Analysing CD cover

Below I have analysed the digipak for Katy Perry's 'One Of The Boys' which was released in June of 2008.

The front of American recording artist Katy Perrys album cover 'One of the Boys' conforms to typical genre characteristics and conventions of pop rock music. For example the artist is central to the frame, minimalistic information such as the artists name and the albums name and the colour scheme and themes portrayed in the front cover are carried onto the back.

Katy is shown in a medium shot. Interest is immediately generated for females because of the admiration of Katy and the music whereas for males it is more likely to be generated because of the attraction to Katy because she emphasises a womanly figure in a seductive pose which instantly gains male attention.

There are obvious gender connotations such as the use of bubblegum pink and pretty flowers clearly representing feminine favourites. The album displays contradictory messages because the title is 'One Of The Boys' and then typically associated colours and objects with girls are evident. The main colours are generally bright and appear staged as oppose to natural.

The font of 'Katy Perry' is pink with a thick white outline with a few scattered hearts and stars around it and because it is larger than the album title, it is immediately apparent to the audience. The title is in baby blue which is an iconic colour representing males. Katy's clothes match these colours.

I imagine the album seeks to attract both males and females, inviting a mass audience however due to the type of music on the album, it is likely to be aimed more closely at teenagers.

The general mise en scene suggests ideology because there are objects typically associated with the 50's such as the white picket fence, an old record player, the low garden lounger with the blanket and lastly her large straw hat which was a popular accessory of the time. 

Katy's costume also relates to the 50's in that it portrays retro vintage styling. Her bright red lipstick helps to further emphasises her femininity. 

This is the back cover for the album. Similar themes are displayed as on the front cover in relation to colours, voyeurism and indications to the 50's.

A sense of time is created because the sky is slightly darker and more clouds are present than that in the front cover suggesting it could now be night time.

Different props are evident in this picture for example the paddling pool behind her and the red heart lolly in her right hand. Another new prop is the rubber ducks in the pool, these are examples of intertextuality because it reminds the audience of the 'hook-a-duck' game at fun fairs particularly in the 50's.

Track list is in a feminine font, there are orange hearts separating the main songs from the remixes. There are also three pink lines in the form of an outline.

These are the songs in the track list;

01. One Of The Boys

02. I Kissed A Girl

03. Waking Up In Vegas

04. Thinking Of You

05. Mannequin

06. Ur So Gay

07. Hot N Cold

08. If You Can Afford Me

09. Lost

10. Self Inflicted

11. I'm Still Breathing

12. Fingerprints

In the bottom right corner of the album there is a bar code on its side which should be present on every album cover. Beside this relevant information such as the producers names are displayed. In the bottom left corner the record company is shown. These are typical conventions an album cover should conform to. This research has helped me to realise what should be on our own album. 

This is the alternative new edition enhanced CD cover consisting of four tracks.

This is the actual CD for One Of The Boys. The blue font is against a white background to make it stand out. The artists name is in a larger sized font, different style and has an outlining mist of pink to further emphasise her name. The same font for 'Katy Perry' is used for all CD covers and the CD itself which works as a kind of signature sign for her.