XXLMAGAZINE

Audience and Institution

XXL Magazine is a monthly magazine devoted to covering news and current events in the hip-hop community. The magazine’s target demographic is mainly young, urban followers of hip-hop culture.

FRONT COVER

Representation

The cover features Kanye West – a stereotypical, black, male, hip-hop artist, immediately recognisable by XXL’s target demographic. Although by looking directly at the camera Kanye is establishing a _ relationship with the

reader he maintains theperception of superiority by wearing sunglasses. The photograph has been reflected across the middle of the cover – this has X connotations of a split personality/alter-ego, reinforcing the ‘love’, ‘hate’ across the image.

Mise-En-Scene

The model (Kanye West) wearing a leather jacket, chains and sunglasses which all have connotations of a stereotypical black, male, hip-hop artist and is a ‘look’ that would appeal to many of XXL’s readers. His chain is oversized which reflects his life-style, fame, talent, ego.

Typography

The same monochrome font has been used throughout. ‘THE EXCLUSIVE STORY’ is in bold to draw the attention of the reader to

the puff as the story is ‘EXCLUSIVE’ and is therefore more appealing to the reader. ‘LOVE’, ‘HATE’ is the largest font on the cover except from the title, it is also in bold. This grabs the reader’s attention and draws their eyes to the image. It alsoemphasises the feelings most people have towards Kanye West. ‘KANYE WEST’ is also larger than the puffs to ensure readers immediately recognise that it is Kanye West on the cover. Three word puffs and short, punchy sentences make the magazine sound fast paced like the music industry and most of their audience’s lives, this keeps readers interested.

The use of capital letters and lack of colour give the cover a more formal and serious look. As opposed to the title

magazine. The title block is white against a red background. The two colours interact with eachother and the white writing stands out.

block which is bright red which is less formal but also has connotations of intensity which is appropriate for this

Typography Continued…

Language

The anchorage text links the central image to the topics of the article about Kanye West. Words like ‘SPECIAL’ and ‘EXCLUSIVE’ remind readers that it is not an ordinary

issue, this makes the magazine more appealing. ‘BY THE MAN HIMSELF’ also draws the readers attention.