Analysing a Front Cover: NO 3

    

This magazine cover has a modernistic style. Both the colour and scale of the masthead boast creativity and prove visually striking. The gradual contrast from bright pink to a sky blue is an interesting transition. By using colours with uplifting connotations it could represent the mixed gender, pink and blue could stereotypically represent girls and boys so this may be a marketing ploy to engage with all students.  

In continuation of the vibrant colour, the main cover line 'Have you been snapped?' uses an illuminating yellow, which resembles that of a glowing billboard outside a nightclub. This may also be a deliberate reference towards the lifestyle of students, where clubs and other activities are a common hobby. The term 'snapped' in the main cover line is a pun reflecting the camera in the picture and the possible theme of being spotted. Including 'Gloucestershire College' in the lens of the camera expresses the idea that they are hunting down talented individuals, who could possibly specialise in creative arts.

     

Unlike the masthead and cover line, the main image uses the dullest colours on the cover which creates a distinguishable contrast between word and photo. The close up shot adopts a level of brightness that links with a retro theme, and also has definition that exceeds that of colour photography. The angle of the shot is clever, so that the focus of the photo is not the man holding the camera, but the camera itself. The way in which the photographer is directing the lens towards the reader uses subtle direct address to communicate. It engages them by making them feel like they are in the spotlight and the centre of attention.  To add to the direct address, the main cover line includes the pronoun 'you' in order to personalise the message and cause you to subconsciously consider with the question.

     

In comparison to the other magazines, this one adopts a similar style to the Magdalene Matters newsletter, which hardly used any text on the cover and drew focus towards the main image. The main result of this strategy is that it creates intrigue, readers will turn the page in order to examine the content before they decide whether to purchase it.