In depth magazine analysis

 

Hello again :)

As I hope to make a magazine I need to analysise a current magazine cover in depth explaining the codes and conventions used and the effect on the audience they have.Here I am going to deconstruct the cover of the February 2013 edition of EMPIRE magazine,

First of all the Masthead is very clear and bold with a font that stands out and catches the readers eye, the clean lines of the font links to the fact that the magazine is about science fiction which has futuristic connotations. The colour of the text is a mix of red and white which strongly contrast, so the important words (in white) stand out, so the main Headline (STAR TREK) is one of the first things the reader see's.

The magazine also uses Tags to catch the readers attention and to preview what's inside, and a Secondary lead to the top left informs the reader of the second most important article inside, this secondary lead also incorporates a Box out which is designed to make whatever text placed upon is stand out more. The magazine also uses a very striking image which is stretched across the background, the medium close up used still allows the facial details to be seen, hence the audience can see the emotion of the character but also the background which adds to even more colour contrast, the image is a symbolic code as it allows the audience to see more emotions and interpret the image for their own.

In my opinion this magazine cover is truly epic and lives up to its expectations, I will strongly consider adopting a similar layout for my school magazine (though perhaps not with Benedict Cumberbatch on the front). The cover is really attractive,striking an any film nerd would be proud to own it.

The magazine lives up to its expectations of being a popular film magazine by having an important sci-fi film as its main feature, this is the same for every cover of theirs, this in turn keeps the reader up to date with the latest films in modern pop culture.