Textual analysis of XXL magazine

In addition the main coverline used on the front page is large and bold, suggesting maculinity. The '&' in the main coverline is of a different typography to the rest of the main coverlines. The '&' is more glamorous demonstrating sophistifcation amongst wealth and masculinity. The sell lines are of a sumple typography with alternating colour (black and white). The sell lines are of other well known Hip hop artists. This broadens the audience for XXL as it is likely that readers will be intrested in reading about one of the artists featured in the magazine.

The magazine also uses two puffs, one of those is ' A Decade of Dominance' this boosts the magzaines reputation and is almost like a persuasive technique as gives the impression to the reader than the magazine is good and worthy, therfore persuading the reader to buy the magazine. It also helps the magazine to stand out from competitors.

The main image is of two well known Hip hop artists ( Baby and Lil Wayne). Both of them are topless wearing lots jewlery (bling) and are covered in multiple tatoos. The jewlery connotes the recurrent convention of wealth in the Hip hop genre. The tatoos also connote wealth but they also imply toughness as tatoos are seen as being painful. It could be argued that the image subverts audience expectations. Baby has his arm around Lil Wayne, this indicates that they have a close relationship. It could also imply that Baby is like a mentor to Lil Wayne. However it could also be percieve in a different manner by audiences. The image could be percieved as homo erotic as it subverts the stereotypes of the Hip hop genre. As they are both topless it could suggest that they are . masculin. However it could alsp suggest that they are vulnerable as they are half naked. By construcitng an image that can be percieved in many different ways opens the target audience for the magazine.

The background of the front page is of a low-class, less aesthetically pleasing home in the suburbs or 'slums' or America. The background of the front cover contrasts with image as the two devices are percieved in very different ways. The main image represents wealth and power whereas the background represents lower-class less dominant enviourment. In some ways the background does subvert typical hip hop conventions as it represents a poorer lower-class way of living. However it also confirms the steretypes of tye hip hop genre as many hip hop stars have struggled to get to high position they are in now, it also confirms the hip hop convention of 'rags to riches'. Although the background contrasts with the main image, it supports the main coverline 'Survival of the Fittest' as it represents the struggled journey the artists have faced to become stars.

In conclusion I believe that the magazine targets its audience and conveys the generic codes and conventions of a Hip hop magazine by the use of presentational devices. However it can be argued that some of the presentational devices such as the image subverts the generic codes and conventions of a Hip hop magazine.