2. The masthead is in a The background of
bold white font the main image acts
enabling it to stand as the background of
out. The colour of the the magazine. This
masthead changes allows the magazine
to fully promote the
with every issue to fit a
main feature. The
new colour scheme.
mise-en-scene
Robert Downey Jr.’s
reveals a lot about the
head is covering some
film before the reader
of the masthead
even begins to read
lettering. This adds a the feature; the
sense of mystery and smoky/out of focus
could therefore relate background connotes
to his film/character. mystery as the reader
The anchorage text is
positioned in front of cannot make out the
the main image hidden objects; The
allowing the reader to protagonist’s costume
highlights the
make a direct and
era/setting of the film
instant link between
and also fits in with
the two. The
the dark colour
typography reflects the
scheme; The way in
genre of the film as the
which the protagonist
plain, traditional font is addressing the
relates to the time audience again adds
period in which the film mystery and also begs
is set. the question of should
this man be trusted?
3. The date, price and The secondary cover
website are all in a lines are also included
small typography on the front cover – this
underneath the is usually conventional
masthead. This shows in most magazines.
that they are not the The secondary stories
most important element are listed quickly, giving
on the cover. The an idea as to what is
website, however, is in inside but not drawing
a slightly larger font as attention away from the
it is quite important in main feature. The use
broadening the fan of wording for the
The smaller images at
base. headings draws the
the top of the page give reader in as they want
the reader an insight as to know more.
to what other films they
can expect to read Laura Mulvey’s
about. Each picture representation theory of
includes a direct ‘The Female Gaze’
address to the relates to the main image
audience, drawing the on this front cover, as
reader in. This well as the cover of
contrasts to ‘Empire’ Empire, as Robert
and ‘Glamour’ which Downey Jr. has been
don’t include any used as an „object of
secondary image on desire‟ in order to attract
most of its magazines. a female audience.
5. Similarly to ‘Total Film’ The main image
and ‘Glamour’ the consists only of one
masthead is in a bold, character from the film.
eye-catching font in order This shows the reader
to attract consumers and that he will be the main
stand out from other character and therefore
magazines. Usually the attracts this actor’s fans
magazine has a red as the main target
masthead throughout audience. Similarly to
each issue, however in a ‘Total Film,’ the
number of circumstances, background of the main
including this issue, it has image acts as the
been changed to fit the background of the
genre and colour scheme magazine allowing the
of the main feature. This reader to dissect a lot
is also a convention of about the film before
‘Total Film’ magazine. A reading about it; the
further convention of use of the American
magazines, including flag, along with the
‘Total Film’ is to have the repetitive American
main image covering colours tells the reader
some of the masthead that the film will be very
lettering. This shows the patriotic and gives a lot
main image to be the
away about the setting;
most important thing on
the actor’s stance,
the cover and immediately
shield and facial
attracts a target audience.
expression highlights
the genre of the film
(action).
6. The date and price
The selling line
is located just above
promotes the
the masthead in a
magazine by making
small font. This shows
it sound more
that it is not overly
attractive to
important information
consumers.
yet its location makes it
easy for the reader to
The anchorage text is
see if needs be.
positioned in front of
the main image, as it
is on the cover of
The secondary ‘Total Film,’ in order to
cover lines are create a direct link to
placed in a single list the main image. The
as this allows more typography is a similar
room for the main font the film artwork
feature to be making it easily
promoted. They are recognisable to the
short and catchy to reader. The sub-
draw the reader in heading (“How
and expand the summer‟s biggest
target audience by superhero went to
advertising multiple war”) corroborates
films. with the colour
scheme and also hints
about details of the
film and what the
article is about.
