Magazine Cover Analysis

I've had a look at some film magazine covers to make sure that my designs are going to look authentic. Here's what I gathered from each.

This issue of film magazine Empire is focused on Megan Fox – or, rather, Megan Fox’s sexuality. Everything in relation to her, as a main feature, is sexualised, and this makes it clear that Empire designers kept the expression ‘sex sells’ in mind when they thought this cover up. A number of phrases on the page connote sexuality and all of them are next to the model to anchor the image. These phrases include: “THE HOT ISSUE”, “One-on-one”, and “FOX”. Although this is her surname, it’s the largest text (aside from the masthead) on the page and has extreme sexual connotations. Fox is also wearing nothing except leather trousers, and these, combined with the tattoos and the inviting expression caused by the illusion of eye-contact, create a very “HOT” image to entice male readers. She has been placed covering the masthead because she is the most important part of the issue and, as the tagline says, Empire is “the world’s biggest movie magazine”. Most people would be able to read the iconic red title even with a lady’s head in the way.

The only other main theme of the magazine aside from Megan Fox is blue. This comes from the glowing blue “TRON” on a black banner across the top right of the banner. This black matches the small text, Fox’s black trousers, and the black banner on the bottom left of the cover. The glowing blue creates something similar to the “TRON” logo n the corner and is used as a theme for the rest of the poster – in the bright blue banner behind the “TRANSFORMERS 2’S” text next to the model, and in the “3 SIZZLING EXCLUSIVES” sell line across the banner at the bottom. The word “SIZZLING”, in white so it is visible, matches the “HOT” theme of the issue. These three exclusives are advertised with the main characters of the three films to attract anybody who isn’t too interested in Megan Fox. The background of the whole cover is white, making the magazine seem much more simple than it is. It means that lots of colours can be used and they are less likely to clash.

Finally, the rest of the information about the magazine is squeezed in between the ‘v’ of the ‘M’ in “EMPIRE”, including the date of the issue and the price in two currencies – meaning this issue was aimed across the USA and the UK. The small “empireonline.com” keeps younger audiences in contact and expands viewership.

This cover is for the same magazine as the last – Empire – but is very different in style. The background is white, just like the last, except in this issue the rest of the cover is just as plain as the background. The image is black and white and advertising the new James Bond film, Skyfall. The James Bond part is obvious from the iconic suit and pistol. The monochrome image of Daniel Craig brings a sort of old-fashioned tone back to the image of the modern James Bond, which could be reflective of how Skyfall explores Bond’s past and is more home-based for the protagonist. The actual title of the film, Skyfall, is very small and in a simple black font. This matches the image so audiences know it’s there to anchor it and is in relation to it. Even though it’s small it’s very visible and the relations are clear because there is hardly any other text on the cover.

The Empire masthead of the magazine is in a subtle peachy gold colour that is obvious enough to stand out but not bright enough to detract from the main image. Also in peach is the text below “SKYFALL” letting the reader know that this cover is a limited edition cover for subscribers only, which explains why the cover is so different to a usual cover from Empire magazine.

Again, the date of the issue and the price in two currencies shows how widespread their audience is and the empireonline.com link is there to give audiences the information that isn’t on the cover and any other details they may need that aren’t in the magazine.

These two magazines are more in the sort of style that I’m aiming for with my cover. The close-ups of the actors’ faces are exactly what I’d like to go for with mine instead of advertising the particular film or characters. Both covers have plain backgrounds, just like mine (hopefully) will. The only thing that I’m not interested in is the number of headings that both covers have. I feel that they overpower the reader and take attention away from the key focus of the cover: the actor. I am, however, keen on the colour scheme of Moving Pictures. As my cover will at least partially be focusing on the ‘sex sells’ phrase, I will be employing lots of reds and pinks to connote flirtatiousness and attract a more feminine market.