Analysing a CD Cover: R Kelly

Image: The presentation of this CD cover, is of a mid shot of the main Artist but who is also a character within the music video. The background shows different shades of lighting within a greyscale (the use of black and white), which relates to modern style R&B music presents We don't really see much of the Artists clothing except for a coat and sunglasses however from the image tat is being presented we see a very modern look in which we associate people of black ethnicities to wear, the significance of the clothing connotes the genre and specifically connotes the type of image the genre has the 'cool' element and presents a rich type of lifestyle.

Copy: The font presented is relatively large, it is directly underneath the face of the Artist similarly to ushers and Chris Browns' CD. The title is significantly in the shade black; again dark tones are used, this connotes again, the idea of money, and also the rich lifestyle the R&B videos connote and additionally suggests the modern/ cool lifestyle these artists live. Additionally there is a crown placed directly above the letter 'R' which suggests the Artist to be of royalty within the genre but also suggests that his album is about being 'on top'. 

Genre: The use of black characters communicate the genre of R&B. The use of this ethnicity is a common element within this type of genre, and is constantly presented and this is again the case within this CD cover, the artist is again of black ethnicity. The use of dark tones reflects the genre also, as this again is repeatedly presented throughout the genre perhaps, reflecting the modernised lifestyle the genre wants to present but also the Artist. Overall when looking at this CD cover a fresh look is presented possibly connoting money and the rich lifestyle, or even the 'bling' representation the ethnicity has within society. Everything that seems to be presented is very modernised

Connotation: The secondary level of communication within this CD cover, could perhaps be the background as we don't see the full image that could possibly be presented, this could possibly make the artist more interested into finding out the full picture by listening to the album.

Target audience: Through this CD cover , I feel as though the target audience is aimed at people who are of the same ethnicity this is due to the fact that only a black person is presented. 

Mode of address: The mood is created through the mid shot of the R&B artist, the direct eye contact suggests the seriousness of the song and the album. However the background in which is presented, is mainly white, this could connote the purity of the songs within the album.

Tag line/title/name: The name presented is 'R Kelly' no other information is provided this suggests that you need to buy the album in order to find out more about the Artist and his songs.

Representation: Through this CD cover we are presented with a character who is of a black ethnicity this could suggest the type of target audience the genre is aiming for. This again is common within the elements promoting R&B songs. The costume that the artist is wearing suggests the costume is designer and this suggests perhaps the artist is of upper class, but of ghetto upper class (urbanised).

Again, we don't really learn much about the Artist or character on the CD . The specific use of this Artist included within the CD cover is significant as the artist is popular within the genre and due to his well known image/ representation I believe that this will sell his album alone . This mean that the audience the CD is aimed for an audience who will recognize the character. These ingredients are common within the genre as this is commonly presented throughout the CD covers that I have researched. It also expresses that the  genre is generally aimed at a specific target audiences, people who are of a black ethnicity or have a 'ghetto' lifestyle.