Analysis

This is a double page spread from music magazine, Q issued February 2010. It's featuring
Cheryl Cole, a pop sensation. I would suggest their target audience for this issue would be
fans of Cheryl Cole's music as well as females and readers aged 18-25. The magazine have
kept to their style and convention an followed the concept of showing the pop star on one
page and having the text on the opposite page. It's never kept to a certain side of the page
though it moves from left
page to right. Cheryl
stands centre frame in
front of a white
background. This could be
to maintain focus on
Cheryl herself and what
she is wearing. Her head
is turned to her right and
she is looking away from
the audience but looking
straight at the text which
could be a leading signal
and part of her posture.
From what she's wearing,
spikes, leather and rips,
this could signify a new beginning in Cheryl's life as it's not usual to see her wearing such
extreme fashion. Black connotes death in the majority of meanings but it also connotes
darkness. This could be the magazines way of showing a 'dark' side to Cheryl. From sweet
and innocent to devilish and daring she's bound to make hat drastic change. She came from
a band, Girls Aloud, and from that I believe she wants to be interpreted completely different
where before it was sweet and innocent. She's now a lot older and achieving her own music
therefore to promote herself and open herself up to new audience she has changed her
look. This is also mentioned in the side bar at the bottom left of the left page, 'I don't know
what I look like anymore...'. The image of Cheryl is a medium shot with high key lighting. She
is showing that 'rock star' look with her left arm held up above her head, especially with the
typical leathers. Compared to the other double page spread I analysed of Lady Gaga, this
issue of Cheryl has an image of her within the text. Again Q magazine keep to their
traditional style and conventions and review their logo colours through the large letter C
connoting Cheryl Cole and the first letter of the paragraph. Drop caps, gutters and the
colour scheme are all typical of their theme as well as every other magazine.