EN: Print Analysis - Digipak

   

 Genre

·      The genre of a Djent, Progressive Metal band is evident in the visuals of Monument’s “Gnosis” album cover. This because the detailed, chaotic and intricate imagery represents the complex music played throughout the album. Also it is common for band of this genre to construct songs based on abstract themes about life and the world we live in. Therefore the images of space and planets are conventional to the thematic material of the genre.

Media Language

·        There are several visual techniques used in constructing this digipak. The most prevalent of these are the juxtaposition in colour and tone. There are major binary oppositions between light and dark with connote a sense of contrast between space and earth

·        This album art work also uses several iconographic features, to reinforce a sci-fi vibe. It does this by using images of galaxies, planets and alien like symbols

·        There are several meanings generated by the construction of these techniques, depending on how far a reader looks into the text. One philosophical reading a viewer could perceive is the representation of the ideology of empiricism. This is because the universe, planets and our world are seen burning from our eyes, showing that our existence is seen and constructed through our vision and experienced by ourselves. One other meaning generated by this artwork is that we, as human beings are part of the universe we live in and that our minds represent all sides of existence, from creation and life to darkness and destruction

Representation

·        Monuments are represented as an artistic band through their artwork of “Gnosis”. This is because they refrain from following generic genre conventions and instead adopt an abstract conceptual digipak.

·        This adds to the meta-narrative of the band of being a progressive band by employing inventive and unique concepts  

Institution and Audience

·        Because of its artistic and detailed appearance “Gnosis” would be consumed in a focus viewing. This is because it’s not a product of generic conventions nor an advertisement so would capture the audience based as a separate entity to the music and band as a piece of art