Textual Analysis Of Contents Page

This is the contents page from Vibe magazine. As you can see this magazine is quite plain and simple with very little going on, although it is very plain vibe can afford to make it look like his as it has 3 pages worth of contents pages instead of having al the information within one page. Vibe has laid out there contents page to take about 3 pages, this image shows the second page of the contents 2/3. The use of plain contents pages are used a large number of times and is very common with vibe magazines.

The way the word CONTENTS is laid out is also very common and effective with Vibe magazines, it is sort of like a trademark as you can always remember it as a part of a Vibe magazine. Vibe has also includes an image of the front cover of the magazine, this is very useful as you don’t have to turn the page to view the contents page again although many other magazines don’t tend to do this (unconventional) it is very effective. The main focal image of this contents page is of an artist called ‘Movado” who makes Jamaican dancehall music. This is very unusual as vibe magazines tend to have R&B and Hip-Hop artist featured within the magazine. The image of Movado is symbolic of wealth as he is wearing a Gucci belt, diamond bracelets and a diamond chain. The use of the image being black and white is very effective as it suited with the background atmosphere of poverty.

Vibes have used contrasting images for their contents page. The image of Movado has connotations of wealth whilst the background image is off a ghetto in Jamaica. Using these two types of images is symbolic as it shows the transition from living in poverty to being wealthy due to his talent in music. The background image also shows that he hasn’t forgotten where he came from and his struggle t get where he is at now. The contents page doesn’t subverts typical as it has the page numbers of information held in each page, it also includes an image. Although is doesn’t subvert typical conventions it does in a way as it has the image of the front cover.

The use of typography is very unique and looks like it will appeal to the younger generation although it has a serif type of typography. The use of the colour black for the typography fits in well with the dull atmosphere of the background image and the colour of the clothing the main image is wearing. Although the typography appeals more to the younger generation the contents page as a whole looks like it if for the older generation as it has no bright colours witch is mostly common with teenage magazines.