Double Page Spread Analysis NME - Coursework

Double Page Spread Analysis - NME

Mac DeMarco

A key feature in this double page spread is the use of lighting; the dull but blinding lights are part of the unforgettable experience at a live gig. This image manages to capture the lighting in its frame, displaying a range of colours, green, and red, yellow. This has the effect of recreating the exciting and manic atmosphere at a gig. Outside of the image, the colour scheme uses white, black and blue. A lot of the writing is highlighted with a different coloured background, for example the title, Mac DeMarco, is written in white highlighted by an electric blue background. The image takes up most of the screen and the writing is mainly below the bottom half of the page. This makes the band the main focus, the two men at the front of the page in particular. Their positioning, the two men at the front with the other not on the same height level as them and further in the background, automatically draws the eyes to the front men. This is also done by their actions, they appear to be kissing each other, this creates a shock factor as it is quite rare to see two men kissing publicly, in particular when they are already at the centre of attention (because people have bought tickets to see them). This has the effect of making people want to read on and find out what’s going on.

Lou Reed

This double page spread uses a range of techniques that ensure Lou Reed, an influential American song writer and member of the Velvet Underground.  This double page spread is created Lou Reed’s memory after he died in Novemeber. The writing on the left of the page is similar to the London Underground font, which reflects a key area within the punk era. The uneven spacing between the words demonstrates the bricolage style adopted by punks to go with their DIY attitude. This is also shown in the top right hand corner of the page, where the word ego, framed in a salmon pink box, overlaps slightly onto the white text box, giving it the appearance of simply being stuck on top. The three colour theme is also a very typical punk feature, although this one adopts a kind of salmon pink instead of blood red alongside black and white. The black and white is suitable in the context of the page as it is in memory of him, the black and white used to show that this is looking back at his life. The photo is also not in a very high resolution, demonstrating the grungey punk style of images.

The Week

This page also plays with the use of lighing to draw the reader’s eyes across the page. The main focus is on the guitarist who is in the centre of the right hand page, he is in a beam of light on a stage surrounded by a crowd. The light is blue and a light on the bottom left hand side of the page has made the audience appear an orangey pink. There isn’t much writing on this page as the image is the key feature, however the placing of the title, the heading and the text box means that it is closely pact together and allows room for the image to take up the double page. I like this idea of the entire double page being an image and then only a small amount of text being used. I would like to copy this layout style for my own double page, as the main focus is on the image rather than the writing which is more effective as sometimes images are more easy to interpret for readers than what