3. Conventions.
• A convention is something that is typical in a
certain area. In this case, typical conventions
of a magazine would be the layout, how it is
written and how it looks.
• The magazine cover which I analysed had
many typical conventions which would be on
front pages in order to hook the audiences
attention.
4. Typical conventions on the magazine
cover.
• When looking at a magazine cover, one of the most important things to stand out
is the masthead which is the name of the magazine, in this case, Empire’. This is
done by being in capital letters and in a bright colour causing it to automatically
stand out. The red on the writing is used to stand out and to symbolise things such
as love or danger which can be linked to the narrative of the story. The colour of
this masthead attracts the target audience through what it symbolises. The colour
makes the magazine look bold and hooks the audiences attention fast. The
magazine name is obscuring because it is well known enough to be able to have
some of it covered up but it will still have people buying it.
• On the bottom right hand side of the magazine there is the barcode, date of issue
and the cover price. This is on all magazines making it a typical convention. This is
there for the buyers purpose of being able to buy it as a professional product. It is
kept at the bottom right corner so it isn’t invading the main focus f the magazine.
5. Typical conventions on the magazine
cover continued.
• The strapline on a magazine is used to exaggerate something in the media.
In this case, is exaggerating one of the stories in the magazine. ‘The 500
greatest movies of all time’ would be the strapline for this magazine. This
also stands out clearly because of the colours which are used which also
contrast, white writing on a black background. This has a certain effect on
the audience which makes them want to read the article about the movies
to see if they have seen them, this will also make them feel involved. The
words ‘greatest movies of all time’ makes the audience want to watch
them because if they haven’t seen them it would look like they are missing
out.
6. Visual.
• To make a successful magazine cover you have to ensure that it is going to
catch the publics eye. This can be done in many ways which I have found
through analysing this magazine cover. The things which the audience see
on a front page determines if they are going to buy it which proves how
important the visual aspect of the magazine is.
7. Visual continued.
• The colours on the front page of this magazine cover are very bold and contrasting
colours. The colours are very simple and only consist of 3, white, pink and black.
With pink representing love, black with fear and white with pureness, these
colours could have been used to show the themes of the film and narrative. The
use of black makes everything else stand out which has a big effect on the
audience making everything stand out and attract them.
• Another thing which would hook the audiences attention would be if there was a
celebrity on the cover. This supports Gledhills star theory where if there is a
celebrity in a film then the audience are more likely to want to watch it. Taking up
2/3 of the cover of this magazine is Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet which are
the two main characters in Titanic.
8. Visual continued.
• The use of clothing is also very important for being on a front cover
because it is part of the mis en scene. From the cover on this magazine
there is continuity editing which means that they are wearing the same as
they did in the actual film making it more believable. With the man
wearing a unbuttoned top and braces it is clear to see that he is a laid back
character which no high class. The audience cannot see what she is
wearing, perhaps making it seem secret which links to the narrative of the
two main characters on the cover having to keep their relationship a
secret through the film.
• The body language of the 2 characters on this magazine cover show that
they are close and in love because of the proxemics of them on camera.
The juxtaposition of her hand on his heart shows that they are in love and
have a strong relationship. Their facial expressions however are serious
with neither of them looking at the camera, possibly showing there are
problems they are both facing making them turn away from other and to
not look happy. Rule of thirds is used here to make their eyes in the centre
but now looking directly at the camera.
9. Written.
• The way in which something is written can make the audience feel different
ways about it. This magazine in particular has a certain mode of address as
speaking to the reader by using direct address. ‘Turn to page six to see all 100’.
Using this technique of writing is used to hook the reader and to interpellate
them.
• The only punctuation used is in the quote that is in the front cover, the
masthead and banner do not include punctuation, this may be because the
magazine isn’t meant to be formal, and having no punctuation makes it much
more informal.
• The style of language on this poster is used to direct to the audience. The
purpose of this magazine is to advertise films meaning that the language has
to be persuasive to make the audience look at the films their advertising. An
example of this is ‘turn to page six to see all 100’.
10. Written continued.
• An anchorage is where there is a picture on its own which is polysemic so
it can have a lot of different interpretations. To clarify what it means things
such as text can be added. In this case there is the picture of the 2 main
characters in the film, having the word ‘TITANIC’ next to it is an anchorage
which gives the picture a meaning.
• A quote at the bottom of the front page is used. The quote is from the film
and is quite a well known part of the film which means that the audience
would be able to identify it once they have read it and link it to the film.
Quotes on the front of a magazine advertising the film are useful for
showing what the characters are like. In this case, the quote is in a very
formal language which means that audience can quickly see that in the
film there is going to be someone of a upper class.
11. Design and layout.
• There is only 1 shot on the cover of this cover however it is big and takes up most
of the page. The shot size is a mid shot meaning that the audience can see the
characters facial expressions but can also see what is happening behind them. The
shot is also a 2 shot which allows the viewer to see the juxtaposition of the 2
characters.
• The lighting effects on media is also very important because it is used to set the
atmosphere. The background is high key lighting however the 2 characters are in
low key lighting causing a shadow on their faces. This makes the characters seem
mysterious and could be used to make the audience want to look into them more
to discover their story.
