magazine cover #5

 

This particular magazine cover took my eye with its fierce direct mode of address through the visual of 'maleficent' a antagonist recognisable by her iconic horns, cheekbones and supernatural presence. The eye line is directly central to the page, making audiences feel addressed and targeted by this character presence. ironically, the physical eye line match and address catches audiences eyes too.

The colour scheme and hues used for the cover page are blues, creating a surreal and almost dream like state for the page, connoting supernatural and peace with the blues- as well as linking to the sky- which, with a understanding of the context of the entire film itself, the maleficent creature soars through the heights of the sky. contrasting with these blue hues is the yellow highlighting on the page with by-lines and text in yellow hue textboxes which reinforces these particular points making them appear prominent on the page. Some of the yellow highlighted phrases and terms are 'including' and 'maleficent' which draw audience attention towards this. The yellow strip across the lower third of the page highlights imagery that symbolically raises attention to some of the articles included in the magazine. this strip is effective as it almost appears like a film reel/ film strip; a effective feature of the magazine reinforcing the film focus of the magazine. This similar technique is one I intend to adopt for my own magazine cover so from afar and from just the visual aids audiences can tell the the genre and mode of the magazine just from its front.

the way that the imagery on the magazine cover overlaps the magazine title 'total film' reinforces its dominance on the page, as well as making it appear hyperreal because the imagery which is in fact a creation of imagination and media- has more dominance than the magazine company and title itself which contrastingly is real and commercial, this makes it seem as if fantasy has overrules and overcome reality. Also, due to the font of the magazine title being so recognisable, it isn't obliged that every letter of the title is seen, in fact covering some of the letters with the imagery is not an issue as it is still clear to audiences with a pragmatic understanding of the magazine and the title what the text says.

the repetition of the attributive adjective 'epic' reinforces the extreme success and brilliance of the film. By using a repetition technique audiences are reminded of just how good the advertised movie is, hence drawing them in to watch it despite the bias attitude of the opinion. even without reinforcement from reviews such as the clichéd 'guardian review' and 1-5 star ratings often plastered over magazine covers,calling this movie 'epic' alone, gives it credibility and intreiges audiences to watch it...hence the magazine cover has a double ripple effect in both advertising the magazine itself, aswell as intentionally causing a dual marketing approach by advertising maleficent too- especially considering it Is most dominant on the page.