Genre
How is the genre of the track/artist evident?
The genre of the band is alternative rock and there are many conventions on the digipak which reinforce this. The use of darker lighting is used on the front cover and this is usually a convention of rock as some rock songs usually have darker meanings related to their songs. The use of the long dress as a costume for the leader singer, also connotes the alternative rock genre, as the long dress is not typical of the current postmodern society. A common convention of the alternative rock genre is the use of instruments and this however is not featured on the album front cover making the album not entirely appear to be alternative rock.
Media Language
What visual techniques are used? How is meaning generated through these techniques?
Using the rule of thirds, the viewer's eye is drawn to the left of the front cover as this is where the lighting is the brightest. From the far left of the cover, the viewer's eye is drawn to the large door. This door has a Gothic appearance due to the intricate detailing and this ties in with the font used for the band name and album name, which is written in a Gothic like font. The low camera angle makes the lead singer look a lot smaller and the door a lot larger. The use of the open door connotes that the band want to invite their fans into their world which to them is their music. The use of the Gothic detailing connotes the alternative genre as it makes the band appear different because they do not feature anything modern on their cover. The lead singer is the only member featured on the front cover, and this is a feature on most of Evanescence's albums. She is wearing a long white, ruffled dress and due to the pale complexion of the artist and her long black hear, this costume creates a kind of horror feel to it. As the only member of the band featured on the front cover is female a negotiated reading could be that the band feel they appeal to females more than males and therefore by featuring a female on their front cover more fans will be able to relate to it. The use of lighting is also a visual technique used to create an eery atmosphere. On the right of the page, it is primarily black due to the light from the door not reaching this area. The bright light from the door means that the right and the main artist are illuminated. By illuminating the lead singer it connotes that she is the main person involved in the music and she is not just the singer but also the writer of the songs. The scratches on then walls make the setting seem old and the lead singer's dress also creates the feeling. This could connote that the band see their music as more fitting with older types of music than the current, postmodern type.
On the inside, the two covers are much brighter than the front cover. This could connote that by entering through the door, the fans come into their world where the band's music makes it seem a brighter place than the outside world. On the left of the inside is a book of lyrics and photos. Featured on the front cover of this book is the name of the album, once again written in a Gothic font and a butterfly above the writing. The butterfly could connote freedom as the band may feel that their music makes the feel free to express their views and musical ability. The right side of the album cover ignores the rule of thirds and has the name of the album in the centre of the page, however the butterfly on the top right makes it not appear to be central. On the right of the inside cover is the CD which is black with white stars on it. By using white stars on the black background for the CD, a connotation could be a feeling out of this world (due to the connection between stars and space) and this may be because they think their music is incomparable to anything else in the world. The main colour in the inside of the cover is beige and the only thing that really sticks out from this is the black of the CD.
The back of the cover, refers back to the front page featuring the dark lighting and the view of the sky which can be seen through the door on the front cover. The intricate detailing round the door is also featured on this cover. This could connote that now by listening to the album, the fans have entered into the band's world and have now left, closing the door behind them and making the world seem dark again. The back cover uses rule of thirds as the viewers eye is drawn to the left of the photo where the sky and cloud make the lighting brighter. This is strange, however because the names of the songs featured on the album are to the right of the cover where the lighting is darker and therefore the viewer's eye is drawn to last.
What linguistic devices have been used?
On the front cover in the right hand corner, it features a sticker saying 'the follow-up to their multi-platinum debut. Featuring the hit single Call Me When You're Sober'. A connotation to this could be that the band want to persuade people to buy their albums by using their previous success as an incentive as people will think their music is good if they've already been successful. By telling people about their previous single, more people may consider buying it as they recognise this song and may want to hear what else the band has to offer.
By calling the album 'The Open Door' it connotes that the band want to welcome fans into their world of music and therefore entices the fans to buy the album as so many fans these days want to get all the knowledge that they can of their favourite band. The open door illustration with the artist entering also may connote that the band wants to welcome them into their world.
Is there any intertextuality/references to popular culture?
The costume of the artist mixed with the pale complexion and the black hair of the female singer, makes her appear to be like the girl from 'The Ring'. This combined with the dark lighting creates the feeling of a horror movie and may connote the darker meaning of some of their songs.
The use of the long dress as a costume is a convention used by many other female alternative rock artists such as Florence + the Machine and therefore their is reference to other artists within the same genre.
Representation
How are the band/artist represented?
The band is represented in quite a feminine way due to the fact that it is only the main female lead singer on the front cover. Like I previously said, this could be that the band feel they appeal to females more than males and therefore by featuring a female on their front cover more fans will be able to relate to it.
The use of the open door makes the band seem like they want to get to know their fans more and makes it appear that their fans are very important to them. The use of dark lighting makes the band seem like they have darker messages, maybe ones that are not often talked about, in their songs, however with the brighter lighting as well, some songs may be more upbeat.
In comparison to their previous album cover the band have a much more serious and tasteful approach to their album cover maybe reflecting the way that the band have grown up not only in age but also through their music and therefore adding to their meta-narrative.
Institution and audience
How might this print text be consumed?
This text would probably only consumed by a focused viewer who bought the album because they like the band. These days many people do not buy albums due to them being expensive and choose to download music as it is already in the format that they need for their iPods and mp3 players. Also many people do not buy an album because they like the front cover and therefore only people who like the music are likely to buy the album.
How is the genre of the track/artist evident?
