What makes an affective album cover?
In order for an audience to be enticed into buying a CD/Album, there are many small things that could make the biggest difference to a cover. Minimal things such as the font of the text, colour scheme and imagery can convey the most complex messages but also the most simplest messages depending on how you interpret it.
Audiences usually enjoy album covers that can be interpreted in many ways due to intriguing imagery. If an album cover is shocking, more people will remember it and talk about it. People also enjoy a cover that they can identify with or that educates/informs them about different cultures or genres etc, this relates to the uses and gratifications theory and how people use the media.
Album Analysis
'Nas - Stillmatic'
The text on Nas' CD cover reads 'StillMatic' in graffiti style writing. The font itself shows that Nas may have come from a slightly 'Ghetto' background and the 'still' part emphasises that Nas is still that person and regardless of his routes, he has still made it as a rap artist. His appearance in the orange valore tracksuit symbolises that he can fit into fashion and what was popular in that time, the fact that it is valore also suggests he is wealthy and proud of it. This is further emphasised by his heavy jewellery which is on show, clear for us to see. One of the values that Nas lives up to is that your physical appearance is important in the music industry, also you need to show off and have a lot of jewellery to look good.
The Pigeon sitting on the wall next to Nas can be interpreted in different ways. I saw it as a way of Nas using it because it could have connotations of being high/flying high - (status-wise).
Nas is posing in a way which is typical to all rapstars which suggests that he is trying to conform to typical standards and stereotypes of rap artists and therefore reinforcing their image within that genre.
Analysis 2
JLo - 'J to tha Lo' - The Remixes
This album cover is mainly of Jennifer Lopez and photos of her in a collage style. The use of many different colours (bright) shows her personality portraying her as a fun person who is into having fun. Also, the colours reflect her genre of music as we can see her in clubs, dancing, showing off which is reflective of an RnB/Pop genre.
Jennifer's name is written on the front of the cover reading 'J-Lo' which for one, is a catchy nickname so she has been branded which reinforces her identity as a musician and the unique selling point of having a different name so more people are likely to remember it.
The collage of just herself from music videos allows us as the audience to be reminded of past good tracks from our favourite artists. This relates to the Uses and Gratifications theory where people are informed on what kind of people JLo is and can possibly identify with her providing we are a young, fun, enjoy singing and partying and generally having fun.
Her poses and facial expressions are quite seductive suggesting that this is what the audience expected of her and she reinforces the stereotype of latino's being 'Sexy'.
The values and beliefs that Jennifer portrays is that you have to be seductive in order to gain good reception from the audience (of both male and female gender) and you have to look good in order to be successful in the music industry.
She believes that life should be about having fun and experiencing many different things and doing what you love - in her case, music.
Jennifer Lopez believes, by referring to a quote - "If you've got it, flaunt it". She shows her body quite a lot on the cover and in videos through the clothing that she wears. She flaunts her body simply because she can. It is desirable to men specifically so that the target market is made wider for more popularity, but from a male's perspective, this is and example of Laura Mulvey's 'Male Gaze' where the male audience gain pleasure from observing a female in this way. JLo's image could also be appealing to a female audience because girls may look up to her as she is an attractive person and is successful, so they choose to 'narcissistically identify' with her.
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