Film magazine analysis - Empire

I have decided to analysis front covers of film magazines so I get a good idea of how one is created before I create my own. I decided to analysis the film magazine Empire as it has the target audience of teenagers which I can relate too. The first thing I notice on the magazine is the bold masthead at the top of the page. The masthead takes up 1/8 of the page which sticks to common conventions. The masthead is bold which makes it stand out to the target audience and is also red which suits both sexes making it unisex. The red however can connote love towards the audience, which could be seen to be trying to relate more to the female sex. This could subvert Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze as it could be the females lusting over the character (Harry Potter) on the front cover. The magazine only uses red on the masthead thus making it stand out more and making it unique on the front cover. The slogan underneath the masthead gives the magazine its own piece of text advertising the magazine more. This also gives the audience something to remember the magazine by, as if they heard the slogan they would instantly think of Empire.

The main image is a close up on the star vehicle of the film they are promoting. This makes it easier for the audience to recognise the star. The image is very well light on the characters face; we can actually see blood on his face which may connote trouble or danger for the star vehicle. There are many signs that show that Harry Potter is in danger the text even reads "bloody hell" which relates to the image as he has blood on his face. Another sign that the star vehicle is in danger is the yellow and black line going up the side of the page, this may also connote that it’s a warning of this films excitement. This links to the uses and gradifiication theory of many reasons why people would read a magazine in this case the main reason entertainment. There is also another smaller image at the bottom of the page which is advertising more films, this also gives the audience a wider taste of what is actually inside the magazine without reading it. This could also make a different part of the target audience want to read the magazine as they might want to read about that film and not Harry Potter. The bar code at the bottom of the page is also a common convention. The background of the image is a dark blue which makes the text on top of it stand out and makes it easier to read.

 

The text is mostly down one side of the page which makes it an easier layout for the audience to read. There is also not much text on the front cover thus not making it to complex for the target audience. This actually suits the target audience. The text is bold which also helps the audience read it. The text along the bottom is advertising more films thus making the target market wider, adding different genres of films to the magazine. The exclamation marks emphasises the text thus making the magazine a must read for the audience. The Empire magazine suits its target audience very well and sticks well to common conventions. The text on the front cover advertises whats inside the magazine very well. Having just white text doesn't connote anything about the magazine if anything its telling the audience that the magazine is about all genres.