DUFFY CD COVER ANALYSIS

Textual Investigation

(400-850 words)

Title [make sure you have typed it at the top of the page]:

‘Investigate how genre conventions are used in the CD cover ROCKFERRY by Duffy’

This is for analysis of :

The album cover contains many recognized codes and conventions.

Main image

A large black and white image of the star Duffy dominates the text set against an out of focus background which includes the carriages of an old fashioned train. 

The photograph has been taken with a shallow depth of field. The image is typical of the soul genre of the Sixties and has connotations of that iconic period in popular music which includes the promotional images of The Beatles and models photographed by David Bailey. 

Duffy looks as though she doesn't want to let go of her youth, is she afraid of the journey she is about to take to adulthood?

The cover reminds us of the sixties British white soul singer Dusty Springfield: (Fig 2).

(Fig 2)

Duffy is looking down and looks a little sad about the journey she is about to take.

The photo is taken at eye level and is a naturally lit mid shot taken in a realistic setting.

We can see from Duffy's body language, holding on to her coat that she may be apprehensive.

The symbolic codes of dress which include a bold black and white coat and bleached blonde hair. Again this reminds us of the Sixties and iconic singers like Dusty Springfield who is reknowned as one of the greatest white, British, female soul genre singers. Duffy's style of singing has been called Blue eyed soul.

The presence of the train could suggest the star is about to take a journey. Rockferry is a small working class town on the Wirral and a narrative of rags to riches is being constructed. 

There are connotations of the English North /South divide which exists today as it did in the Sixties when the Beatles traveled from Liverpool to London in the film A Hard Days Night.

Graphics

The title of the album is in capitals and the serif font STENCIL has been used.

Stencils are used by rail companies to identify their cargo, so the lettering has connotations of train travel.

Above the main image is the signature of the artist. It can be described as feminine This will appeal to the target audience who may feel they are buying something unique or collectible, like the autograph of Duffy the celebrity personalising the CD for fans.