Analysis of Genre Covers 2

The second album cover analysis which I have chosen to do is the R&B artist Rihanna’s “Unapologetic” album.

The focus of the album cover is a mid shot of the artist Rihanna posing nude with graffiti writing over the picture. The colour scheme used for this album cover is very simplistic as the background is white with the graffiti writing in either black or white over Rihanna’s brown body. By using graffiti writing it makes the album cover stand out and shows an element of creativity. The title of the album cover is covering the artist’s left breast with a scribbled black background; this helps to the audience to differentiate the fact that it is unique from the rest of the writing across her body.

Also these words which are used in the album cover are quite meaningful to how the artist may perceive herself as anyone who is a fan Rihanna would know that before the release of this album her life was very much the focus of the media (specifically social media site Twitter) as she lost her grandmother and had been rumoured to get back with her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown who had previously domestically abused her. Therefore the words which are used such as “Faith, Fearless, Love, Happy etc” could be her way of expressing her inner feelings towards all the publicity and criticism she has been receiving. This also could all refer back to the title “Unapologetic” and the fact that she is not apologetic for her actions and the choices which she has made.

Rihanna is a known celebrity for having many tattoos however the only tattoo we see in this album cover is one of the Egyptian goddess Isis kneeling with her wings spread and spanning across Rihanna's rib cage which was dedicated to her belated grandmother. This connotes to audience the importance and impact her grandmother had on her life and as Isis is the goddess of children as well as the protector of the dead could imply that she may be looking for protection for herself hence why she has writing all over her as a way of blocking the audience from seeing her as a whole.

Similar to her “Rated R” album cover, Rihanna also has one of her eyes covered in this album cover. This shows her as not wanting to be too revealed to the audience but the fact that she is nude and has her feelings written across her body goes against this idea which creates confusion and mystery about the artist.