The cover image used on the Arctic

Monkeys album features a black and

white image of a man, probably in his

thirties, smoking a cigarette. This gives

the album cover a laid back feel as it

features a man who isn’t famous making

it approachable. The photo is of Chris

McClure, a friend of the band, they said

it was taken in the early hours of the

morning in Korova bar in Liverpool, after

the band had given him, his cousin and

his best friend “seventy quid to spend

on a night out". This is evident as the

image looks raw and down to earth.

In terms of iconography there are lots of thing within the Digi pack that contribute to the

relaxed (if not ‘stoner’) style including the dark hooded eyes on Chris as he does a relaxed

stare into the camera, the cigarette between his fingers and the used cigarette butts

plastered over the CD disk. Chris’ buzz cut suggests a tough lifestyle contributing to his

rugged exterior.

As said above the image is of Chris

McClure. This was an unusual choice for

the band to use an image of another

bands front man on their album cover

but his ‘Average’ appearance relaxes the

album style and complements the laid

back indie genre, despite the fact that

his appearance is quite rough making

him look quite thug like or troublesome

as he is smoking a cigarette & his

hooded eyes suggest drug use.

The CD cover doesn’t actually state the name of the album being ‘whatever people say I am

that’s what I’m not’ but it does have the band name written in their signature font. This acts

as a brand image/logo and although it’s hard to read it’s recognisable. It’s surrounded by a

white rectangle with rounded edges and the text is cut out. The writing on the back of the

CD is a lot clearer to read. It’s in a white sans serif font against a black/grey background.

The disk is also a black and white

image and is covered in used

cigarette butts. Cigarettes give many

different connotations of some of

which are based around style and

cigarettes acting as an accessory in

order to look seductive or free and

careless but on the other hand they

can represent illness, poverty and

crime ETC…this is also clear when

you see the after effect on the back.

I believe this cover does both. Due

to Chris’ rough appearance but as

it’s on an album cover it’s done for

effect and style.

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's what I'm not: Digi Pack analysis

The Front and back cover images are close up shots taken shortly after

each other capturing his reaction to the cigarette. The disk image is a close

up of multiple cigarettes making it look like an ashtray. All of the images

are edited in black and white to continue the ongoing theme. The use of

black and white leaves a subtlety of tones and make the image appear raw

and stripped back.

The Insert cover is very minimal in design and continues the black and

white theme just like the rest of the Digi pack. It is a black/grey background

with a white font saying “Whatever people say I am, that’s what I’m not”.

The overall CD Digi pack continues the relaxed theme and the black and

white design easily flows. The Digi pack follows Lacey’s repertoire of

elements; being Narrative (an average British man’s night out or lifestyle),

Character (Chris McClure), Iconography (rough lifestyle and drug use),

setting (either at home or in a pub by a window with closed curtains) and

Technical and audio codes (the use of black and white and many close ups

making it feel more intimate and like you know the character).

By Georgia

McLaughlin

Cover of inside booklet

Extra images

1) Chris McClure – cover star

2) Other shots of the cover image

3) The arctic monkeys