CONTRASTING MAGAZINE COVERS

PREP: Analyse the media language of the MOJO cover below. Use the terms that you have learned. In a future prep, you will be comparing and contrasting the cover with another magazine cover, drawing attention to the similarities and differences, and saying what the genre codes and conventions are.

The contrast cover can either be your own cover or another professional cover.

 
Bowie is shown as being the Center of Visual interest, he is seen standing 'loud and proud', his legs are spread apart to present stability (from his old drug addiction?) and to show he is grounded safely and firmly. He is also seen with his hands behind his back, with his chest puffed out, this portrays him to be comfortable with himself and has nothing to hide behind his hands and doesn't need any defence. Bowie is also wearing clothing which shows to be both smart and casual, the boots show a solid ground, his shirt and tie are matching but has been altered to go into changing/contrasting directions paired with a similar patterned tie and the casual rolled up jeans.
There is only 2 other pictures on the cover, but both of them show no distraction of the main story (Bowie), Otis Redding in the top hand corner and a German road sign (German because of the 'Berlin Years' subtitle) which is representing Bowie, and how he is moving into a new decade.
The pug in the top left corner tells the reader not only will they get a intreguing story but a FREE CD, from the 'Soul King'.
The accent of the red splurges with important captions in them help them stand out on the mainly blue cover.

COMPARED TO ANOTHER COVER:
                                                               This Billboard issue has an un-apologetic cover featuring a careless Rihanna as the splash. Rihanna  She is shown in little clothing, wearing just a bikini top/bra, a chunky gold chain and well fitting, hugging body jewellery. There are no other images showing that she is the only person receiving attention with her aggressive yet desirable gaze into the lense of the camera, into the audiences eyes. There are no pugs but many cover lines and features which have key words in yellow and the rest of the writing in white. Rihanna is standing similarly to Bowie with a scowl down into the readers eyes and her hands placed behind her - but her head not her back, showing femininity, ever with her typically 'boyish' hair cut.

SIMULARITIES;
Both are massively influential artists which are very famous and well known.
Both stand with a proud posture, presenting themselves 'as they are'
Both are seen gazing down into the camera
Both have their hands placed behind them (but Rihannas to expose her face more, and Bowie to push his chest out
Both have a set colour scheme, (BILLBOARD of white and yellow, MOJO of blue and white with splashes of red)
Both are the center of visual interest, as they are placed in the middle of the page


DIFFERENCES;

BOWIE ON MOJO	RIHANNA ON BILLBOARD
Bowie is on the cover	Rihanna is on the cover
Bowie is well dressed/covered	Rihanna has a lot of exposed flesh
There is a puff offering a FREE CD	There is no puff
Bowie is stated as ‘BOWIE’ in the biggest font size besides the mast head	‘THE WORLD IS HERS’ is in the biggest font besides the maiden head of billboard.
There are other images - another artist and the large road sign and badge looking image	There are no other pictures on the front cover besides Rihanna, the splash, herself
Bowie’s cover is seen as a tribute to the man and others who had passed	Rihanna’s cover is based purely on the moment as is paired with the word of ‘THE WORLD IS HERS’
Bowie is presented to have new ‘untold and unseen’  information out about him and the ‘Berlin Years’	The magazine is based on her factually with no gossip and isn’t presented as having untold information/stories