5th Double Page Spread Analysis: Mojo 29/2/16

After previously analysing a contents page from a Mojo magazine, it is clear to see that this particular music magazine remains very stylish and professional throughout the entirety of the magazine. It has a strong brand identity and there are multiple conventions that this double page spread follows to which I shall investigate.

With regards to the layout, the image takes up the entire bottom half of the double-page spread. The article is then displayed above- alongside some drop quotes and the headline. By doing this, the reader is drawn to the image due to the sheer size of it and the fact that there is minimal writing to distract from the striking and humorous shot. The text is in three aligned columns which look neat, clear and effective. The headline is extremely large and covers both pages and is coloured in bright yellow to immediately draw the readers attention. 

The image is a medium close up of all four members from the rock band 'The Damned'. The main image is possibly the most important part of the double-page spread due to its size and relation to one of the bands most famous albums. The photography is quite similar to the photo on the cover of their album 'Damned Damned Damned' which is a very effective convention as it also helps to promote their music. It is clear that the image has been taken in a photo studio as there is established light on the artists and a clean dark background. The use of mise-en-scene is very effective as the pies add a humorous vibe and represent the teenagers as fun and mischievous. 

The artists are dressed in black clothes although our immediate attention is drawn to the member that is second from the right.  His facial expressions are the most striking and visible and the chain with padlock around his neck connotes danger and aggressiveness – linking to the rock genre. Within the article, there are 2 drop capitals. The first one is bigger so navigates the reader where the paragraph starts, and the second one informs about the change in topic. The colour scheme of this page is based around two contrasting colours – black and yellow. The black background is appropriate for the magazine style and the yellow colour captures the attention of the audience because it is bright and bold.

The headline intrigues the reader due to the repetition and question mark that follows the third 'fun'. Additionally, the kicker relates to the punk-rock image because the highlighted yellow text against the black background looks fairly alternative and visually effective. The text of kicker has been rotated and isn't a usual convention in magazines, however the reader can still understand it. The font of the headline and the kicker are the same so that it looks professional and doesn't break up the page. Also, by adding a little arrow at the end of the body text to inform an audience about continuation of the article on the next page, it is ensured that the reader doesn't miss out on the rest of the story. 

For my own double page spread, I would like to follow some of the conventions this one follows. Firstly, I would like to include drop capitals as this informs the reader where the story starts and breaks up the text. I believe that having a creative image should also be one of my main priorities as this is what draws the most attention. Finally, I will also experiment with placing text and images at angles as I think this adds a whole new dimension to the page and makes it more visually enticing overall.