Textual Analysis (AP Magazine)

The Alternative Press (AP), is an American music magazine. It was founded in 1985 and provides readers with band interviews, photos, information on up and coming releases and music charts. The magazine is aimed at young people (aged around 15 - 25) who are interested in punk and indie music. The AP follows certain conventions in alternative music magazines. For example, the image of the band on the front, they are not really smiling and could come across as fairly laid back, but they still follow the convention of direct address. The choice of clothing (black and white) that the band are wearing is quite individual and represents the magazine as being different and interesting. Also, the 3 colour scheme uses bright and clashing colours that is very eye catching. The use of the colour red could symbolise danger and the use of green connotes envy, which could therefore represent the magazine in a way that makes it look unique and one of a kind and this could attract the target audience. The title of the magazine is written in a sans serif font and this makes it less formal but still looks appropriate given the genre of music. (a serif font is typically used to be formal and we would expect to this on a magazine that contained articles about classical music because of the target audience). It is also quite electronic and jagged and this reinforces the idea of being unique and alternative and this could appeal to the target audience. The barcode on the front of the magazine is very typical of any magazine.