TW: Deconstructing digipak and magazine advertisement

lcd soundsystem are an electronica, alternative dance, dance-funk group; similar to Mark Ronson and his group - The Business Ltd. I have chosen this digipak as it heavily contributes towards Dyer's paradox star theory, adopts an interesting method towards images across more than one pane, and includes some signifiers. The magazine advertisement also includes some interesting techniques to contribute to meta-narrative and affect the dominant reading path.

Front pane

Pane two and three

Pane 4

The front and back pane

Pane 5 and 6

Magazine advertisement for lcd soundsystem's final album

How is the genre of the track/artist evident?
-The use of a discoball on the digipak front pane is a symbolic sign of the dance music genre. This immediately reveals the genre of the artist. This is aided by the use of white space, which attracts attention towards the image.
-The rough texture of the digipak, denoted by the faded title and the difference in shades of the colour black - has vintage connotations, which is iconographic of the funk genre.
-Furthermore, the blurred nature of the magazine advertisement fits in with the electronica sub-genre of lcd soundsystem.

What visual techniques are used? (two-thirds, texture, colour, tone, mise-en-scene)
-White space is important in affecting the dominant reading path. This is particularly evident on the front pane of the digipak, whereby white space contrasts with the black coloured title. White space is also used as it forms half the colours of the discoball. This use of integrating images into the background is an idea which I like.
-The use of centering the lead performer on the two-pane image in the digipak contributes to his meta-narrative through portraying him as important. Lighting also achieves this contribution to meta-narrative, as other performers are subject to low-key lighting, whereas James Murphy is subject to more high-key lighting. This juxtaposition has connotations of James Murphy being the musical brains behind the band.
-This use of lighting also contributes to Dyer's paradox star image theory - whereby he poses that a star must be simultaneously present and absent. The use of low-key lighting intrigues the audience to research the band more, therefore contributing to lcd soundsystem's star image.
-The rough texture of the digipak, denoted by the faded title and the difference in shades of the colour black - has vintage connotations.
-The magazine advertisement does not break the fourth wall, this has connotations of artist integrity, furthered by the fact the artist is pictured in the stance of performing live. Furthermore, this lack of contribution towards para-social intimacy relates to Dyer's theory, as the lack of connection with audience means the audience will strive to complete the star image, resulting in continued consumption. This soft sell is also more conventional with regards to the funk genre, as listeners tend to be purposeful listeners, therefore a hard sell would be less effective and likely be received as corny.
-The use of image rotation in the magazine advertisement makes it unclear at first that James Murphy is clearly dancing on stage. This leads to repeatability from the audience to properly understand the image.
-'Rule breaking', as labelled by Archer, is evident in the magazine ad. As the artist's positioning utilised the rule of two thirds.
-The use of lighting in the magazine ad means the artist casts large shadows, which is a symbolic sign of being powerful. This relates to meta-narrative, as their last album was a defiant stamp of approval of their musical brilliance.

What linguistic devices have been used?
-The typography in the digipak is a symbolic sign of the electronica sub-genre 'lcd soundsystem' delves into, due to the computer-typed connotations having connotations of computerized sound.
-The reduction in size and clarity in titles on the magazine article encourages the audience to read all the information, as more genuine interests will make the effort to read the words at the bottom.

Is there any intertextuality / references to popular culture?
-The typography in the digipak could be an intertextual reference to other electronica bands.
-Otherwise, the lack of intertextual references have connotations of artistic individuality and integrity.
-The main intertextual reference on the digipak is the discoball, which is a symbolic sign of dance music.

How are the band represented? How does this add to their meta-narrative?
-When looking at the difference between how James Murphy is represented in the first album digipak and a magazine advertisement for their final album, the use of costume stands out. The digipak has connotations of authenticity and being down-to-earth, due to the two pane image being taken from a live gig, showing James Murphy wearing casual clothes. The meta-narrative develops hugely by the time of their third album, with Murphy's tuxedo having connotations of the album being a big finale, as well as being an iconic sign for their success over their musical career.
-The use of costume in the magazine advertisement is not only iconographic of the funk genre,, but it contributes to the artist's meta-narrative through connotations of formality and has links back to the tuxedo clothing style normally associated with the funk genre.
-The understated tones and colours in the magazine advertisement are indexical signs of the modest nature of the band, therefore contributing to their meta-narrative in a decisively positive way.
-The stance of James Murphy in the magazine advertisement is largely voyeueristic, as it shows him performing live, suggesting authenticity rather than commercial fetishism.

How might this print text be consumed?
-The soft sell nature of both prints suggests the text will be consumed by a pre-consolidated fanbase.
-The lack of emotive language and ratings from publications in the magazine advertisement furthers the strength of this interpretation.
-However, the use of the iconographic discoball on the front pane of the digipak means this text may be consumed by all audiences. This fits in with the audience's meta-narrative, as this was necessary to expand their audience in their first album.

How this has influenced my own ideas for our print work?
Digipak
-the use of spreading one image over two panes is a technique I liked, as it utilised the 'fold-out' nature of a digipak
-use of iconic signifiers of music genre immediately poses music genre upon audience
-the use of white space to affect dominant reading path

Magazine advertisement
-inter textual references often detract attention from artist, whereas a lack of them suggest artist has artistic integrity and strengthens their meta-narrative as a musician, and not a 'pop star.'
-lack of emotive language and ratings from publications on the magazine advertisement portrays the artist as genuine, a connotation we also aim to achieve.