The genre of the band is alternative rock and there are many conventions on the digipak which reinforce this. The use of darker lighting is used on the front cover and this is usually a convention of rock as some rock songs usually have darker meanings related to their songs. The use of the long dress as a costume for the leader singer, also connotes the alternative rock genre, as the long dress is not typical of the current postmodern society. A common convention of the alternative rock genre is the use of instruments and this however is not featured on the album front cover making the album not entirely appear to be alternative rock.
Media Language
What visual techniques are used? How is meaning generated through these techniques?
Using the rule of thirds, the viewer's eye is drawn to the left of the front cover as this is where the lighting is the brightest. From the far left of the cover, the viewer's eye is drawn to the large door. This door has a Gothic appearance due to the intricate detailing and this ties in with the font used for the band name and album name, which is written in a Gothic like font. The low camera angle makes the lead singer look a lot smaller and the door a lot larger. The use of the open door connotes that the band want to invite their fans into their world which to them is their music. The use of the Gothic detailing connotes the alternative genre as it makes the band appear different because they do not feature anything modern on their cover. The lead singer is the only member featured on the front cover, and this is a feature on most of Evanescence's albums. She is wearing a long white, ruffled dress and due to the pale complexion of the artist and her long black hear, this costume creates a kind of horror feel to it. As the only member of the band featured on the front cover is female a negotiated reading could be that the band feel they appeal to females more than males and therefore by featuring a female on their front cover more fans will be able to relate to it. The use of lighting is also a visual technique used to create an eery atmosphere. On the right of the page, it is primarily black due to the light from the door not reaching this area. The bright light from the door means that the right and the main artist are illuminated. By illuminating the lead singer it connotes that she is the main person involved in the music and she is not just the singer but also the writer of the songs. The scratches on then walls make the setting seem old and the lead singer's dress also creates the feeling. This could connote that the band see their music as more fitting with older types of music than the current, postmodern type.
On the inside, the two covers are much brighter than the front cover. This could connote that by entering through the door, the fans come into their world where the band's music makes it seem a brighter place than the outside world. On the left of the inside is a book of lyrics and photos. Featured on the front cover of this book is the name of the album, once again written in a Gothic font and a butterfly above the writing. The butterfly could connote freedom as the band may feel that their music makes the feel free to express their views and musical ability. The right side of the album cover ignores the rule of thirds and has the name of the album in the centre of the page, however the butterfly on the top right makes it not appear to be central. On the right of the inside cover is the CD which is black with white stars on it. By using white stars on the black background for the CD, a connotation could be a feeling out of this world (due to the connection between stars and space) and this may be because they think their music is incomparable to anything else in the world. The main colour in the inside of the cover is beige and the only thing that really sticks out from this is the black of the CD.
The back of the cover, refers back to the front page featuring the dark lighting and the view of the sky which can be seen through the door on the front cover. The intricate detailing round the door is also featured on this cover. This could connote that now by listening to the album, the fans have entered into the band's world and have now left, closing the door behind them and making the world seem dark again. The back cover uses rule of thirds as the viewers eye is drawn to the left of the photo where the sky and cloud make the lighting brighter. This is strange, however because the names of the songs featured on the album are to the right of the cover where the lighting is darker and therefore the viewer's eye is drawn to last.
What linguistic devices have been used?
On the front cover in the right hand corner, it features a sticker saying 'the follow-up to their multi-platinum debut. Featuring the hit single Call Me When You're Sober'. A connotation to this could be that the band want to persuade people to buy their albums by using their previous success as an incentive as people will think their music is good if they've already been successful. By telling people about their previous single, more people may consider buying it as they recognise this song and may want to hear what else the band has to offer.
By calling the album 'The Open Door' it connotes that the band want to welcome fans into their world of music and therefore entices the fans to buy the album as so many fans these days want to get all the knowledge that they can of their favourite band. The open door illustration with the artist entering also may connote that the band wants to welcome them into their world.
Is there any intertextuality/references to popular culture?
The costume of the artist mixed with the pale complexion and the black hair of the female singer, makes her appear to be like the girl from 'The Ring'. This combined with the dark lighting creates the feeling of a horror movie and may connote the darker meaning of some of their songs.
The use of the long dress as a costume is a convention used by many other female alternative rock artists such as Florence + the Machine and therefore their is reference to other artists within the same genre.
Representation
How are the band/artist represented?
The band is represented in quite a feminine way due to the fact that it is only the main female lead singer on the front cover. Like I previously said, this could be that the band feel they appeal to females more than males and therefore by featuring a female on their front cover more fans will be able to relate to it.
The use of the open door makes the band seem like they want to get to know their fans more and makes it appear that their fans are very important to them. The use of dark lighting makes the band seem like they have darker messages, maybe ones that are not often talked about, in their songs, however with the brighter lighting as well, some songs may be more upbeat.
In comparison to their previous album cover the band have a much more serious and tasteful approach to their album cover maybe reflecting the way that the band have grown up not only in age but also through their music and therefore adding to their meta-narrative.
Institution and audience
How might this print text be consumed?
This text would probably only consumed by a focused viewer who bought the album because they like the band. These days many people do not buy albums due to them being expensive and choose to download music as it is already in the format that they need for their iPods and mp3 players. Also many people do not buy an album because they like the front cover and therefore only people who like the music are likely to buy the album.
This is a lovely digipak to pick and your analysis is excellent Lucy - well done - 20
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