Transcript total film
MARK SISON’S FRONT COVER ANALYSIS Analysing: EMPIRE and TOTAL FILM Slide 2: Comparison Total Film and Empire hold similar film magazine front cover conventions. - The masthead is the dominant typography, if not dominant, then is the largest of the typography featured in the front cover. - The main image is the central attraction of the magazine. Usually being it’s background, overlapping the masthead and sometimes altering the color scheme and overall theme. The main image also typically consist of a featured film star either in costume of their featured film or as themselves. - Both have featured articles and sell lines varying the typography from being bold, big or different colored. E.g. ‘World Exclusive’ from Total and ‘First Look’ from Empire TOTAL FILM Masthead: The masthead is very evident and precisely placed on top, the ‘Film’ is big and is incredibly bold. Its color goes against the overall dark and contrasting colors. The ‘Total’ is surrounded by the dominant white masthead, thus sticking out. Main Image: It features a well-known film star presumably in costume from the featured film. His overall expression and black mise-en scene suggest an eerie and dark atmosphere. It is a midshot of the side positioned character perhaps to show him ‘in action’. Though, it does place emphasis on the shotguns due to them both being aimed out the magazine and one of them overlapping the masthead. Color Scheme: The overall all color scheme is based around the main image, due to the main image being predominantly dark, the typography comprises of bright contrasting colors (White and Yellow). Background: The background is part of the main image, featuring an apparent snowing urban area. It is the background of the overall film magazine and enhances the main image making seem as though it is part of the movie. Articles/Typography: The articles featured are usually just single words that leave curiosity. They are most likely titles of articles featured in the film mag. The main article shows continuity from the main image, the typography looks broken and smashed like broken glass and could be referring to the damage caused by the shotguns in the main image. There is a variation of bold and normal typography to make certain words stand out more. Sell Lines: There are several sell lines in this film magazine, the most evident is the ‘Wahlberg finds his Bourne’ as it appeals to several types of audience. The apparent would be fans of Wahlberg and the fans of ‘The Bourne’ series giving off a general sense of what the featured article will be about as well as the film. Another sell line would be the ‘MOVIES MADE ME…’ the ellipsis promotes curiosity, then to be complimented by the ‘Kill! Rob! Change Sex!” further enhances the interest of readers especially touching on sexual and sinful subjects. AUDIENCE: The audience this magazine may be appealing to are the teenage and young adult age groups, due to the sexual references (‘Sexy Brits’) and aggressive (‘Stoner Carnage’) tone. Perhaps to men, due to the shotguns, and the women, due to the male film star. EMPIRE Masthead: The masthead is placed near the top, but not completely all the way to give it more distance. This magazine has decided to follow a theme based around the main article and image. The ‘Empire’ logo maintains its usual font, but features a burning effect upon it and with the red color of the masthead seems Hell-like which works with the main image who is supposedly an infernal creature. Main Image: The main image consist of the main character in the featured film, who is in complete costume. This is a mid shot and takes up half of the film magazine including overlapping the masthead. The angered expression and fist clenching compliments the overall red character and suggest his character as aggressive and a violent. The abnormal fist is seen was possibly included in the shot to promote and make readers curious. Color Scheme: The overall all color scheme is based around the main image similarly to the first front cover. The masthead and certain parts of the typography seem to refer to the main article and image, the red and gold. However, the rest is white to ensure it can be read contrasting it’s background. Background: The background, overall, is black and the reason could simply be to make everything else stand out. Articles/Typography: The article has a simple format, big bold titles followed by a sell line or basic overview of the article. There is one use of a rhetorical question within the featured article, to persuade and interest the reader in the article and magazine. It ask ‘whose Golden Army?’ in a golden color to place emphasis in the question. Sell Lines: There are several sell lines in this film magazine, the most evident is the golden sticker promoting ‘40 movies’. It’s golden color makes it seem valuable and eye catching, plus they increased the size of the word ‘Sex’ to perhaps appeal to men. Another would be the ‘first look’ as it is given a separate background making it completely standout. AUDIENCE: The audience this magazine would be aimed towards the more masculine demographic due to the overall antagonistic theme and due to one of the articles emphasizing the female actors ‘Natalie Portman’ and ‘Scarlett Johansson’.