Research and Planning for Ancillary

In our Media lesson today to help us with our Ancillary process, we were presented with several album artwork images, which we analysed to find the genre, reasons behind our suggestions of that genre and any ideas/details on the album artwork, that suggest the genre.

Lupe Fiasco

When first presented with this album artwork, I instantly knew that it is an R'n'B Genre. The reasoning behind this is the use of fashion and colour that is linked together. The colourful lighting bolt has connotations of the stars and galaxy, suggesting that his new album will be 'flying through the universe'. In addition to this, the artist himself being the central of the album is a similar trait in other R'n'B album work. For example;

Chris Brown

Rihanna

P Diddy

I believe the reasons behind the artist being the central of their artwork, is to show the power and the icon of their appearance so their audience know who they are. 

Lamb of God

Our second album artwork presented was Lamb of God. Looking at this artwork I had an idea of heavy rock/metal music involved. This is due to the conventions of medieval/gothic fonts. The use of the Phoenix represent fire, flames, death, destructions. Apart from this, some Heavy metal bands use iconic images to hide themselves visually, however being accepted by their audiences vocally. This could be scremo, or dark lyrics. Examples of albums using images;

Stone Sour

                          Wretched and Divine

Iron Maiden

Haim

Instantly again I recognised the type of genre Haim have, which is popular. One of the iconic traits of girl bands or in this case a band of sisters. The similar trait of a black and white image reflects the 'hipster' fashion today, and the dominance of the female power by having the album cover as the artist. In addition to this, there is an inter-textual reference of Prince, Purple Rain font of the word "forever". Examples of black and white images of bands/artists and the dominance of female power;


The Saturdays

                                                   Alesha Keys

                                   

Wonder Girls

The Moons

Looking at The Moons album artwork, I said that they have an Alternative genre. The use of simplistic colours with one colour standing out, the ray-bands, represent an easy-going but connective music, which the audience can relate to. Similar to R'n'B artist, for Alternative genres the artist/band is represented to attract audiences attention, however this is not always the case. In some cases, artists use a symbolic icon or image in order for their audience to regonise them straight away, for example Alt-J. Other examples;

Symbolic Icons/Image; Alt-J

                                                       

Symbolic Icons/Image; The Courteeners                   

                                                                      

Imagine Dragons;