CD digipack analysis – ACDC – Highway To Hell

In the album cover released by ACDC, there is clear

stereotypical gender representation as he looks annoyed

or frustrated by something which is stereotypical

behaviour by males. The main singer is wearing a velvet

suit jacket and a shirt and tie, however he is wearing this

unkept and untucked, possibly alluding to the genre of

rock being ‘bad boy’ music. Angus Young also has devil

horns on his head, comparing to his bad boy image, being

in a heavy rock band, and with the incorrect stereotype

that rock music is dark and dangerous, he also has a devils

tail in his hand. His long hair compliments this idea as long

hair is another stereotype of rock. One of the band

members (far right) is smiling which differentiates from

the other band members facial expressions, this could

possibly mean that ACDC are showing a sense that each

band member has their own specific style, the costume also alludes to the idea of band member

individuality as the member on the far left is wearing a white shirt, Angus Young is wearing his usual suit

and the member on the far right is wearing a black shirt, they are all individual from eachother however

all matching genre.

In terms of the Guttenberg design principle there is an element of symmetry as Young (main singer) is

centred in the middle between all other band members. The famous logo of the band hovers over the

top of the image, in the centre, again creating a symmetrical centre and occupying the primary optical

area as it one of the main subjects of the album cover. The album title is below the band members

however, in the centre once again. There is no hint as to where the location could be as the background

is black and dark therefore stopping us from guessing, this could add to the atmospheric idea behind

this album cover.