Magazine Front Cover Textual Analysis Questions

Language1) What typography is the masthead in? What does this connote?

2) Is the masthead covered by an image or is it related to the image? What does this connote?

3) Does the magazine have a selling line? If so, how does it address the audience?

4) How is the main cover line presented? Look at the typography and language that is used. What does this connote?

5) What is the layout and structure of the page? Are cover lines organised? Look at the size of the cover lines, do they increase or decrease in size as you move down the page or are they consistent? What does this suggest about the magazines house style?

6) Are there any boosts on the cover of the magazine? If so, what do they advertise? What does this suggest about the magazines house style?

Audience1) What is the price of the magazine? What does this suggest about the target audience for the

magazine?

2) How often is the magazine published? What does this suggest about the target audience?

3) Is the target audience defined by gender, age, ethnicity or lifestyle interest? What is it on the front cover that portrays this idea?

Representation1) How is the main image represented? Is he or she looking weak, powerful, happy or sad (these

are just ideas, each image will be different)

2) What colours are used on the front cover of the magazine? What do they suggest about the house style of the magazine?

3) What shot type is used on the front cover of the magazine? How are they framed and what else is in the mise en scene? Think about props and locations that are used.

4) Is the main image anchored by any text? How do the text and the image relate to each other?

5) How does the image represent the genre of the magazine? Again, think about mise en scene.