7. Rick Altman’s
genre theory relates
to this magazine as Propp’s theory of
semantic elements, character roles fits
such as the shield, into this magazine as
reveal to the reader it is clear to see that
that the film being Chris Evans (main
promoted is action. image) will play the
hero in his film and
one can therefore infer
The pug is a vibrant that there is likely to
colour to draw the be a villain featured
attention of the inside.
reader. It relates to
the main feature and
thereby further Similarly to ‘Total Film’
promotes it. Laura Mulvey’s
representation theory
The footer bar is
of ‘The Female Gaze’
included to promote
relates to the main
extra features of the
image on this
magazine. Usually,
magazine as Chris
and in this case, it
Evans has been
promotes a free
placed as something
poster in an attempt to
to look at.
attract consumers.
9. The masthead is Unlike ‘Total Film’ and
in a bold, eye- ‘Empire’ the
catching font in order background of the
to attract consumers. magazine is separate to
The masthead colour the main image as this
changes every issue makes the celebrity
to fit a new colour stand out much more
scheme. Similarly to and removes
‘Total Film’ and distractions. The way in
‘Empire’ Beyoncé's which Beyoncé is
head is covering posed is a lot more
some of the care free than in
masthead lettering ‘Empire’ and ‘Total Film’
showing her as the as this main image is
main feature and the not trying to reflect a
most important part particular mood of a
of the cover. genre. The clothing of
the celebrity is lightly
coloured and plain as it
The date and website
is in most issues of this
are located underneath
magazine. Although the
the masthead in order
main image also
to be noticeable
portrays a direct, the
without removing
celebrity featured here
emphasis from the rest
appears more
of the magazine. trustworthy than in
‘Total Film’ magazine.
This could be due to
her posture and the
bright colours.
10. The banner
includes the selling The pug also includes
line of the magazine. the price of the
Like ‘Empire’, this magazine. This makes
ensures that it is it more appealing to
noticed by the consumers as it gives
consumer as it helps the impression of a
to promote the sale or extremely
There are more cheap price.
magazine.
secondary cover lines
on this magazine than
on ‘Total Film’ or
The anchorage text
‘Empire’. This draws the on this magazine is
reader in as they get an located to the side of
insight as to how much the main image and,
they can find in this unlike in ‘Total Film’,
magazine and also ‘Empire’ and ‘Cahiers
broadens the fan base du Cinema’ the
as it shows a variety of typography is much
different articles. Two of smaller. This goes
the cover lines are in a against conventions
larger typography than and makes it much
the anchorage text harder to establish an
suggesting they are of immediate link
more importance. They between the main
are also quite feature and image.
misleading as on first
glance, they appear as
the main feature.
11. Similarly to ‘Total
Film’ and ‘Empire,’
Laura Mulvey’s
representation theory of
‘The Male Gaze’ fits
into this magazine. The
clothing of the celebrity
is minimal revealing her
body and her overall
posture hints that she
has been placed as an
‘object of desire’.
Blulmer and Katz’s
‘Uses and
Gratifications
Theory’ relates to this
magazine as people
read ‘gossip’
magazines for
reasons such as
identity, diversion and
education.
13. Unlike in ‘Total
Film’, ‘Empire’ and As in ‘Total Film’ and
‘Glamour’ the ‘Empire’ the
masthead is layered background of the
over the main image main image acts as
and is not in an overly the background of
bold or eye-catching the magazine. This
typography. This allows the magazine
suggests that what’s to fully promote the
in the magazine is main feature and
more important. The makes the cover
masthead typography more aesthetically
stays the same pleasing. The main
throughout each issue image relates to
of the magazine. Barthes’
representation
theory – the
The date, website magazine has
and issue number specifically chosen
are all located around an image which
the masthead as this portrays a
makes them easy to mythical/fairytale like
spot. The price is representation of
placed alongside the people. This helps to
barcode showing it to give the audience an
be unimportant. insight into the film
without giving
anything away.
14. Unlike ‘Glamour’,
‘Total Film’ and
‘Empire’ this
magazine has no
secondary cover
lines or images on
the cover. This
shows how important
the main feature is
by removing any
other distractions.
The anchorage text
is the largest piece of
text on the page and
is in a white
typography in order
to stand out from the
image. This makes it
eye-catching. The
way in which it is
positioned covering
the main image
shows the reader
that the two relate.
