Research and Planning: Magazine covers

The first magazine cover I have chosen to analyse is a cover for Empire magazine, I have chose this specific cover because the main feature on it is I am Legend, a film which has inspired me.These are some of the things I have noticed about the genre representation:

• On this cover Will Smith is covered in a thick fog, there are some shapes which can't be properly seen behind him, and this makes it mysterious.
• The character also looks weak but is carrying a gun which suggests survival.
• The picture doesn't really say much about the film and I like how it acts more as a teaser as there isn't as much said as the posters for the film which show the location etc.
  

Some of the typical conventions of this magazine are:

• On the magazine there are a lot of subheadings advertising what is in the magazine.
• The header is in big red letters so it's easy to see.
• Above this it says 'BEST WINTER PREVIEW EVER!' which is another draw for the audience.
• Along the bottom are shots from films which are inside the magazine.
• To differentiate the different sub headers they alternate in colour from red to white.
• The target range for this magazine is very broad with films for adults like Rambo and I am Legend being advertised but also The Golden Compass and the big bright fonts may attract younger readers.
  
• There is a barcode and a date and price.
  

The second magazine I have chosen is Empire magazine featuring a Terminator Salvation cover, while this isn't the genre I wanted it does have a similar feel with the survival and a destroyed earth. There are some things I like about how the genre is represented:

• I really like the brown colours used they show that there isn't any colour left in the world and nothing to hope for since everything is muddy.
• The is a close up of the main character it's only half though so it adds uncertainty about him.

The magazines layout is much like the previous magazine I have discussed:

• The big red font attracts the audience, especially against the brown background.
• There are less sub stories than the other, there's a bigger focus on the main story.
• There are shots of other films featured along the bottom.