Eminem CD analysis
- 1. Analysis Of A CD cover
- 2. The artist’s name is at the top of the CD cover. It is in capitals and in bold. The characters are also slightly in 3D. The artist’s name is what stands out the most of the whole cover, as the font is quite big and the colour is white, where the background is black/ dark red. The light colour of the characters really bring the name out. The album’s title is right below the artist’s name. It is written in capitals, larger gaps have been left between each character, to fit the whole title underneath the artist’s name. The font is much smaller than, what is used for the artist’s name. This suggests, that Eminem wants the audience to first see who’s album is it and only then the album’s title. This could be used as and advertising method. The image used on the cover is a part of a stage. I know this because of the wooden floor, the big red curtains and the microphone with the spotlight. Eminem is sitting in the middle of the cover, behind the curtains. This cover is quite counter typical to hip hop CD covers, as nothing really suggests that this is hip hop genre and also most of the hip hop artists use a close up of them on the cover. Although, Eminem is on a stage, the mise en scene represents the stage more as a show stage, rather than a rap battle stage. The elegant red curtains with the golden bottom and the wooden floor, suggest that it could be a shows stage. Also the title of the album mention ‘Show’. This might be a metaphor of Eminem saying, that his personal life feels like a public show. The main colour that dominated throughout the whole cover is royal red. Not just the curtians but also the floor reflects the red. Royal red associated with blood, pain, love and importance. In this case it could also symbolize fame. I think that Eminem is going quite personal with this album, as he is using codes to show how fame has brought pain too. The way he is sitting behing tha curtains, suggest that he
- 3. The track list is on the left side of the back cover. It is also written in white, however the font is quite smaller from the front cover. The image of the back cover is a closer shot taken from the front cover image. There wooden floor, closed curtains and the microphone. The fact that the curtains are closed and that Eminem is not in the picture anymore, could suggest that the show is literally over. Which could mean that Eminem finished the show and went off the stage or he didn't’t even go on the stage. Executive producer mentioned. Barcode in the bottom left corner of the back cover. Record label is mentioned in the very bottom of the back cover. The characters are written in very small font, as it is not as important.
- 4. This is the inside left cover, that is designed like a mini booklet with all the of the songs’ lyrics and some photos of Eminem. This photo is taken from a high angle, with a fish eye, which makes it look round. The picture shows the making of the album, it looks like a studio, where people are working either on the sound or a video. Eminem might have chosen to use this photo as an inside cover to let the audience feel closer to behind the scenes of making the album.
- 5. This is a right inside cover, where the CD is placed on top. It has the same artist’s name and album’s title from the front cover. The same positioning too. The image is of the same stage as the previous covers had. The microphone and the spotlight also is on it. However, what is different is that Eminem is now standing on the stage and holding the microphone. The way how Eminem is standing and holding the microphone suggests that he is not quite confident. He rather looks as he is not sure if he should be on the stage. This might symbolise how fame creates his own personal life into a show that everyone sees.
- 6. The actual CD has the same artist’s name and the title underneath as the first and inside right covers of the album. It has the Record label and the copyrights, on the bottom. The picture on the CD is the same stage as on the covers. However, this one is edited to be just red. The wooden floor is hardly recognisable, and the dark red curtain looks almost black.