8/10

Magazine essay

My first magazine is called "N-Gamer" issue #19, February 2008. My second is “Kerrang” issue #1229 September 27 2008

“N-gamer” magazine is aimed at children aged 6-12. This is shown because it has a big bold title and lodes of different characters looking happy or existed. These characters are all very colourful and appealing to young children. Some of them are also famous characters including Mario, pacman, link, sonic and snake.

It has a big caption saying "Nintendo's best year ever" (Mott: 2008: 2008: 1) this is telling people that there are lots new games coming out. This makes children intrigued and wanting to know what new games are coming out in 2008.

The other magazine is Kerrang. It is aimed at 13-17.this is because there are older people on the front, with angry looks on there face. Also the title is black and shattered like an amp has smashed it. This shows that people who read this magazine listen and/or play music.

There are many differences between the two magazines show in the textual and picture code. Firstly the colours are very different; the coulers on the “N-gamer” are mostly reds and blues because Nintendo’s logo is the same colours. This makes people who buy the magazine associate the link between Nintendo and “N-gamer”. On the other hand the “Kerrang” mag is mostly blacks and reds. This is because it is for a “darker” audience such as “grungers”. This shows that then person who would buy this are “hard” or tuff and like rock music

Another big difference is the people expression. On “Kerrang” the people look aggressive and “too cool for school”. This shows that the people who buy this magazine like to listen to rock music. As well as this it says “northern uproar!”(David: 2008:2008:1). This tells us that the people on the front want a fight. On the other hand “N-gamer” has many characters that look happy. This and the fact it says “Nintendo’s best year ever” (Mott: 2008: 2008: 1) this implies that the people are happy because of this. At the bottom of the page on “Kerrang” there are others pictures of singers looking very aggressive. This tells the target audience that it is to do with aggressive music. This encourages “grunges” to buy this magazine.

Kerrang was first published on the 6th of June, edited by Geoff Barton. During the 1980s and early 1990s the magazine placed many thrash and glam metal acts on the cover (like Mötley Crüe, Slayer, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Poison, Testament) but later discarded them when grunge acts such as Nirvana rose to fame. Readers often criticise the magazine for repeating this process every time a new musical trend becomes popular; for example, Prince was heavily featured around the time of the release of Purple Rain, including a cover, and there are also issues in the 1980s featuring U2 and Big Country. More recently, there are many complaints about Kerrang's current emphasis on emo and metalcore music, particularly stemming from the fact that the magazine continually printed issues with My Chemical Romance on the front cover for several weeks, following the release of their album, The Black Parade.
Unfortunately I can’t find the date that “N-gamer” was first published as soon as put the word gamer into a search engine the school computer shuts down the internet.

At the bottom of “Kerrang” magazine there are pictures of male singers at gigs. All these men look aggressive which shows that people who buy this are angry or “hard”.
In a deeper meaning all (with the exception of 1) the people on the front of this magazine have long hair, and the 1 exception has a skin head. This is showing that longer hair is “better” then short and is more appropriate to the style of music featured in this magazine. They all so have sleeve tattoos (which are tattoos all up your arms), this implies that tattoos are cool or shows you are a rocker.

On the other hand the people on the front of “N-gamer” mostly have short or no hair and no tattoos showing. They also look happy which show that people who buy this magazine are younger and/or more relaxed. They are also showing that there are many different games coming out in 2008 (as the bold writing says “Nintendo’s best year ever”) as there all doing different thing e.g. playing guitar, racing playing golf or holding guns. As you can see this is a big variety of things going on.

Kerrang most successful period came under editor Paul Rees at the turn of the millennium, at which time, the nu metal genre, featuring bands such as Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, were becoming more popular. Rees went on to edit Q and Ashley Bird took over as editor from 2003 to 2005. Unfortunately for Ashley Bird, the decline of nu metal in 2003 meant Kerrang sales went quickly into decline which eventually prompted his sacking.

As Kerrang is quit a big company they advertise there magazine on TV, radio, and other magazines (e.g. Q)

Both magazines have competition; Kerrang has “mettle hammer” and “Q”. “N-gamer”