XXL Anaysis

For class work and homework we were assigned to analyse the front cover of XXL magazine and explain the conventions and explore this into further details.

XXL Magazine is the magazine that is aimed mostly at the older target audience and covers hip hop and RnB. The magazine's unique selling point is the master head which is "blinged out" in diamonds to convey the magazines wealth or the comparing of bling to the music genre. The master head which is in a red background also may connote the wealth for example the reference to the red carpet or just the magazines brand colours.

The puff/slogan above the master head "A Decade Of Dominance" uses alliteration to allow the audience to remember the puff as the slogan is catchy and short.

The typography which differs to connote the celebration of the 10th anniversary which is in cursive/fancy font to also show the readers or passers by the more sophisticated side to the magazine. The bold and simple typography allow audiences or passers by to catch the magazine and see who is featured in the magazine and the use of colour is also linked in with the magazines colours and the main image.

The main cover line is Baby & Lil Wayne which are well known within the Hip Hop scene and also relate to the main image as they have their tops off showing their top half of their bodies to link to the main cover line. The cover line is also a pun as "survival of the fittest" may go into further detail if you read the article. The pun is also a persuasive device that allows the audience to read or buy the magazine.

The main image of Baby and Lil Wayne is dominant as the camera angle is dominant. The use of the main image being topless which relates to the main sell line is important as it also persuades readers or passers by to buy the magazine or read it. The main image shows teh rappers posed as if they were "chilling" to show the relaxed side of the artists and the use of the "bling" - jewellery is connting thier wealth as there is a lot of jewellery and the bling also relates back to the magazine.

The image also shows the "toughness" and "hard" appeal to the audience as they show thier tattoo's which also cost a lot of money therefore again connoting thier wealth. The image also confirms stereotypes of Hip Hop and subverts it at the same time. The image confirms the sterotype as the artists show off thier wealth through jewellery and tattoos and the use of the background show the audience that its not just a photoshoot but also goes into further detail of the artists. The image also subverts the stereotypes as teh image could be seen as a homoerotic image that appeals to thier audience with the use of Baby having his hand around Lil Wayne which is not mainly seen within the Hip Hop scene as they mainly relate to the toughness and bravery. This also attracts a wider audience as a hetrosexual person may believe the image to be showing friendship and support whereas a homosexual person may read the image to be targeting the wider audience therefore causing the audience to not read the article on the internet even though the website is underneath the main coverline.

The other coverlines are bold, simple and easy to read which allow audiences to see the artists featured in the in magazine and the use of listing different artists show the wider target audience as a person might not be intrested in 50 cent but might be interested in Nelly. The list of artists also attract the audiences that are intrested in thier artists or Hip Hop.

The other coverline which is at the top right show a mix of typography; the use of cursive font to promote the sophisticated side to the magazine, the bold, simple lettering to catch the audiences attention and the italics to emphasise the magazines celebration. The colours also relate to the magazine celebration as the silver is used throughout the front cover.