Front Cover Analysis 3: XXL

**Please note: It is generally harder to find a Hip Hop/R'n'B magazine with a female artist on the front cover**

On this cover of a Vibe magazine, we can see that the key image is that of famous Janet Jackson, sister to Michael Jackson.

• Janet Jackson is posing as if she is about to take a photo: she may been seen as eye-candy
• The cover uses mainly sky blue, light peach and black
• The model is clearly identified by the text on the right side of Janet Jackson
• Her presence on the cover suggests that there are female R'n'B/Hip Hop artists that exist.
• The word 'watch' is reinforced by the camera
• Janet and the camera are both using a direct mode of address.
• She poses as if she is taking a photo of herself: she is aware of her body language
• She is positioned in the centre of the cover and a medium close-up is used to show most of her body
• She is posed provocatively as she wears a short tight vest and has a finger under her jeans. Perhaps Janet Jackson is seen as a sex symbol.
• She has very stylish hair: modern look
• Low lit colours surrounding Janet makes her seem as if she is popping out of the cover
• Other artists names are taken: Mario, Rihanna, Dr.Dre and TuPac.
• Colloquial language is also used like "luv's", "lo" and "shawty". It suggests that the magazine aims at the younger generation
• Alliteration is also used: "sensual seduction". More sex symbolisms.
• Cover lines are separated across the page: A single cover line, "Janet Jackson likes to watch" is found by itself away from the other sell lines suggesting that she is of high importance
• Vibe could be specializing in gossip as we can see sell lines like "Rihanna- Exposed" and "He's free, but is he good? The untold story of Busta Rhymes".
• The cover uses the word "Paparazzi" which is ironic as this particular issue seems to attack Rihanna and Busta Rhymes
• Vibe also talks about gaming as well. We can tell this by the cover line "15 crucial video games"
• The mast head identifies us of the magazine name: Vibe
• Pink is normally associated with women