Analysis of magazine cover

2) Rolling Stone


I decided to analyse another 'Rolling Stone' magazine cover. The reason why I decided to analyse another was because I decided to use the same magazine but a different cover as I like this cover and I think it differs from the previous ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine cover above. I think it differs because the main image used in this cover is a medium shot or one person, the actor Zac Efron. Whereas in the cover above a image of 4 people, also the previous cover is also a body shot of the subjects whereas this is a medium shot. The headings of what’s in the magazine are on opposite sides in the previous cover and this cover of Rolling Stone.

The main image is of the very popular and up and coming Zac Efron. He is known for his very ‘wholesome’ image through his many links with the very successful American company Disney so the fact that he’s lifting his top up makes it look more promiscuous and like he’s trying to lose his ‘all American good boy’ image. Zac Efron isn’t the stereotypical celebrity you’d expect to see on the front cover or rolling stone magazine but the fact that he’s pulling his top up to reveal his body suggests that he has changed. And it gives the impression that he’s not an innocent young boy anymore. I this image fits the cover very well and looks good. I this is effective as the image draws young females in to buying the magazine.

The top of the image covers the part of the title ‘Rolling stone’ as I mentioned before in the other rolling stones cover I think this suggests arrogance and confidence in the magazine as I think they feel as if the whole title doesn’t need to be shown for the audience to identify the magazine.

The white background in this cover is very simplistic, I think this makes the main image stand out more. The white on white (the colour of Zac’s top in the main image and the white background) normally doesn’t work but in this case I think this has been very successful. It normally doesn’t work as the image sometimes gets lost into the background if it’s the same colour but not in this case as I think it highlights, the subject, Zac’s skin. Therefore I am considering using a white background in my front cover design. I just need to make sure my image doesn’t get lost in the background if it has parts of the same colour.

The headings at the side of the page are in a bright orange, light orange, grey colour scheme which I this works well in this cover as the colours all complement each other. ‘The new American heart throb Zac Efron’ this is the largest title on the cover, it’s also in a bright orange font this makes it grab the audience’s attention and draws the reader in to read the magazine. ‘New American heart throb’ mentioned in the title also refers the Zac losing his good boy image.

A wide range of different fonts, colours, and size of font is used for the headings at the side of the page, normally I think this would make the cover look cluttered but I this in this case it works as the main image and background are simple. The bright font’s used in the miss-matched fonts also looks good with a plain and simple background and main image. I’m considering using this in my design as I don’t think it will look too busy or that the text would disappear into the background I think it’ll make it stand out.

To conclude, I think I would be persuaded by the front cover to buy this magazine.