KG - Deconstructing an Advert, Lesson 9/11/10

Analysing the advert for: Love is All - Nine Times That Same Song

I couldn't find a picture of my advert on the Internet and I didn't manage to take a photo so I have an annotated sketch to represent it.

By putting in the grid lines we can see that this advert complies with the rule of thirds as the album cover graphic is placed to the left of the advert rather than in the centre. This is then balanced out by the text to the right.

The leading line starts with the album cover as it is in mainly white against a black background, the eye is then drawn to the band name at the top to the right, the eye then works down the text to the website at the bottom of the advert.

Analysis of semiotics:

1. Identify the signifiers.
- The linguistic, iconic and non-representational signs.

The graphic continued on from the album graphic is that of birds in different sizes and either pink or white against the black background. These could represent a sense of escapism and flight, or perhaps some reference to the nature of the album, it is sometimes classed as a 'summery' album so the birds being present could reinforce that idea of warm seasons.
The font is in a typewriter style, black on white for practicalities I suppose and because it fits with the colour scheme of the album cover. The font being in this style makes the advert and album seem very make-shift and DIY, perhaps complying with the indie alternative image of the band, the idea that small bands have been album to make it as well as polished mainstream bands.
The album cover is in a collage style, as is the advert in a sense to fit with the album, this connoted the artistic creative nature of the band and perhaps the several layers and depth to their image and music.

2. Juxtaposition of signs = band image.

The juxtaposition of the signs and images on the advert mean that the band image is constructed as a creative quirky very make-shift band. Which fits with their indie genre and the playful nature of their music, the use of their colour scheme also hints at a darker undertone to their nature and their music beneath the playful exterior.

3. What social myth is this advert conforming to or challenging?

The only one I can really think of is that because it has a very sort of DIY feel to it as already mentioned, it reinforces the idea that it is not only the big labels and the big bands that can create successful albums. That the smaller bands with a different type and style of music are able to create and sell products in the contemporary media.

4. Indexical Signs.
- What does the product/advert say about the person consuming it?

This advert and album connotes an interesting alternative person, somebody creative and slightly quirky, perhaps somebody similar to the band's type of music and their style/image. It is helping to promote smaller bands and gives a sense that the person consuming this product is interested in smaller bands as well as the big bands, and that there is a sense of diversity in music.
The advert was printed in NME which also gives the same connotations of the indie alternative genre and the promotion of smaller bands, with a lot of emphasis on image.