'Empire' magazine analysis

Feature article photo:

The feature article photo follows convention as it is central and the most largest, dominant aspect of the page. It consists of a mid-shot of the protagonist from the film.

The protagonist is looking directly into the camera which is also conventional for a feature article photo; it draws in the attention of the magazines demographic audience. 

The iron man head is below and acts as another person as it is also looking directly at the camera which further persuades the audience to read the magazine.

The camera being just below eye level portrays the protagonist as important and powerful.

The colours of iron man fit in with the house style of the magazine as the colours red, blue and white are included in the feature article photo and the fonts on the front cover.

Masthead:

The masthead follows convention as it is the biggest and most bold font used on the front cover.

The magazine also follows convention by having the feature article photo in front of the masthead. This suggests that ‘Empire’ is a recognisable magazine and logo as its audience can make out the masthead without being able to see it all. 

The masthead follows convention as it runs along the top of the magazine and takes up the entire width of the front cover.

White font has been used as this fits in with the house style of the magazine. It also stands out from the coloured background.

Cover lines:

The cover lines are the biggest font on the front cover other than the masthead which makes it obvious that it is related to the feature article photo.

‘Iron man 3’ is put in big, red writing which connotes power, suggesting this is a key theme within the film. The picture of iron man also uses the colour red; this communicates the house style and also links the picture with the cover lines.

The cover lines fit in well with the feature article photo as the protagonist is not looking straight on in the picture. This allows for the cover lines to overlap the feature article photo but enables them to stand out more.

Puffs and plugs:

The puff ‘the worlds biggest movie magazine’ is placed just underneath the masthead to give the magazine name a high status which persuades its audience to buy the magazine.

The world ‘plus’ is used as a puff as it gives extra information to give an insight into the magazine which persuades the reader to buy the magazine. The font is also put in the gold metallic colour which coneys the articles being advertised as important which contributes to persuading its audience. 

The plug going along the top of the magazine also consists of the metallic gold colour and is informing the reader of the episode ‘when star wars met J.J.’ The colour of the font conveys this as a special and exciting episode which persuades the readers.

House style:

The house style is created for this magazine by the use of the colours red, blue, white and gold. These colours have been used as they are colours of iron man and therefore is communicating the brand image. Also, this immediately attracts attention an audience that are into iron man as they are likely to recognise the colours used. 

Blue is used in the background on the front cover and is quite dark which allows the other colours to stand out. 

The metallic gold colour used in the feature article photo and fonts connotes heroic, importance and power; these colours give an insight to the themes of the film and characteristics of the protagonist.