Monday 19 March 2012

Film Magazine Analysis 2



The film magazine front cover I am analysing is ‘Empire Magazine’. The magazine is advertising the film ‘The Shinning’.

The masthead says ‘Empire’ as the magazine is called ‘Empire Magazine’. The name Empire suggests power and domination as if the Empire is the best magazine and only film magazine worth reading and far superior to any other film magazine. The size of the masthead takes up the upper section of the magazine. ‘Empire’ is written in a large bold red font. The typography is eye catching but simple. The simplicity and use of the colour red reflects Empire magazines target audience which is men. As men prefer images and, and text which is minimalistic and basic. The colour red connotes danger, strength and power which the male target audience can relate to as they are ‘macro’ masculine.  And like films elements of danger, strength and power in them which empire promotes. The masthead creates brand identity the same font colour and size is on every front cover in the same position at the top of the magazine.

The main image is of a man looking through a broken door. The camera shot is close up of Jack’s face, showing anger facial expression.  This face stands out within the image as its tanned in contrast to grey/white door. His eyes are to the side focusing on something. His teeth are very white contrasting with the black shadows on his face. Showing his teeth are signs of anger and rage making the man seem very menacing. The main image relates to the main sell line which is 'The 500 Greatest Films of All Time'. As the shinning is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of the horror genre and a staple of pop culture. The main image is from the iconic famous scene where Jack sticking his face through the broken door. From the main image it suggests the film is ‘dark’ and scary as Jack looks deranged.  Either a horror film or thriller. There is a symbolic link between magazine image and the film and DVD poster of the film. As they all have the image of the Jack sticks his face through the broken door.

The magazine main sell line is, 'The 500 Greatest movies of All Time' as the front cover is a limited collector’s addition. The sell line highlights the main image, expressing the shinning is one of the greatest films of all time. The sell line reflects the interest of the target audience, as the audience who buy Empire are film lovers and would be every interest in knowing 'the 500 greatest movies of All Time'. within the sell line the number ‘500’ if much larger the rest of text, highlighting the large about of content the reader will get, if the by the magazine. The word movies in the sell line tell us the genre of the magazine. The sell line is in 3d and slightly overlapping the above the masthead. The sell line is white, making it stand out against the background.

The other sell line is ‘100 covers to choose from! Turn to page six to see all 100>>>’ the sell line is in a puff, giving the audience something extra, the sell line also does not reveal everything about of the cover, the mode of the address is enticing, making the audience to buy the magazine so they can turn to page six to find out the surprise. The puff is a square this reflects the male target audience as male prefer text placed in boxes. The use of the box highlights the text making it stand out more. The arrows in the sell line entice are pointing side of the magazine telling the reader to open the magazine. The typography of the sell lines are simple, bold and are in capitals making the text look strong which the men can relate to. 

On left hand side on above the main image the sell line says  "I'm not gonna hurt ya.. I'm just gonna bash your brains in" this is something to attract the reader to the film”. This is a famous quote from film. This relates the main image, telling the reader the jack in main image looks angry.  As the text is on the side in a simple black font it doesn’t distract to the main image but enhances it. Underneath is a another piece of  sell line which say ‘The shinning’ this introduces the reader to the main image, that it is a image from shining and it also relate to the top sell line 'the 500 greatest movies of All Time’. The typography is in bold, in capitals making it stand out.

Within the magazine they only use four colours Red, black, little brown and white, The background of front cover is black; this contrasts the images and sell lines making the writing more prominent and striking. They have used to around the edges of the main sell line, main image and puff  to make them stand out,  The use of  the colour red within magazine suggest the genre of the film as it connotes blood and anger.



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