Indie magazines Double page spread analysis

NME double page spread 

The chunky, bold font and contrasting black and white colours work well representing the featured artist-Lily Allen. The boldness suggests that her personality is quite outgoing and perhaps blunt as there are minimal curves, the use of white font circulated by a black outline on top of a white background suggests that she is quite diverse due to the great contrast. The range of font sizes within the heading suggest that Lily is unpredictable as it is uncommon to see letters in the same sentence varying in size. This aspect along with the square outline reminds me of newspaper cuttings, when crafting a title from a range of magazine or newspapers in order to create a title with a range of colours and fonts. This rough, quite childish presentation of the quotation reflects Lily as quite careless - this links to the content of the quote itself as the artist describes herself as "just honest". Honesty can be quite brutal therefore linking to the careless aspect.
Lily Allen poses right of the page, she rests her hands on her hips as though a mother telling off a child. Like a mother - this show her control and confidence as her structure is quite open. This mid shot is from a high angle which presents her as inferior and the readers as superior as we look down on her, this may be symbolizing the way the media view her- perhaps as she is disrespected as she is looked down upon.
Other pages throughout the magazine are likely to be in a range on colours yet this page sticks to the colours black white and red which are popular on the front cover of most issues of the magazine, this reflects the idea that this is what the editors are passionate about, and perhaps that this is the main feature on the entire issue. The off-white, grey hued background is dull symbolizing the 'bland' world mentioned in the sub-heading. Lily's red shirt contrasts with this supporting the description of Lily as a "breath of fresh air" and presenting her as controversial. The colour red is subtly used only on important features such as the artist and writers name as well as the clothing.
The text is divided into four individual columns making it appear to be as though there is less text to read therefore more appealing to the readers. The initial of the first paragraph is in a larger font and sits in the text -known as a drop cap, it captures attention and again gives the illusion of less text.
At the bottom on each page the date and 'NME' logo is printed along with the page number, I think the date and logo is unnecessary for every page, perhaps just the contents and front cover.


Q Double page spread

The heading 'lady GAGA' is in an elegant black font, it is quite curvaceous and narrow. 'lady' is presented in italics, this makes it appear to be more elegant, perhaps the magazine aims to show this artist in a different light. 'GAGA' is capitalized as though a surname would be. As a main heading it is small compared to what we are used to see -large headings- perhaps this may be because the large image translates a heading itself as the artist is so famous, therefore an exaggerated heading is unnecessary.
The black and white close up of Lady Gaga covers an entire page creating a great impact as it is simplistic representation of Lady Gaga compared to what we are used to seeing - outfits described as "thrilling, audacious and unexpected" by Q magazine. She poses stripped bare in black and white, perhaps this reflects the interview of being mentally bare and revealing all, this would entice readers as it portrays an exclusive tone. Her hair and makeup are quite dramatic yet for this artist in particular it is in fact quite calm compared to her usual artistic heavy eyeliner and some sort of colourful structure across her face. The use of the chunky, rustic jewellery  is effective as it is simplistic yet enables her to pose without a top in a classier, artistic way.
The large red translucent capital 'L' -assuming this is the initial of the artist's name- spreads across the right page. In a way it acts as a heading along with the large image, as it introduces the well known famous Lady GaGa without spelling her entire name. The red plays a strong feature along the simplistic pages overall making the page more attractive therefore more appealing to read. Drop caps are used throughout indicating a topic shift rather than using it for every new paragraph as this could look messy. The text is structured in narrow columns breaking it up - appearing shorter therefore more appealing to the audience.