Empire Front Cover Analysi1

8/9/2019 Empire Front Cover Analysi1

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Empire Front Cover Analysis:

Logo is simple but

has a domineering

quality because of

its bulky text and

strong colour. This

trait fits the

magazines title

causing it to be a

strong brand.

All magazines

possess theeditions date and

price, but this will

not sell magazines

so it is kept small.

Uses the font and logo adopted by

the film itself for the purpose of

iconography. It also presents this

magazine as the films representative

persuading fans of the movie to buy

the magazine.

Sets itself apart from other

magazines by establishing its USP.

This magazine is the only magazine in

the world to have the opportunity to

interview the actor playing the Joker,

Heath Ledger

Includes their

web address=

print feeds

into online,

online feeds

into print.

This text plays

upon the

magazines USP

and also reflects

the Joker. Spray

painting is an act

of vandalism and

is in most cases a

crime furthering

the idea that the

Jokers a criminal.

The Jokers

dress makes

him look like

a psychopath

because of

the unusual

colour

combination.

The bars

suggest hes

in a jail cell

adding to the

idea that hes

a criminal

subsequentlymaking him

an interesting

character.

Includes a list

of films and

articles which

will appear in

the magazine

further

persuading

consumers to

buy the

magazine.

All magazines

include a bar

code on the

Promotes

content in the

form of, what

looks like, a

sticker

making it eye

catching.


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Background Information about Empire-

Bauer Media is the publishing company which publishes the film magazineEmpire. Not much

information is given on their website as to who is the target audience of Empire magazine, but they

do describe their audience as being 76% Male, Affluent ABC1 movie fans and cinema

hounds.As seen from the cover I am analyzing, Empire cost 3.80 in January 2008, but currently the price of

the magazine is 3.99. It costs this much because the magazine is a monthly publication.

Empire is Britains leading monthly film magazine with a total circulation of 198,947 in the January

2010.

This has been sourced from the Audit Bureau of Circulation:

In addition, the National Readership Survey produces the following figures which support Empires

description of their target audience: Mostly Male and belonging to the ABC1 socio-grade.

AIR - Latest 12 Months- January - December 2009

Findings of NRS figures broken down:

y Readers are predominantly (74%) in the ABC1 socio-grade (Upper middle class - lower middle class)y Most readers are between 15-44 (89%). We can assume because of the ABC1 socio-grading that 20-44

year olds are Empires main readers because 15-19 year olds are usually in education meaning they do not

fall into the ABC1 socio-grading.

y Mostly males (about 73%)It is important to research the magazine that you are analyzing because it is an effective way of

identifying how that magazine appeals to its target audience.

Cover analysis-

Editions title:

The font/style used for The Dark Knight World Exclusive! is the style adopted by the film itself also

using the logo which is used for the purposes of iconography. This will sell magazines making it this

editions USP because the film itself (The Dark Knight) is a prestigious film with a large number of

film fans paying a great deal of interest in it. By adding the persuasive term World Exclusive the

magazine immediately separates itself from other brands on the shelf. This magazine is the most

exclusive in the whole world as this interview cant be found in any other magazine. Apart from the

fact that The Dark Knight is a highly exclusive film, the magazine chooses this film to feature on its

cover because it is focusing on a film that mature audiences will be interested in subsequently


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appealing to its target audience Even though the film received a 12

rating when it was released, it

is unlikely that small children will have as much an interest in the film than a 20year old film fanatic

Magazines name

logo:Thecolour used for the magazines name isvivid red and the te

t is bulky This is an iconic logo; it is

simpleyet it issomewhat overpowering because of its bulky te

t and strong colour giving it a sense

of dominancy, which is in keeping with the name Empire

Additionally, it could bespeculated that

the Joker iscovering a little of the te

t (the p) as a symbol of how much power thecharacter has and

maybeeven the film itself.

Strapline:

It can besaid that there are numerous parts to magazine

sstrapline. It starts with meet thejoker,

continues with one on one with Batmans new nemesis and finishes with Hes a cold-blooded,

mass murdering clown! All play upon consumers prior interest in the film and thecharacter;

readerscan meet the Joker and get a one-on-one by buying the magazine. It goes onto tell

readers thejokerscharacteristics making him an interesting focus for the magazine.

Thestraplinescolors, styles and fonts are in keeping with thejokerscharacter. Thecolor of meetthejoker matches thecharacters dress and is also spray painted on which could symbolize the

Jokers deviant behavior becausespray painting is an act ofvandalism and subse

uently a crime.

Hes a cold-blooded, mass murdering clown! looks like it has been carved into the magazine

reflecting theeeriecharacter and the atmosphere of the film. Carving words into a wall is a vicious

and sadistic act making the Joker seem like a violent character. Thissubse uently is befitting for the

magazines mature audience because it is focusing on a scarycharacter which may only besuitable

for mature audiences.

Main image:

The picture of the Joker is one of the main components that will help thiscover sell the magazine.

There is only one picture on the magazinecover, which is of thejoker, obviously telling consumers

that the focus of this issue is going to be on The Dark Knight and itscharacter, the Joker.

In the picture the Joker issitting on a wooden bench in ajail cell. We are told that hes in ajail cell

because of the metal bars behind him which also tells us he is a criminal and probably a very

dangerous one at that. There are also peoplestanding behind him who could be guards but are most

likely other prisoners because they are not dressed in guard clothing. Thiscontinues the idea that

thischaracter isvery dangeroussimply because of the fact that he has been isolated from other

prisoners. However, the magazine tries to direct consumers attention away from these other people

bycleverly putting the Empire logo in front of these prisoners but behind the Joker.

The Joker looks like he iscalmlysat on the bench with his hands on his knees, which isjuxtaposed by

his facial expressions which arevery menacing. He is looking straight at thecamera, and theconsumer, pulling a halfsmile with his head slightly angled towards the ground making him look like

a psychopath. For a reader, there may also be a sense that thecharacter knowssomething that the

consumer doesnt making the Joker a very disturbing character.

His dress also adds to the psychopath persona that has been established. He is wearing unusual

clothing (a green waistcoat, purple trousers and tie, multicolored sock etc.). Also, they are all very

untidy and have dark tones reflecting hischaracter. Costume designer for the Joker, Lindy Hemming,

described the Joker's look as reflecting his personalitythat "he doesn't care about himself at all".


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This is also reflected in thejokers make-up, which looksvery pasty and worn with his hair looking

extremely dirty. The director of the film, Christopher Nolan, noted that he "gave a FrancisBacon spin

to his face. Thiscorruption, this decay in the texture of the look itself. It's grubby. You can almost

imagine what hesmells like." All of this makes the Joker an intriguing character and, subse

uently,

an intriguing film for consumers to read about. Ifyou also think of it in terms ofstanding at a news

stand thiscover may attract a consumerseye because of the fact the picture isso unusual.

Other promotions:

By including the world plus and a number of different films and articles, thecover identifies itself

as a magazine which contains a number ofcurrent film topics. If the The Dark Knight doesnt entice

a film lover, which is highly unlikely, the other films promoted will probably gain their attention,

especially when they have World First looks at The Mummy3, 10,000BC and Wanted.

Documents

Empire Front Cover Analysi1