Contents Page Evaluation - Q

Target audience

The target audience of this Q contents page vary as it is a multi-genre magazine. Ultimately the only people able to see this would be the buyers of Q  which would vary between age of 13-30 as this is the age which would get the most satisfaction out of knowing everything about modern day music.

Layout

The layout feature two columns of text each pushed to either side of the double page spread . The main image is a cartoon image of the well known band Gorillaz suggesting this is one of the main bands featured in this issue. The right hand page features plenty more images of people groups and other information. The uncommon convention of this is the fact I t is a double page spread this is interesting because most magazine contents pages are one page however when taking into account Q is a monthly based multi genre magazine it makes the most sense as they have a lot of area to cover. It is interesting how they divide the text and applies well to the target audience. The left hand Column features the names of the artist that are the “head lines” of the magazine its self this is good because if someone is literally picking up the magazine because it had their favourite band they can find the information they wont quickly. This still does not make the right column any less important as this indicates the common features featured in the magazine so a avid reader would more then likely use this to find their favourite assets. In  all this type of layout which focuses attention towards the centre of each page and then uses two separate columns for two separate readers (New readers, avid readers) is very clever and helps the magazine steer the audience in the correct direction for them.

Colour

The main colour scheme featured in this contents page is red and black. Black is used to show the main headings and text associated with the imagery this is good considering that black is a very defined colour and shows well especially on a light coloured background , like what is use, black would also help them with audience as it must be hard appealing to a large array of people and so therefore using a shade as appose to a bright pink (which could  appeal more to a famine audience) is a clever idea as it is neutral and not stereotypical to either gender. The red used is interesting, red is a fairly bright colour that normally connotes lust and anger I doubt the magazine wished for these normally connotations to be applied to context as the main emblem of Q its self is featured with a red background and so therefore by having red text and borders a common suit is being created causing the magazine to be fluent .which is good. The colour scheme selected in all fits purpose well as no “gender bias” colours are used and simple colouring to tie the magazine as a whole is used this helps meet the requirements of the audience.

Imagery

Many images are used the largest is a mid-shot of a member of the Gorriliza this conntoets this to ebing the largest story featured in this edition, its unknown what gender this is however using denotation of clothing and frame it could be depicted that it is female this brings in Mulveys (1974) of the male gaze as it barley dressed this in turn with the red connotes come sort of lust for this cartoon image. Most of the other images used are of men this may not be seen as suiting to either sex however none of the men shown could be instantly catergorized as ugly so common stereotypical of women gawping over “rock stars” could be applied ( these however are only stereotypes ) and the fact their men mean that guys can just look and enjoy their favourite bands. So in turn use of image appeals to the audience as it keeps a level playing field and features artist that the audience will enjoy.

Typography/text

The typography used is simple, clean but effective. The text used does its job it easy to read and neutral to either sex. All attention to the text is drawn from either content or the use of colour and this is very interesting but reasonable and applies to most magazines. The text only really differs in the large headings that seem to have spaced lettering giving the interest to the brain and making it appear larger. The clean simplicity gives and directs readers where they want to go or what they want so therefor works well.

In all this is a perfect example of a magazine catering to the needs of its audience in the contents page.