Analysis of Empire Magazine Contents Page/Double Page Spread

An analysis of the contents page of Empire Magazine

1. The house style of the contents page is black, white and red. This does not keep coordination with the rest of the magazine, but rather it complements the image that takes up most of the page - by adding a level of style and making the features seem mroe professional and elegant. It also helps the red-coloured cover lines to stand out over the neutrality of the rest of the page, attracting the eye. The font of the text alternates between serif and sans serif to differentiate and make it easier for the reader to notice the more important areas of text (i.e cover lines). The top and bottom of the page features a strip of black to link back to the dark styl of the page. Most importantly, the logo of the magazine is included above this strip of black - and the website along the bottom - which further promotes the product to the reader and subliminally associates the stylish imagery with the magazine as well.

2. The main cover line of the contents page is in white on red. This allows for the title to stand out, but more importantly it fits with the elegant style being evoked by the rest of the page, almost like a classical cinema screening title - appropriate for the target audience who will be film fans - probably male - aged 16 and over. It is placed to the top right of the page, as this is an easy place for the reader to turn to, and it avoids distracting attention from the image along the right hand side of the page. It is the largest block of text on the page, which reflects its' importance as it immediately informs the reader of what the page details. The font is sans serif, though very rounded, which makes an impression on the eye, but is not too edgy to detract form the focus on the main image.

3. The main image - as disclosed- i the primary source of focus for the reader, as the black and white photograph of actor Matt Smith will be of interest to the target audience, who will recognise him in the media and want to know about his story (which will be a main selling point of the issue). Therefore, it takes up the majority of the right hand side of the page, which segregates the text to the other side. The image is a full profile of the actor, which allows for a more stylish appearance which matches the target audience, who are not looking for a glamourous close-up. it also allows for the the image to spread from the top to the bottom of the page, and attract the reader's attention as subtly as possible.

4. The list of features is placed down the left hand side of the page, which helps to avoid cluttering the main image and taking away the reader's focus on it.  The colour of the font varies between red and black, to allow the cover lines of each feature to stand out moreso than the additional info. This applies in terms of font style as well, as the cover lines are larger, in bold and a sans serif font choice - whereas the additional text is much smaller and in sans serif font, to suggest a more factual, tabloid-like quality rather than the eye-catching title of a film. Additionally, the page numbers are much larger than all the text (and in black), which helps stand out to the reader and refer to parts of the magazine that the reader will flick to - therefore making the features most interesting to the target audience stand out. The font style is again serif, which complements the classic style of the page - and the cover line for the features - and not standing out too much to distract the reader.


Analysis of Empire Magazine's Skyfall Double Page Spread

 

 

 

1. The house style of this article in the magazine is black, white and red - similar to that of the contents page, though without a banner and logo along the top. The pages are evidently separated between a montage of images across the top two-thirds of the spread, whilst there is the textual information in the bottom third of both pages. In the top right hand corner is the Winter Preview logo, which is the main point of reference whihc allows the reader to notice what part of the magazine they have reached. The style of the page effectively allows for main attention to be put on the images, as the exciting scenarios that Bond will be experiencing in the yet-to-be-released film Skyfall will be highly anticipated by fans of the franchise (who are likely members of the more specific target audience for this issue).

 

2. There are sveral images which comprise the main point of the article, the one of most interest depicting Daniel Craig in action mode and commandeeering a motorbike. Due to it's importance, this image takes up an entire page whilst the other comprise the second page. The image is so large in size because it is highly visceral and interesting to the target audience, therefore does not need a large title or text box to complement it. The image is colourful enough to attract attention enough for the reader, and will therefore make them look into the article more deeply in order to learn what other scenarios can be expected in the film. On the second page, the more romantic of the images features a white quotation from the actress, as the target audience will not need as much of a visual enticement for the second page and so additional information will keep them interested at this point. The choise of colour does not take away focus, so the quote only complements the image once more.

 

3. The text on both pages is split into three columns, much like that of any newspaper article. This keeps the house style of the pages famliar, and easy on the eye to read and look between either page. The text is small and black, in order to stand out against the white background and be plain to read once the target audience is ready to look in further detail at the article. The opening letter of the story is much larger, and a different font style to the rest of the text, which is again reminiscent of more sophisticated publishings and therefore reflects the professional quality of the magazine and it's articles. The font style for the rest of the text is serif, which again adds an informative, professional style to the article. Certain parts of the story are broken up by italicised passages from earlier Bond films, which reflects the 50th anniversary of the franchise and is a nice touch that will keep the target audience interested.

 

4. Along the left hand side of the page (next to the text) and underneath the images on the second page (wrapped between two columns) are small blocks of additional information, which are even smaller in size as the bulk of text would put off the reader - and additionally the layout of the pages would be less efficient. These pieces of extra information are also in a thin sans serif font, which contrasts to the main text and helps the reader recognise that they are complementing the images and visual aspect of the article, as opposed to the story behind it all. The larger block of text on the left, which is providing a summary of the release dates and synopsis of the film, for example, may be more appropriate if larger in size, but if placed over the main image the page would seem more cluttered. Therefore, it is broken up by additional cover lines which are the same size but in bold, therefore appearing to make the block of text more interesting and concise to the reader. The cover line for the box is in red as well, which stands out against the black and white entirety of the page and suggests the starting point of the article for the target audience, who will notice the colour.