Language: The cover model, Lilly Allen, is in medium close-up and the angle of the shot is high angled, making her seem more vulnerable. The use of the colour scheme, similar to the previously analysed Kerrang! magazine front cover, is black, red and yellow (with a plain white background) The costume she is wearing is a chequered, 'lumberjack' shirt which is iconic of "indie" culture. NME also prides itself (as reveiled on the reader profile below) on style and looks. This means that it's essential for the cover model to be looking "cool" and wearing new styles as a costume. The non-use of props and background singles out the cover model connotating that she's depressed, isolated and feeling extremely lonely, which also goes with her the "emo" look. The headline text used is similar to that which was used by the Sex Pistols whenever their name was printed. This, therefore, gives a sense of punk as the Sex Pistols were punk icons, along with that style of text. The text is unusually white and therefore doesn't follow the conventions of usual magazines, further emphasising the punk and indie look of the magazine. The thick, black outline of the text allows us to see the text on top of her clothing, pale skin, and white background.
Institution: NME is published by IPC media, which is owned by Time Inc. Time Inc. however, is owned by the fourth largest conglomerate 'Time Warner', making NME american. The cover model also overlaps the title of the magazine, which is NME of course; the 'E' barely visible. The logo for NME magazine is constant and never changes. This allows it to be recognised, and even though the 'E' is half-hidden, the magazine couldn't be mistaken for 'NMF' as the colour scheme and the thick lettering with the thick black and white border, which a red background, allows the audience to recognise it without effort.
Ideology: The costume in which Lilly Allen is wearing, along with her hair colour, style and make-up, is mostly accepted amongst our (British) culture as it is constantly seen by everyone, as the younger generation wear these costumes. However, in some religious cultures, such as muslim, it would not be accepted. Due to the UK being a mixed race country, this magazine wont be aimed at the UK as a whole as Muslims, who have strict rules on dress-code, would find it offensive. I say this because strict Muslim's (only applies to women) have to cover up every inch of flesh including there face and esspecialy the chest. However, the cover model has her upper chest clearly visible, is showing her face, and is not wearing a burka. This is fairly normal in our society and culture, esspecially in the younger society, but wouldn't be accepted in countries such as Iran which is a strict Muslim state. Audience: The audience of NME, as reveiled in the reader profile, is mostly male (70%) and some female (30%) at the average age of 25. This particular issue would attract fans of Lilly Allen, who would most likely be female, but would cater for the male part of the audience by making her look beautiful; therefore attracting males.
Representation: Lilly Allen is represented as a bit of an "emo", to be honest, which completely contrasts her usual look. Her hair is black, swept to one side, and her face is pale white with dark, black make-up. This represents her as depressed, gothic and a little bit scary. However, this is what the audience of NME would expect to see on the front cover of the magazine. Lilly is also wearing an iconic costume such as a chequered shirt which is iconic of the "indie" look. Lilly Allen is also represented as ill; makybe through the use of drugs? I say this because of her pale, bland face and the quote above the headline "I can't keep living like this, it's doing my head in". This may suggest drug addiction. The layout of the text in this case is also a bit wobbly and messy, which connotates that her life is in a mess, her head is, or is used to make the audience feel dizzy and unfocussed (as you have to focus more on the text than you usually would on any other text) which can be the symptoms of drug use. However, all of this could just be to represent a rock 'n' roll lifestyle, as punk is a type of rock, drug use is stereotypical of rockers and the 'headbanging' may be the cause of the dizziness...
