The image used in the middle seems relaxed and laid-back, just friends hanging out, the main image of Beth Cosentino, however, does not seem relaxed, she seems slightly stiff, you can see this from the way she is standing. The images do not look like a staged photo shoot, they are very natural, which make them more realistic, their look is achievable as their style is very casual, which allows the audience to relate to them, they do not seem high maintenance. Beth Cosentino is looking straight at the camera which allows the audience to have an ‘interaction’ with her.
I would say the approximate percentage is less than 50%, roughly 45%, as the main image takes up a little less than half a page due to a section on famous celebrity couples, but is still the central focus. The smaller image is placed directly in the middle of the article which roughly takes up 5% on the right page. I think this is because the article is mainly about Beth Cosentino, so therefore, the image of her is much bigger than the image of her and her band Best Coast even though they are referred to throughout the article but this article is a piece on Beth Cosentino, ‘And the slacker Queen Best Coast’s Beth Cosentino.’
Comparing Beth Cosentino to Katy Perry is very effective as they are both from California, both successful singers ‘According to the whims and wiles of popular culture, there are currently two kinds of need-to-know-about Californian Girl.’ But have very different images, ‘brash showgirl, prone to prancing around in cerulean bog bleach-shaded wig and cupcake bra. Then strolling on behind in a floral thrift store frock, is the laid-back, slacker-rock stoner...’
Katy Perry’s image is very bold compared to Beth’s image:
‘First up is the brash showgirl, prone to prancing around in cerulean bog bleach-shaded wig and cupcake bra. Then strolling on behind in a floral thrift store frock, is the laid-back, slacker-rock stoner... frankly, it isn’t difficult to work out with whom we’d rather spend an afternoon eating cold pizza, chugging beers...’
-This gives us the impression that Katy Perry is very forward, in-your-face a lot and brash. NME have highlighted this attitude by telling us about Katy first.
The words used here emphasise Katy’s bold image and attitude.
The words used here emphasise that Beth is very relaxed and not interested about being in the front all the time, does not care much about her image and being in the limelight whereas Katy Perry does ‘showgirl’, and that Beth is very much about the music.
Again highlights Beth’s laid-back attitude, thrift store is a charity store, this shows that Beth is not for material things like Katy is made out to be. The words ‘floral’ and ‘frock’ suggest a hint of innocence.
Still sticking with the laid-back attitude, however, slight oxymoron to the sentence before which gave a hint of innocence but then turns out to be not so pure, as she is described as a ‘stoner.’
Emphasises Beth’s carefree attitude and that she is not high maintenance.
The target audience are not into a Katy Perry’s music which is pop as they are interested in alternative rock which is what Beth’s band focus on, this is why I feel Katy Perry is portrayed in a negative way to the audience. ‘We’re sorry to break your heart Katy Perry, but it certainly ain’t you babe.’ The use of the word ‘certainly’ makes this statement sound nasty. The audience will think of Beth as some kind of Goddess, as they look up to her and admire her, NME are portraying her as this fantastic woman and in a very positive light.
So the tone is mixed of both negative and positive, negative towards Katy Perry, positive towards Beth Cosentino.
The heading is very carefree which already gives you an insight into her life, which is being very relaxed. There is also use of alliteration ‘Best Coast’s Beth Cosentino’ sound very similar.
The article makes Beth sound both controversial and ordinary at the same time by portraying her as the type of person who lives a care free life and is very mellow but they also portray her as an addict, as she likes to take weed. Being relaxed is one of the effects of Cannabis.
