Contents Analysis - Spin Magazine

This is the contents from the August 2008 issue of Spin, featuring Duffy as the cover star as well as in the contents. I'm assuming Spin uses double page contents, as this only lists the features of the magazine, not everything else. I really like this though, because of the unconventional full page image, which I think every Spin issue uses judging from other ones I've collected, but it will be just because it's not a full contents on one page.

Something I notice is that it doesn't even say contents anywhere, it just has the masthead of the magazine. I think this could be put down to the fact it's just the features and most of the magazine content is on the next page, but it's still an unconventional characteristic. It's just called features, so I think it will have a similar separation as Q magazine, without the incredibly neat set-up of Clash. This may be again to appeal to the target audience, and I think a large part of that is the fact the features have their own separate page, suggesting that's where the emphasis of the magazine is, and that's why people read it, which to an extent is true. However, it also conveys to me that the rest of the magazine isn't up to the standards of the features, and aren't very important, as probably when the reader sees the features they'll flick to them and not even bother looking at the next page.

Similarly to Q, Spin have clear meanings in their feature names and descriptions, the descriptions being a bit longer than those of Q and Clash seeing as they have a whole page to themselves. The feature titles are just that of the artist, similar to some parts in Q, and the lengthy descriptions are detailed with straightforward denotations, like "Duffy - She's been dismissed as a Winehouse wannabe, but, mercy, those pipes are undeniable. Straight outta Nefyn (Wales!), here's pop's latest blue-eyed soul sensation." is basically an introduction to the article and artist, like a bit of background, which is the case for all the other descriptions too. This is fairly unconventional, and it has the most motivated meanings of all the contents I've looked at, because of the background they give, as even if you didn't know the artist, you gain some kind of information about them just from reading the description. I think this may be to appeal to their target readers, who may have more of a deep interest in all kinds of music, and will therefore want to read all the lengthy articles and therefore lengthy descriptions. Also I think this amount of text is to balance out the aomount of text and image, because of the image being full page. If there had only been little text, it may have connoted a juvenile, uncredible vibe, which I'm assuming is not what Spin wants.

What I've also noticed is the small quote quote in the corner "I don't do this for any reason other than the fact I love music." which I think has been encoded to bare resemblance to a wise proverb or philisophical comment, to position the readers into thinking the artists are serious about music, and therefore making the magazine more credible. However I don't think this is something I could pull off on my own contents because a) it probably wouldn't be as effective on a non full page image and b) I don't think it would match the style of magazine I'm making and therefore not appeal to my target readers.

Though the image of a contents are generally just used to draw attention to the best features, I feel this one does a lot more because of it's size and intrigue. I think the preferred reading would be that it's a parody of the stereotypical guitar smashing rock gods, transformed into a girly, fun look by the pink guitar and Duffy herself, and I think the target readers are people who would appreciate this mocking style. Because of this clever concept and her happy look, I think it invites the reader in, however opening the magazine to that could have quite a shock effect, but both of these reactions are positive. Also the way she's reaching out to the camera almost creates a link between her and the reader which I think is another reason it's quite inviting. It's just a generally unconventional image to have on a contents, seems more like something that would be on a double page spread, but it definitely creates some interest for the contents with the prop and facial expression especially.

I think only 2 fonts are used, both very simple, the serifed one for the description, the sans serifed one for the titles and quote. This is basically been the same for cover, DPS and contents, simple fonts, nothing over the top, serifs in different places, the occasional band font and the same style running through the magazines. I'm not even sure why I bother to comment on it anymore.

The colours of this contents are unlike any feature I've seen, as they all seem to pretty random. There's the black and white of her clothes, the pink of the guitar, red of her nails and logo and the navy of the page numbers and credentials. It's all very thrown together and seems to add to the spontaneity that comes across in this cover's image. The blue used for the text may be trying to emphasise her blue eyes, however I don't think it's a noticeable as some other image matching I've saw like on the Duffy Clash cover and the Amy Winehouse Rolling Stone cover. Something I have just noticed though, is that often if colours seem to clash it's because the masthead doesn't fit in, but it only occurs on magazines like Q and Spin which don't change their colours to match the features. Although this does cause clashing, I think it's clever in the way it keeps up a constant image for the magazine, but it also depends on how the masthead is desgined, like both Q and Spin are in boxes separated fromt he rest of the cover/contents. This will have be something I consider which possibly may give my magazine some anchorage to it's identity.

This is a contents I find strangely appealing, similar to how I liked the Clash one, but they have such opposite effects as this one is wildly mismatching compared to the uptight neature of the Clash one. I think I'll have to go one way or the other when it comes to my own, but I think both give credibility. However a less organised feel like this one may deflect some of that manufactured feel pop music gives off.