Description of the front cover of Q magazine

Evaluation of ‘how are these images constructed to present ideas about the star?’

The ideas that the magazine present about the star  Britney Spears are all very different, the first image represents her as ‘pops princess’ yet an average teen; however the second image presents her as both innocent and confident contrasting these two ideas. Lastly Britney is presented in the last image as vulnerable and shows a different style to her compared to the first two images. 

Britney’s costume although it is simple it is not what we would expect a teenager of 17 to be wearing as combined it with the way that Britney is gazing at the audience whilst looking flirty contrasts and give the impression to the audience that Britney is a teenage girl yet she is on the very edge of becoming a women. This is also shown further as Britney holds the teletubbie it contrasts the way that she is dressed and indicates that Britney is leaving her childhood behind and is progressing into womanhood. Furthermore it doesn’t look expensive and helps her to fit in with ordinary teens even though she’s not one herself. This sets up her image as standard and in no way special making her more appealing to not just teenage girls but to parents (mothers) and young women.  Moreover by using colours like pink and white together this sends out the message to the audience that Britney is ‘pops princesses. Contrasting these types of colours together which are very warm & inviting colours highlights the audience’s impression of Britney being warm as well as enhancing Britney’s sexy look.

The image has been framed in the middle of the front cover to make the reader instantly know that the main feature in the magazine is about Britney. This has been done to make the audience not only feel connected with Britney but to make her seem more like an ordinary person as well as real to the audience and that is why the magazine have used a midshot. The costume that Britney is wearing is just underwear and she this shows that she is very confident in herself and powerful in her mind and body. Moreover the way that she is posing is quite and intimidating one it is more like a I can do what I want and not have to worry about anything or anyone.  The type of relationship that has been created between her and the audience is a very personal and intimate one. The way she is posing shoes that she is not afraid to get close and personal with the audience and to build that type of relationship not only with her fans but with the public.  Furthermore as Britney’s costume consists of nothing but her underwear she might want the audience to feel that she is exposing herself to them and letting them once again feel that they are being let in on something. The type of setting is plain except for the white wall that Britney is leaning up against, this could connotate that Britney herself is simple yet still manages to stand out in the crowd. The lightening has been used to give deep shadows on Britney’s side and to enhance the theme of this image which is power, confidence, and control. However more importantly to make the audience feel more connected with her and to see a different side to her. The colours used are very contrasting and this changes dramatically how we, the audience, view the image and Britney. Britney herself is wearing only one colour and that is white; this is a very innocent, meek colour and greatly represents purity, while all the writing surrounding her are sexual feisty colours; purple, black and red. The colours contrast and make Britney seem very innocent while surrounding is such a sexual world and that she is resisting temptation. Also contrasting the colours could be to make the reader feel that Britney is innocent as the colour white represents purity and innocence and contrasting her with quite sexual related colours (red) helps emphasis this point to the reader.

The image has been chosen to support the anchorage text ‘BRITNEY SPEARS INSIDE AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY’ by the image illustrating how vulnerable and sad Britney looks. By choosing this image it will instantly attract a customer to pick up the magazine, as there are very few pictures of Britney looking sad. This will entice a potential customer to pick up and buy this magazine. The use of the black and white is significant because it highlights how vulnerable and worn out Britney looks, by illustrating how pale she looks and the fact that there are bags under her eyes.  Also because with black and white images they usually look very negative and because Britney is really popular it helps create more sympathy for her and enhances how vulnerable she looks.  Over the close up shot and black and white image is different to how she usually looks, this is to represent how she has changed from when she first become famous. The image has been cropped to make it a close up; this is to make the audience feel an instant connection with Britney. The type of relationship  Britney wants with the audience is a very close one like old friends reuniting and yes this is supported by the anchorage text the word ‘inside’ gives the audience the sense that they are being let into something very personal and private this creates the sense of a  typical close relationship. The actual anchorage text ‘inside an American tragedy’ combined with the close up picture of Britney conveys to the audience that she is trying to reconnect to with her fans and the general audience. The text also works with the picture that enlarges her eyes creates the impression of that the Britney the world fell in love with is trying to make her way back and that she needs to be supported by the audience; in a sort of parental child relationship. Furthermore the word ‘tragedy’ creates the impression that Britney is vulnerable and increase the audiences support and protectiveness of her, the fact that the word ‘tragedy’ was used last, in the anchorage text, is what the magazine wants the audience to remember the most about the article of Britney. When people think of a tragedy they see suffering, pain and vulnerability this enforces what relationship Britney wants with the audience.

Over the three images ideas about the star have varied from the first image showing that she is just an ordinary teenage girl even though she is ‘pops princes’. To the second image where she is shown as a confident woman in herself compared to the last image where she is shown as a vulnerable girl. Even though these images all show different ideas about the star they show different stages/periods of her life reflecting her public image and how she has changed and progressed.

Preliminary Task- Front Cover & Content's Page

The images below are my preliminary Front Cover and Content's Page that I have made using the  pictures that I also took.

Front Cover

Content's Page

Preliminary Task Pictures

The images below are my preliminary pictures I have taken for my preliminary magazine front cover and contents page