Comparisions

Media course work

Comparisons between “Q” and “Total guitar”

Reference towards pages

Upon looking at the Q contents page, there seems to be quite a lot of images compared to the text. However, it is the total opposite for Total Guitar, it seems to be that there is more text compared to images. Both have made the same amount of references towards the magazines pages but could do with more.

Images

Certainly, “Q” has used a lot more images for their contents page, this may have an influence to the target audience as most probably their audience is viewers that like to look at pictures/art instead of text. The main image that is put forth is the one of the main cartoon protagonist (Gorillaz)

Total Guitar magazine has based around their contents page around more text. Most significantly, it has a paragraph or two upon an music analysis. Only one main image stands out and that is relating to the main topic (protagonist) of the magazine.

The difference here is that Total guitar has integrated a real life human artist unlike “Q” which has the favoritism of cartoon images.

Considerably, both magazines have used big lengthy images to fill up their left hand side of the page, both are approximately using the same amount of space (halve a page). This layout maybe a favourite design by these two magazines which is something that should be taken down upon analyzing the contents page.

Fonts and sizes

“Q’ famously known to use Red and white, has yet done it again, it seems to be that they have put forth red and white as their house colour and it does not look like that it will be changed within the future.

The heading is always the largest (refer to Q contents page and Issue 284) as the sidelines are relatively small in comparison. Large/medium fonts that appear (refer to page numbers e.g. “54” and “planet Mika” are presently used to encourage the audience to link up to the page.

Total guitar Contents page is yet started with a Large heading “Contents” while using the same font colour as “Q”; red and white. It seems to be that Red and white is a very fashionable colour that is used by both magazines.

Upon looking to the right, One of the main headings are highlighted in black which has some sort of attractiveness it.

Audience

“Q” is relatively a magazine that aims roughly towards older viewers (rough guess of 25 to 35 or even over). The magazine sidelines have all to prove as the a range of variety of music is placed upon the magazine, even some sidelines do not have any relativity to music which is quite extraordinary considering that a music magazine and a gossip magazine is different.

Total Guitarist’s audience is aimed at the older generation that is really/entirely created upon the basis of rock, Hardrock, metal rock, classic rock and so on. The selling line even has some hints towards the production as mainly guitarists or the use of guitars don’t as much appear in rap, pop, RnB and so on.

The technicalities of the target audience are different, For “Q” the overall basis that they are targeting are easy going, simple users which live a normal life.

For Total guitarists, the audience that is targeted is mainly users that have the care to take the time slowly. They also hope that the reader s get inspired rather than be fascinated, more or so to be influenced to each and every artists opinion no matter what status that they have.

(No offensive attacks were to be made towards any viewers, I apologize for my stereotyping activities that were made in this paragraph or any other)

Conclusion

To summarize, “Q” is an extensive magazine that aims at a larger audience. Compared to Total guitarist, the audience is mainly selective and has range, however the range is quite large.

Both magazines have similar techniques such as the font and layout. The only major difference is target audience and the comparisons of text to images.