Post-Modern Album Art - The Clash

The album Art is conventionally traditional as it includes the artist name, album name and an image of the artist (part of the band). The Image itself codes for rock 'n' roll as it is rebellious smashing a guitar to the ground. The costumes also code for punk/rock as you can see from the leather clothing which is familiar in rock culture. The image is in motion which gives us a sense of action through the blurred effect of the image. The colours Black and White gives the image a sense of edge, seriusness and convition or senserity (Classic feel).

The Album Art is a juxtaposition as we are shown a light hearted and playful approach through the font of the album name compared to the seriousness of the image. The album is also a homage to Elvis Presley's first album cover, this is called intertexuality. This album cover is a celebration of Elvis Presley, showing him respect and recognition. As you can see below.

Oasis - Definitely Maybe (Album Cover)

The album cover has many typical conventions of album art such as the band name and the album name. The font style is bold, black and white, a tabloid style representing that they are making headlines and also codes that they are normal working class boys. The album name is shown in a different font, handwritten representing that the album is personal to them. The album art shows us the band in their living room which represents their lifestyle in a way through the mise-en-scene. Examples of this would be the TV coding that they are normal, ordinary day to day working class boys. Another being the picture of the Manchester City footballer which identifies them as people suggesting they are from Manchester and that they are ordinary working class football fans. The living room seems to be tidy which codes for sophistication as well as the wine all adds to the element of sophistication. The band members seem to be dressed well quite smart also adding to the sense of sophistication. There is a juxtaposition as we are shown a glass of wine coding for sophistication next to a pack of cigarettes coding for normality, not so sophisticated. All of this adds to the down to earth appeal of the album.
The band are positioned around the living room which suggests their importnace or role in the band. We are shown Liam Gallagher the lead singer laying down in the centre foreground which is conventional on an album cover. Laying down represents that the band are different, arrogant and pensive and suggesting individuality. The second closest is Liam's brother Noel, a guitarist. We are shown him with a guitar in his hand suggesting his musicianship and is identified as one of the guitarists of the band. It also idnetifies him as the member who writes all of the bands songs. The three members of the band at the back watching TV are represented as the least important members of the band.
The blue sky suggests freedom and hope. We can see a globe in the living room coding for the bands ambition like they are going to take over the world with their music, suggests arrogance but codes for their confidence. Its as if the world is their oyster, in their hands.

Nirvana - Nevermind (Album Cover)

• Baby represents life, innocence and purity
• Pool represents freedom, eternal and beautiful
• Extremely controversial and eye catching
• Dollar Bill represents American culture - only interested in turning human beings into consumers
• Juxtaposition - purity and materialism 
• Another juxtaposition would be that the baby is free coded through the pool but isn't free from the clutches of consumerism and materialism
• Clear ideology - political saying American consumerism has gone too far
• Extremely powerful
• Font style - simplistic and elegant, not child like, sophisticated all codes for their confidence, pride and their beliefs.
• Font style - black codes for negativity

Beatles - Sgt Pepper (Album Cover)

The Beatles album design was revolutionary, unique and original as it was different to usual album covers, it was seen as a piece of art. The album was designed by an artist called Peter Blake a pop artist whos original concept was to create a scene of the Sgt Pepper band performing in the park which evolved into its final piece with the band surrounded by their heroes. Flowers in the album cover code for peace associated with the hippy scene around the time the album was released. The drum situated in the middle of the album design is circus like which codes for fun, lively and entertaining representing their music. The Beatles costumes also add to the circus theme as they look as if they are dressed as ring leaders seperating them from the other showing their originality. The band are amongst legends positioning themselves at the front centre of the design which codes for their own confidence, belief and significance. In a way it is quite arrogant as they convey the image that they have made it, amongst other legends suggests they believe they're amongst the best.
The blue sky in the background codes for freedom, tropical, happiness, summer and hope all positive images which links with their style of music. Palm trees are also used to add to the effect of summer, tropical as well as exotic. They seem to be breaking away from the British personna if you will as they are amongst international legends, hollywood like. The Beatles seem to be on an island with the other legends, seperating us from them increasing the representation of their significance and importance. This is also arrogant suggesting in a way that the island is only for special people.

Album Covers

• Represents the artist / band
• Tries to draw the audience in
• Establishes album, artist / band and ther music genre
• 'Looks good' - creativity, originality, individuality and artistic
• Establishes the credibility and artistic merit of the artist
• Codes and conventions are used to communicate with the audience
• Conventions - Band name, album name, image / art, style related to the music, image of the artist / band, record label and song list