Image: The main image of Eminem is kept very simple demonstrating the originality and the importance of the well-known artist. The main focuses are his tattoos and the chain around his neck. He seems vulnerable and without gimmicks in this image and perhaps this is an affect used by the publication to show the openness of the interview with Eminem inside, again an exclusive feature.

Text: There is no text, or left hand third on this cover perhaps to again stress the honest and clear interview the rap star. There is text in the background which links to the artists tattoos, suggesting whilst being clear and honest he has influenced the change in codes and conventions of the magazine in this particular issue as he is such a significant star of this genre. This stresses the calibre of artist that this publication can get on there front cover which again boosts the status of the magazine.

FRONT COVER ANALYSIS

Image: The fact that Obama’s head has been pushed off of the page makes the suggestion about the high status of the magazine, even one of the most important men in the world is ‘not important’ enough to grace the entirety of a Vibe front cover.

Text: The colours of the American flag are used to show that the magazine is widely recognized by a whole nation. Text takes up the majority of the front cover and the left hand third is very wide. Obama seems to be making an attempt to gain more followers and therefore a lot of the page is taken up by a quote from him. This also boosts the magazines status.

Language: The fact that Obama has chose Vibe magazine in which to make his announcement says a lot about the status of the magazine. Obama clearly has the view that Vibe magazine reaches a lot of people and therefore deemed it wise to give an “exclusive” to this publication. Vibe magazine call this specific issue “historical”. Suggesting an issue of there magazine will go down in history can tell us a lot about the high status as well as the calibre of the cover star. And to demonstrate the various contents of their magazine they have a footnote of “+ the best rapper alive revealed”, giving the impression of “and if all this wasn’t enough..” also the “revealed” suggesting Vibe has all the answers.

FRONT COVER ANALYSIS

Front Cover Analysis

Image: The image of Alex Turner is showing him in thought, with the Q masthead overlapping him rather than his head being on the top layer. This gives the effect of the masthead being a thought bubble and that the entire front cover was inspired by his thoughts.

Text: There is no left hand third and the only text is the small anchorage text below the main image and the writing over the background. This background is used to reflect Alex Turners extensive creative thoughts and the show how Q magazine has the most creative stars on its cover.

Language: The small amounts of text reveal how exclusive the featured interview is “inside Alex Turners head”- Q magazine is the only magazine accessing this information and it is “exclusive” to its devoted subscribers.