TEXTUAL ANALYSIS 2

The magazine cover consists of a colour photograph of a famous rapper/singer

known as ‘Drake’. He is looking directly at the camera. It is a closeup shot
showing head to shoulders. The photograph covers the whole of the magazine
cover and the background of the photograph is a glow of light around Drake’s
head which might imply it has been taken in a studio.
The title of this magazine is "Men’s
Fashion”, this is important as it
signifies what the magazine is about
and who it is aimed at. This title fits
the demographic audience as it
blatantly states it’s a men’s magazine
which is good as this is the producer’s
initial ideas for what they want the
target audience to be. This title is also
overlapping the famous male rapper
‘Drake’ who is the main image of this
magazine. This might connote that the
significance of this magazine is aimed
to be the masthead rather than the
main graphical image. We can easily
apply Barthes theory of semiotics as
he states texts communicate their
meaning though a process of signification. Therefore, the masthead ‘Men’s
fashion’ could create meaning that the magazine is for ‘men’ and this is an easier
and obvious way of putting it out there to the audience to understand. In
addition to the masthead, we could imply that in this magazine we will be
stereotypically be expecting to see masculine, bold and dependent males. The
costume being worn is a leather sleeve, black bomber jacket with a big logo
saying ‘AF’ which is on the left hand side.
Moreover, the main image on this magazine front cover is of the well-known,
successful rapper/singer known as Drake, who is listened to by millions of people
and is easily familiarised with who he is. This is celebrity endorsement being
used as a familiar face will attract a wider audience. People who listen to Drake
might want to read the magazine although they aren’t interested in fashion at
all. The facial expression being made my Drake in this fashion magazine is almost
like he is self-assured and arrogant. Van Zoonen would say he is a spectacle in
this magazine and it differs from those used to objectify the female.