Denotative and Connotative Analysis - NME cover page

Denotative and Connotative analysis

NME music magazine

Denotative

·         The one main image in the centre of the page taking up the whole space, all the writing is on the top of if, around the edges.

·         The image is of David Bowie, it is his face. It is in black and white with odd shades of yellow, pink and blue. As if the lights are on him.

·         In the top left corner is the title of the magazine NME in a serif font, this takes up about half the page width wise and a fifth in height. Above it is that date and the price in a much smaller font. Under NME is “NEW MUSIC EXPRESS” in capitals, these are both in sans serif fonts.

·         There is then a gap and then “Ultimate hero” This is in a sans serif font and if quite a large font. Under this in a Serif big bold font is “DAVID BOWIE”, there is some writing under it in the same font but smaller.  Under this is a list of names, they are in the same sans serif font as the ultimate heroes but smaller.

·         On the right side of the page right at the top is “MGMT” in the same serif font as David Bowie but smaller, under it is a quote in the same font but smaller and not in bold.

This is carried on for 3 other artist/stories underneath this.

·         In the bottom right is a + sign, next to it is some more artists names in the same font as the quotations.

·         In the bottom right corner is the bar code it also has the price ( in bold in English and then smaller in other currencies), the date and the website which is also in bold.  It is not overlapping the picture and has its own white square.

Connotative

·         The main image is in the centre of the page as it is the most important thing on the page and will draw people in.  As it is in unusual colours it makes it more interesting to look at.

·         The NME is in the left top corner due to the “Z” reading rules.  The reader will look at this first and probably recognise the name.  The date and price is in a smaller font so it is less noticeable.  “New Musical Express” shows what NME stands for, people may also know it as this name.

·         You can tell that David Bowie is the main feature in the magazine as he is the image and his name is the second biggest font on the page, (other than the title). They have done this so the audience know what it is about and may buy the magazine for this reason.  The sans serif font of the text above and below his name link them together as you can that

“ Ultimate hero” and the lists of names are related.

·          MGMT is at the top of the right side of that page as it is the second best story.  Their name is the key thing that sells so that is bigger, the quotation then tells the audience what to expect and incites them in.  This is the same for the two other stories, the key point is big and bold and then the information about it is underneath.

·         They have got old artists and new such a David Bowie and MGMT, this makes them appeal to a wider audience. It also suggests that NME is aimed at people that are passionate and have music knowledge by filtering such a music icon.

·         The + sign is at the bottom right as it is one of the last thing the reader will look at. The + stands out as it is saying “there is lots more inside”.

·         The bar code is not on the picture as it needs a white background which the photograph isn’t. It is a legal requirement and is small so it isn’t noticeable and wont ruin the magazines image.