Evaluation of Contents Page

When first researching for the contents pages I wanted to make sure I had contents pages from the same three genres of music and more importantly at least a couple from the same brand of magazine. This would allow me to see if the magazine had kept their style consistent in order to create their own unique brand. I could explore these pages more in depth as I was able to analyse the language used in order to see if it suited the genre.

The contents pages I analysed all shared the fact that they used language as a way of indicating and reinforces their brand. For example the BBC contents page used linguistic language like ‘distinctively colourful’ to suit the genre of music, that being classical. Through doing this the magazine are able to create a brand for them and ensure that it appeals to their target audience. Language is a really key technique used throughout the magazine as it is one of the main attributes that contribute towards a magazines identity; it connects the target audience to the magazine therefore having a crucial impact. This is something I want to ensure I use to my benefit when creating a front cover, contents page and double page spread as it is something that will be beneficial to the outcome of my music magazine. The research has given me the ideas of the language I can use when I pick a genre, if I pick Rock then the language will be edgy and bold to add to the genre, where-as if I were to pick R&B then the language I would use sophisticated language that is used more frequently by the younger generation in order to appeal to the audience.

All three contents pages I analysed all defied convention in the way they all had contrasting layouts. This is because each magazine has their own institute that create the magazines own brand in relation to the genre.

As shown in the examples about the three layotus of the contrasting magazines are different, one has one main image as the background with text overwriting it, where-as the other is set over a double page spread with multiple pictures. This contrast reflects the genre allowing the magazine to create their own brand. This is something each institute considers to appeal to the particular target audience. The Rock contents page would completely alienate someone who is nowt interested in Rock as the language, pictures and layout all contribute towards creating an edgy brand. This is something purposely done on each contents page to ensure that the target audience are almost superior to other readers.

Furthermore some of the main features of a contents page are the mastheads, which say 'Contents' in a similar style to the masthead on the front cover. This keeps the brand for each magazine consistent, and is something I will take on board when creating my own magazine. Other aspects included in the cotents page include either one main image or a few, this is dependent on the layout the magazine creates, the Rock magazine has multiple pictures that are bold and conjests the page which reflect the genre, where-as the Classical music has multiple pictures spread over two pages to ensure the page flow. These different asepcts all are decided by the institute to create the brand.

In addition to this it is clear that all the three magazines focus on attracting or addressing the audience. The magazines do this because they know the age groups the music genre would attract so therefore style the contents page in a way to suit them. The classical music genre is more for the older generation, this means that they are not interested in slang words because they prefer the linguistic language. The insitute would take this into account and produce a contents page that fulfils their needs. The BBC music magazine has done this, shown in the picture above.

Finally, I think that all three contents pages developed and challenged conventions successfully through connecting all attributes of the contents page to the genre. I will have to take this on board and consider all of these aspects when making my own magazine to ensure I appeal to the right target audience.

Before starting to design my contents page, my format research has a crucial role to play, this is because it allowed me to analyse the aspects used and decide what to apply to my magazines, this will then to later to create mock ups applying aspects that may defy convention or suit the typical aspects. This will include for me experimenting with the masthead and seeing if the 'contents' should be vertical or horizontal, this is something I will have to experiment with because I do not know now which will suit my genre of R&B music the best. In addition to this I aim to include multiple pictures in my contents pages because this is something frequently done on the contents page to attract the reader to go to certain pages. The r&b magazine I analysed, known as vibe, has quite striking poses with their name at the top, this is something I aim to include within my contents page as it will mean the page will become more striking. When I later design the mock up these aspects will be something I will include, however before doing this I will consider how this will specifically appeal to the target audience, this will mean also doing a questionnaire to decide on aspects like the colour. Some of the colours I am considering using to create the brand include grey, pick, black and white. These four colours may compliment eachother because they contrast and this is something I would aim to keep consistent create a brand and an identity for my magaizne. To conclude, I think that the format research has helped me determine certain aspects typically used in magazines where-as some that defied convention which I can use within my own magazine.