GROUP MAGAZINE ANALYSIS

Alada Taylor, Jordan Jones, Sophie Dahms and

Luke Jackson

MAGAZINE ANALYSIS - ALADA

THE USE OF COLOUR

The use of colour of the magazine is mainly black, red, blue and white. The black could be used to

show power. Which can link to the magazine’s issue on Wolverine as it’s to do with powerful people.

The black fonts are used for texts such as ‘’Public Enemies Johnny Depp VS Christian Bale In Heat

II’’, and the black font shows that this text is powerful and by using the black font it emphasises the

power in the meaning behind the text, as for example for the ‘’Public Enemies Johnny Depp VS

Christian Bale In Heat II’’text, this shows that Christian Bale and Johnny Depp are powerful (A-List

actors) and that they are going against each other, probably in a film. By using the white colour, it

symbolises the good in something especially using this colour on Hugh Jackman’s top, it shows that

he is playing a good guy in Wolverine, and by using the white colour in ‘’X-MEN Origins on set world

exclusive!’’, shows that the magazine has something good to offer for this issue as they have

‘exclusives’. The red colour font for the masthead‘Empire’, has many meanings behind it. Red is the

colour of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination

as well as passion, desire, and love, which can relate to movies which this magazine is based on, as

the different red meanings can show different genres of films, that is why the colour red is used for

the masthead. Blue is used in the background of Hugh Jackman’s image. Blue is the colour of the

sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom,

confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven, and so by using these blue colour meanings this

can suggest what Wolverine is all about, that is why Empire magazine used this colour in the issue

cover.

THE USE OF IMAGERY

The use of imagery of the magazine is of Hugh Jackman dressed as his character Wolverine from X-Men.

This suggests that this issue of Empire Magazine is based on Hugh Jackman’s film because Hugh

Jackman is the cover image of the Empire Magazine. This shows that the Empire is promoting Wolverine,

because they are attracting viewers to go see the movie because Hugh Jackman looks good in his

Wolverine outfit on the front cover of the magazine. Hugh Jackman looks strong with his big muscles, he

has sharp knife like claws coming out off his knuckles, to emphasis the powerful Wolverine/Hugh

Jackman. Hugh Jackman is looking away, like he has something important to do. Which shows that he is

an important person , especially for the magazine issue, which could be why he is using such a

thoughtful expression. The background image behind Hugh Jackman, the floor looks crumbled, as if

Hugh Jackman landed powerfully on the ground that he smashed it, which can show that he is strong.

Hugh Jackman looks like he’s standing in an isolated place, to show that he is the only important person,

and this is because the film that he is dressed up for is Wolverine and Wolverine is based on Hugh

Jackman’s cover, so that is why he is standing alone. These images can be used for the magazine to show

a little bit of the plot of the film ‘’A strong man, who’s alone that is ready to help someone’’.

THE USE OF FONTS

The use of fonts is very bold, and it’s not like a fancy font, its normal/casual, this probably gives

off a strong feel, because the font being bold can relate to someone being bold, strong and

independent which can reflect the main image of Hugh Jackman looking across the distance. He

has big muscles, and sharp claws which make him look strong and bold which is how the font

reflects the way he look. The masthead and its font ‘Empire’ shows that it is the most important

font/text because it is the biggest font, also it is at the top of the page, and people usually read

from top to bottom. So by having this text at the top, the viewers will see that first and get in

their head that this is the Empire, the magazine. Some of the text’s font except from the

masthead is either faded a bit, white or black, which shows that the most important text will

have its font coloured black, whereas the less important font is faded a bit, for example ‘review

of the year’ font is black whereas the ‘wrestlers’ is faded which shows that is not so important.

The ‘review of the year’ text’s font could be black because it relates to what this issue is based

on, which is the film Wolverine, so that could be why the font is in a colour that stands out more.

LAYOUT

From the layout of the magazine you can see that the image of Hugh Jackman in the centre of the

magazine, which shows that he, is important to the magazine’s issue. Hugh Jackman may be in the

middle of the magazine, because he is the model of Empire and he is representing them, to make

them look good as Hugh Jackman is a model/actor who is popular, so this could attract his fans to

buy Empire’s magazine because he is on the magazine cover. He could also be representing the

magazine as he could be showing what Empire is all about, like what their magazines are based

on which is probably movies as you can see on the magazine, Hugh Jackman dressed as his

character in X-men/Wolverine. The texts are surrounding Hugh Jackman’s cover image so that it

shows that he is the most important aspect of the magazine. Also since Hugh Jackman is in the

centre of the magazine, it shows that he is the centre to attract the audience. The masthead of

‘Empire’is at the top of the magazine, and has the biggest text size on the magazine which shows

that is the second main point of the magazine, it is put at the top of the magazine to show that this

is what the magazine is called, so because of the texts size you can see that.

DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS

The direct mode of address, which you can see in

one of the cover lines in the bottom left corner,

which says ‘’Ghostbusters 3, news to make you feel

good’’, which is a direct address because it’s

includes the viewer by saying ‘’you’’, so this direct

address is used to attract the viewers, making them

think that it can relate to them, and they want to find

out more because the viewer will become interested

in how it can interest them.

WEBSITE ADDRESS

The website address is put on the magazine to

make the viewers who like the magazine or is

interested in the magazine to go check out Empire’s

website so that they can get more views/costumers.

This can make their magazine more well known, and

they can earn more money with the new costumers

buying their magazines.

STRAP LINE

The strap line of the magazine‘’the world’s biggest movie magazine’’. This is

used to make the magazine seem like it’s a good magazine, like it’s a popular well

known magazine. The mainstreamers from ‘’The Four C's (Cross-Cultural

Consumer Characteristics)’’,will be more likely to buy the magazine from this

strap line because mainstreamers are the largest segment of consumers. This

group seek security in conformity and tend to buy well-established brands, so by

using this strap line, it makes the magazine Empire seem like a good magazine

company so they are more likely to want to buy the magazine. This strap line is

also used to make movie fanatics want to buy the magazine as it is based on

movies and by using the strap line, it sounds like to the audience that this

magazine will be able to get exclusive bits of films from this magazine.

BAR CODE

The barcode could to make it look like the

magazine is an official real magazine. Also the

barcode is essential to magazine companies as they

usually include general information about the

magazine such as the date and price.

COVER LINES

The cover lines are put on the magazine front

covers to attract audience with what they have to

offer as a magazine. Words/sentences that attract

the audience such as ‘exclusive’, ‘vs’,

‘massive’,‘dirty’, ‘feel good’, are used so that the

audience will take notice of the magazine then have

a look at the magazine afterwards.

DATE

The date is used to tell the audience if the

magazine is a monthly/weekly/daily magazine, so the

audience will know when they can buy the next

issue. Also the price of the magazine is put on the

magazine so the audience knows how much the

magazine cost and how much to save for the next

magazine issue.

BUZZWORDS

The buzzwords on the magazine include 'empire',

'feel good', exclusives' etc. and buzzwords are words

that impress the audience, the words that would

stand out to the audience to make them want to read

the magazine. Buzzwords are used to gain more

costumers, so that the magazine company will earn a

lot of money off their new costumers.

MAGAZINE ANALYSIS - SOPHIE

The cover that I have chosen to do is Empire Magazine – x-men days of future past cover.

The release date was march 2014.

The Mast head

They have changed the way they present the mast head in this cover because even though they have kept it the same font and size but they have made it 3D and they have also changed the colour to silver to go with the x-men title so that it corresponds with each other.

STRIP

The strip is in blocked lettering which uses two different colours white and purple/pink. The text that advertises this issue as being 1 of 25 limited edition covers. It fits in with the colour scheme and the limited edition is in purple because it is a buzz work showing the importance of it there is also and “!”

DATE AND ISSUE, NUMBER AND PRICE

This is a puff. It still follows the colour scheme with the silver and it has numbers on it showing there is 25 issues.

This is the barcode it has the date of release above it. The barcode is at the bottom of the magazine

This is also a puff. It follows the colour scheme with the silver and purple. The font is blocked writing and all in purple in between the writing there is a silver circle with “21” inside is showing this is the 21st edition.

STRAPLINE

The strapline follows the colour scheme of silver and purple it is in blocked lettering the word “still” is underline this is to make the viewer know that is it important. The strapline is advertising the magazine saying it is the biggest movie magazine and using the word “still” means that it is and still will be the biggest movie magazine.

COVER LINE This is also a puff it still follows the colour scheme the writing is in blocked lettering.

This is the cover line it still follows the colour scheme. The writing is in blocked lettering.

MAIN COVER LINEThis is the main cover line it takes up the bottom part of the cover the title of the film is bigger than the rest of the writing to show what it is. It follows the colour scheme of silver and purple the word x-men in see through so you can still see the image behind it. The title is in silver the rest of the writing is in purple.

MAIN IMAGEThis is the main image showing one of the characters from the film. The whole image still follows the colour scheme with the background being silver and the character being purple. The explosion in the background shows something happens in the film and it temps you into going to watch the film which is what a movie magazine cover is suppose to do .

DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS

This is the direct mode of address because the eyes are looking out towards the audience. It carries on with the colour scheme silver and purple

WEBSITE

There is no website on the front of the magazine cover.

MAGAZINE ANALYSIS - JORDAN

Mast Head

The Mast Head has been well-positioned at the top of the page and it is in a form of “blood” with its red

bold colouring. What makes the impact is that it is positioned

above all of the other layers of the magazine

showing us its importance and how it

should be read and seen first rather than the other aspects of

the magazine. Also the font of the Mast Head “Scream” is dripping

down as if the blood is actually real.

