Magazine cover analysis

Here is an analysis of the cover of 'The Film' magazine.

                                                                              Total Film Analysis (Batman issue)

Click Here to view cover (scroll to bottom of page for large version)

Anchorage- the picture shows the character in a kind of way that you may show a villain. When the words ‘the dark knight’ are added it adds the idea that although he looks like he could be a villain he is actually good. This puts the idea into the audiences mind that he could be doing good but not in a conventional way. 

Audience- the magazine captures the attention of film lovers and people that want to get the latest information on films and new releases.

 

Connotations- the whole cover is in black and grey which continues to emit a dark and intimidating feel.

 

Conventions- the layout is still the same. The title, although now in white, is in the same place and the same font is used. There is only one figure in the photo on the front cover.

Deconstruction- there are 4 main ‘micro’ elements on the batman issue. The magazine name, the batman picture, the writing over the picture and the dark background.

 

Demographic- I think this magazine targets men between 12 and 40 and it is possibly aimed at a more lower and middle class audience.

 

Form- the magazines conventions are the same as the films it covers and so it uses pictures and mood colours to focus the audiences mind on the genre of the film which will entice them into reading and possibly seeing the movie being written about in each article.

 

Interactive- Batman is looking straight at the camera in the cover photo and so the audience will see him as if he is looking at them. This will engage their minds.

 

Mise en scene- the cover uses the dark background and cynical photo to set the mood for the article on the movie and for the movie itself.

 Point of view shot- batman is looking straight out at the audience which means when they look at the cover it will be as if he is making eyecontact and because of the colours and mood of the cover this may be quite intimidating which will cause a thrill and make the potential reader buy the magazine.

 Semiotics- the main sign in this picture are the dark colours used. This symbolises something quite scary and daunting. Also he is wearing a mask which shows that he doesn’t want you to know his identity and is also a sign that he doesn’t want you to know his true personality which can be quite intimidating as you feel as if you cannot trust him.

Text- the text says ‘the dark knight which is a contradiction’.