Textual Analysis 2.

Magazine No.2- Rap Up

Denotation

The magazine cover consists of a colour photograph of three women looking unswervingly at the camera. They are standing up whilst positioning their hands in a “stop” position. It is a long shot showing them from head to toe. The background of the photograph is grey; the coloured photograph covers up most of the magazine cover. The names of the three women are in separate coloured boxes peach, yellow and hot pink on the bottom left of the magazine.

Masthead

Rap Up magazine’s masthead is distinguishing as it is different from other music magazine mastheads. Black with no outline and no drop shadow. The “U” in the word “Up” has an upright arrow. The font used is san serif font modernising the magazine. The boldness of the word “Rap- Up” stresses it and gives it emphasis. It also relates to the genre “Rap” which is bold and strident.

Character(s)

The cover photograph is of successful American R&B singer Keri Hilson, Teyana Taylor & sister of R&B singer Beyonce, Solange Knowles.

Composition

Teyana Taylor on the left is posed supposedly with her arm on her hip and she slants the side as she has her left hand up in a “stop” position. Keri Hilson in the middle is posed with her legs close together as she is in a slightly squatted position with both her hands in a “stop” position as she smiles. Solange Knowles on the right is posed in a similar position as Keri Hilson but is posed more upwards as she also has her hands in the “stop” position. The poses of all three women is sexy, grabbing the attention from the opposite sex, males. They are trying to get a message across but do it in a lady like way, their body; pose and clothing help them to do this.

Costume

Teyana Taylor (left)

Her clothing is black and white checker bordered leggings, with a pink, purple and white cropped top showing her lower part of her stomach and a silver leather jacket. She also has a pair of green, orange, purple and orange high topped trainers. She is accessorized with a pink glove and silver hopped earrings.

Keri Hilson (middle)

Her clothing is a black and off white short dress. She has on a pair of black leathered open toed high heels. She is accessorized with a black leather glove, a silver bracelet placed onto her left wrist and a pair of silver earrings.

Solange Knowles

Her clothing is a white and silver bowed dress with a left legged yellow and right legged orange tights. She has on a pair of black, with silver stars high heeled sandals. She is accessorized with silver earrings.

The clothing worn by all singers complements the colour scheme of the magazine grey and black but with a dash of bright colour e.g. pink and other feminine red and white. The clothing also worn by each individual suits their personality and style. E.g. Teyana Taylor is known for her very colourful and bold style which is shown through this photograph of her.  

NVC: Hands positioned in a “stop” position as they smile as they pose in different ways.

Lightning: The lighting is high hey; as the photograph is meant to show they are in a studio like room.

Setting: The setting is of a grey background; little setting. The grey background with nothing other than just the grey background gives off the impression of the setting being a studio.

Cover lines

The main cover line relates to the three women in the photograph:

“Stop & Stare”

Introducing...

Teyana Taylor

Keri Hilson

Solange Knowles

This main cover line also explains to us, the reader, as to why they are all positioned in the way they are. Telling us the readers to stop and stare with no dialogue, but with non verbal communication.

Other artists mentioned are Rick Ross, N.E.R.D, Leona Lewis, Flo Rid, the Game, Lloyd, Nelly etc are all artists of the genre of R&B, Rap and Hip-hop. This is the representation of all these genres and tells us that the magazine doesn’t just focus on one particular genre of music; it is a diverse music magazine. The cover lines are all written boldly which also helps to give emphasis to it all.

Target Audience

Considering all these points the target audience is most likely to be male and females who are interested in the music genres that the magazine is all about. The age range would be from 18 and above.