Textual analysis: Movie magazine front cover• Empire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer media. Empire magazine has earned its status as the biggest selling film magazine in Brittan. The magazine is consistently outselling its nearest market rival Total film, and is published worldwide to Australia, Turkey and Russia. The first issue of Empire was published in July 1989, and was edited by Barry Mcllheney and published by Emap.
• The denotation of this particular magazine front cover is medium close up colour photography of Ron Perlman’s character of “Hellboy” from the first and sequel edition to the American superhero film. Ron Perlman has the leading role as the titular character, the film was released on July 11 in the United States of American and Canada by Universal Pictures.
• It is evident why Empire has got its status at Brittan’s leading film magazine. The denotation of the magazine visually produces a compilation of the latest news and details in regard to previous and present film releases, also new information on future films. This is visually seen on the film magazine front cover by the masthead and use of featured headlines, these are used as a persuasive technique in order to convince and persuade the consumer market to buy the product.
• The masthead of “Empire” has been designed by the graphic designer in a specific type of typography. The typography has been designed to make a relation between the front cover image of Hellboy, the typography is bold and red, he boldness of the font has been created by the graphical effect of the font being caught on fire. This has intentionally been done to stand out and catch the consumers eye but also as an interpreted symbolism of hell which is being portrayed by the front cover image. Graphically the main text colour use of red, white and a dark beige are used upon their background image and colour to stand out.
• The feature headlines of “INDY IV” “THE HOBBIT “NATALIE…” “THERE WILL BE BLOOD” are all used in a capital white colour font style deliberately intended to stand out on the front cover, the placement of the feature headlines are in the left hand side of the composition which don’t overlap the image of the actor. Also the dominance of the colour white plays an important graphical element on the cover. The colour white is used in the bottom headline which establishes the main article in the magazine of “HELLBOY 2” and also a persuasive technique due to its position in on the composition and the size of the font. The largeness of the font establishes to the audience that the picture has a relation to the headline, the composition also reinforces that idea by positioning the film title name in the bottom centre middle in line with the characters face corresponds and brings back the idea that they have a relation with each other.
• In addition to this the graphic designer has used the red as a dominance to connote the emphasis of the film. The composition of the typography upon the cover allocates certain materials in certain areas which make them easier for the consumer audience to visualize. The typography is used a persuasive technique rather than other images so that the main focus is upon the image of Hellboy, for example two graphical stickers advertising “SNEAK PREVIEW CLICK HERE” AND “40 MOVES THAT WILL GET YOU SEX” are used in a sticker layout that will attract consumers audiences want to view and buy the product.
• The front cover image was taken in low key artificial lighting to create a dominating effect upon the picture. The effect upon the photography syncs with the theme, and helps the black background contrast and blend between the front cover image and the colour of the typography. The use of low key lighting creates a chiaroscuro effect, and creates even illumination. The lighting accentuates the contours of the image of Hellboy by throwing areas into shade and the use of a reflector may illuminate the shadow areas to control and contrast. The lighting isn’t extremely low key, due to the fact that the character on the front cover is from a superhero film he is isn’t being portrayed as an evil character.
• The character of hell boy has been costumed with the use of special effect make up and costume. The character was specifically been costumed like this to create an illusion, to create an imagined or fantasized effect upon the character. The special effects make up and costume were used to create the effect of a superhero upon the Hellboy character, which would visualize a stock character possessing a character with superhuman powers who is dedicated to proving protection and guidance to the public. It is highly stereotypical for super hero characters to have fantasy style costumes which they are enabled to be categorised as the heroic character in the film fight crime characters. The audience can regarded to him as an heroic superhero as he is portrayed as though both his thorns on the top of his head have been cut off which takes away his negative stereotype. Hell boy shows the representations of having a relation to the devil/evil, as he has red skin, evil facial features and body parts.
• In conclusion I have found how graphic designers use the techniques of typography to persuade an audience to buy the magazine product, and how typography is used to allow all focus on the main image establishing to the audience what the main article will be on in the magazine. Empire magazine has established to me the importance of composition and many graphical communication techniques which are highly important for consumers to buy the product.
By Kerry Treacy.
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