_________________StripThe stripe of the

magazine is straight to the point and briefly

explains what the magazine is about.

Within this it basically explains “Blood, Guts, Gore & More!”. This

gives me the impression that it is all about these key factors but in my opinion this part of the magazine is

not as important as the rest as even

though it is at the top of the magazine it is

behind the Mast Head which shows less

importance compared to the Mast Head.

_________________Date, Issue & Price

The date, issue and price have been clearly

positioned towards the top of the page and they show 2 currencies being

Great British Pounds Sterling and Dollars. As

this aspect of the magazine isn’t that important they have

positioned it behind the ‘Scream’ text which gives

us the impression it is not that important

therefore is behind the other aspects of the

magazine. It has been thought of well as it is

clear to see and blends in with the rest of the

magazine

_________________Barcode

With the barcode on this magazine it has been

put to the bottom right hand corner of the

magazine which indicates it is not to do with the magazine but

after all it is required as the magazine gets

scanned through at the checkout. The barcode is black and white because that is the colours and symbols the checkout scanners read. It has

been placed out of the way though which gives

more space for the better content of the

magazine especially the strap lines and cover

lines!

_________________Main Image

With this magazine the main image is of a man

who is light coloured and has animal type eyes. He

has a spotty type face and is holding a ‘dagger’ sort of tool. What makes it more appealing to the audience is that the way

it blends in with the stormy background

where the rain is crashing down on him.

This is being shown as a close up shot with lots of

the facial expressions revealed such as the skin

colour and tone of the person on the cover.

_________________Coverlines

The cover lines are on both sides of the

magazine and are short worded. Above both of

the cover lines there are the people who have

been interviewed being “The FX Master” and

“Christa Campbell”. On the magazine the first name is always more

bold than the surname showing more

importance and expression to the

audience which gives us the vital information to see if we would like to pick up this magazine and read it again and

again.

_________________Website

The website that the magazine is associated

with is bold and capitalised which indicates to the

audience clearly what their website address is

to purchase subscriptions, find out more etc. Also being in

the top right hand corner on its own it

makes it clearly identifiable and easy to read and remember and

customers who subscribe to the

magazine; Scream.

MAGAZINE ANALYSIS -LUKE

Font is red therefore it relates to blood which is a horror movie convention.

Showing what is in the magazine, this is done to attract viewers. The pictures are looking directly at you to draw your attention and then want you too look inside of the magazine. They have all been done to attract buyers.

Scary photo been added as a typical convention of a horror movie this is also the main image

Direct address because the mask is looking at you directly this is to try and bring you in to buy the magazine.

Barcode shows that’s it’s an official magazine.

Strap line is there to grab the viewers attention, this is because it is short snappy. Makes the viewer interested by using small snappy words and then they are instantly drawn into looking at the whole front cover.

Date, issue and price top right so people don’t see this without directly looking for it, therefore it is out of the view of the buyer meaning that they can put the price higher because people wont see it.

This is the masthead, it looks like blood dripping which is related to a horror movie convention. It also used to show what genre the magazine is wrote about.

3 words that draw the attention once people have been drawn in to the magazine already. Has been done as a 4 word summary of what's in the magazine.

Information on what else they have to offer. They are advertising on the there magazine, they have put the extras at the bottom because they can use the rest of the space to attract the buyer then they have this at the bottom as the information that they can read so they can advertise there other stuff easier

OVERALL ANALYSISMasthead – Is of a bold colour that it stands out to the audience, for example with Scream and Empire, the

fonts of the masthead is bold and red, that it is very eye catching.

Cover lines - These are the other lines to show what the magazine is about and what the magazine includes to

gain the audience’s attention. These lines are smaller than the main cover line to help the main cover line to

stand out. Cover lines are not long so that they are not boring and does not take away the importance from the

main cover line.

Imagery – The main image is of a person used to show their importance and can show what they/the person on

the character or the magazine is promoting. In our case the main image of a person is promoting films, and the

magazine can be promoting that they are a magazine based on films.

Strip – Strips are normally at the top of the magazine and show what the magazine is about, e.g. for Scream the

magazine, they had ‘blood, guts and more’ to show that they are a magazine based on horror and then the

Empire who used ‘’Wolverine has returned for..’’, which shows that the magazine issue is based on the Wolverine

movie that must have released in the cinema at that time.

Main cover lines – They are usually the cover lines that stand out the most e.g. have a bigger text/font size, is

more bold or is in capitals. These lines are the lines that needs to be promoted on the magazine and is usually

linked to the main cover image to promote the main cover image, and to tell the audience what the main image is

about.

Buzz words - Buzzwords are words that impress the audience, the words that would stand out to the audience

to make them want to read the magazine. Buzzwords are used to gain more costumers, so that the magazine

company will earn a lot of money off their new costumers., e.g. in the empire they used ‘exclusive’, to make the

magazine sound one of a kind and very popular which will gain the audience’s attention.