Analysis - Kerrang! Blink 182 Feature Spread

To get an idea of the common conventions of feature articles, I am now going to analyse a double-page spread from Kerrang! magazine, about a member of the band Blink 182. The primary target audience of this article is working class (social grade C1-E) white males, aged between 14 and 25, who are fans of rock. However, Kerrang! can appeal to people of any age, ethnicity or class.

Layout

In this article, the colours are red and black as the two standout colours. This appears childish, suggesting that Kerrang! may actually be aiming for a younger and younger target audience. There is not much text featured, which connotes that the target audience does not like to read large amounts of text. All of the text, except part of the title and a quote, selected from what has already been written in the text, is on the left-hand page, with the images all on the right-hand page. In the top-left corner, there is a shape containing the name Blink 182, which tells the audience, if they could not identify him from the photo, who he is and why he is famous.

Imagery

The primary image used shows the feature artist looking scared. This could connote that he is reluctant to have an article being based around him, and possibly that he is scared of what the article may reveal about him.

One of the secondary images used is that of a toy dinosaur. This immediately connotes a young audience, as toy dinosaurs are usually played with by young children, usually boys. This could also connote that the feature artist is trying to recapture his youth, by playing with child’s toys.

Typography/Text

The font used for the main title is a scratchy font, which appears as though it has been repeatedly scratched onto the surface of a desk. This is similar to what is commonly seen on a table in a school, and supports Hall’s theory about the youth being willing to wreck and ruin things for their own entertainment.


Conclusion
Overall, this feature spread provides an excellent example of the use of connotations. Having looked at the layout, however, I think for my feature spread I will use a different style to this one.