the one in the bottom left. However visually it reflects a night club setting as the colours generally are quite dark with bright spots.

The website line is repeated to further encourage readers to engage onto mixmag’s e-media platform.