3. Preliminary Task: Front Cover Textual Analysis

Denotation: The magazine cover consists of a photograph of a male actor looking directly at the camera. It is a medium close up showing his torso upward. He is standing up while holding a prop (machete). The background is rusty, dark and gray, and the photograph covers a huge majority of the cover. Behind the photograph of the actor, is the ‘Empire’ Masthead, and on top of the photograph is the main cover-line which is in red capital letters. The cover lines are on the left of the photograph of the actor in white and gray capitals. There is a barcode on the middle right of the cover.

Masthead: The Empire masthead is very noticeable due to the huge red coloured font. The entire word ‘empire’ is in capital letters and is big enough in size to take up the top quarter of the cover, it is likely to grab attention due to it being a very famous logo and magazine that was first published in 1989. The word ‘Empire’ means a group of nations or people ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government.

Character: The cover photograph is of a very successful American male actor ‘Brad pitt’

Composition: He is posed holding a machete in a very smug style. His body language suggests he is confident in himself. His pose with the machete could be him suggesting that he is aggressive.
Costume: He is wearing a very old type of winter coat which is possibly from an older era than that we are in. He is holding a machete which is a violent object to be holding. The coat has been chosen because it was primarily a type of coat that was worn in the years that the film he is in starring in has taken place to try give a feel for what the film could be like. The machete was chosen to add some aggression to the photo to help add effect to the type of film.

NVC: His non verbal communication is smug, showing confidence in himself. He is looking into the camera with a slightly arrogant expression.

Lighting: The lightning he is in is high key. Half of his face is in shadow and half of it is being illuminated.

Setting: The background is dark and gray, giving a gloomy feel to it which gives the idea that the film he is starring in is rough and depressing.
Cover-lines: The main cover-line says ‘INGLORIOUS EPIC IS HERE!’ This is to express how ‘epic’ the films release is for it to finally be here. The word epic refers to the fact the film is supposedly going to be an impressive viewing because it has hit cinemas.

Target Audience: The target audience would be both for male and female who are most likely 30 – 55. They would be reading it because they have a definite interest in the newest films that are to be released. They are most likely film fanatics if they are buying this magazine to be reading up about all different types of film.