Deconstruction of Film Magazine Empire Kurt

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At the near top of the page the title of the magazine “Empire” is in direct eye contact with the reader. Empire magazine has a distinct colour scheme, one which fits in with the main person and background on the front cover. “Empire” it’s self is impacting in red colour font, and in block capitals, obviously a successful magazine, as part of the name of the magazine is concealed, due to the high recognition and popularity of the magazine. The blood red title makes a statement with the force of its colour, but also connotates violence and war, due to the character on the front cover. The red could signify rage and bloodlust, as well as power that the magazine can influence over the reader by appearing vicious. Due to the brutality the front cover suggests this magazine seems to appeal to males rather than females. The heading “Wowser” that insinuates the sex appeal of a female celebrity is also more reason to believe this magazine influences men. “Wowser” is also slang, that appears casual and generates a buzz of exciting feeling as well as giving the feeling that they can adopt an informal way of speaking to their readers. It gives reason of having something eye catching and to prepare for the surprise. This heading is in grey, that fits in with the stone wall in the background. The writing in the same tone of colour, could connotate rocks and walls. Rocks appearing solid, walls indicating a stability and sense of being hard to penetrate. This helps make the magazine adopt strength and solidity by the colour concerning stones and walls. The magazine appears alive and animated with it’s particular layout The blood thirty nature of the magazine continues with the red blood like smears that underline each piece of text underneath headers. It gives the feeling of tribal paint, as well as sacrificial colours, but most importantly it could insinuate war paint, what is smeared on warriors. Against the grey of the background this does well to appear bold and harsh as it underlines. The conventions of a female magazine are not present on the cover, and the colours, blue, white, red and grey mainly fit in with the male audience, an age of young adults perhaps of the age 15 and above.

A statistic is used at the top page, just a bit smaller then the title, to signify this heading is important on it’s own, and in white font shows clearly against a grey circle what keeps this heading away from everything else by enclosing it. The fact that it is not “1000” but “1001” indicates that they want to go beyond the borders of having whole figures, to appear more generous in crossing over so that it makes a difference to the reader, by offering just that little bit more. Alongside the statistic is it’s heading “Greatest Movie Moments” and “Greatest” is significantly in white colour, the adjective obviously more declarative and positive so that it has the different colour of font. Whilst “Movie Moments” is bright in rich blue appearing natural and casual. The end of the writing is concluded with an exclamation to highlight the audacity of thrilling the reader.

Next to this is snap shots that appear to be taken out of movies, with main characters positioned in Polaroid shaped lines. The white again enclosing the pictures so it stands out. These characters are recognised as being famous and legendary because of the way the magazine names the characters, by their second names such as “Alfred Hitchcock” is recognised as his surname, indicating that this magazine relies upon the reader’s knowledge of films in order to aspire to what the magazine is about. Again although not in slang it’s casual with its sense of not naming the characters by first name, appearing perhaps to give readers optimism and a sense of pride that readers will be able to recognise these characters. Again exclamations are made to highlight the euphoria of how these characters have earned their place in film history.

The website is advertised in small font underneath the title so that it can offer other means of what the magazine might be about with this link. . The tagline underneath the main heading says “The worlds biggest movie magazine” in white block capitals. As well as stating that this is a monumental feat of grasping the world with it’s power of influence, it has to over-state positively by saying “biggest” as if the world is not enough to declare it’s success, it has to be almost bigger than the world as if it’s a phenomenal magazine. It states it’s a movie magazine, but this is already made apparent with the movie snap shots, and main character on the front of the page.. The date and issue number is in small font that fits stylishly into the arch of the letter M.

The animated feel of the magazine continues with the subheading “Brad Pitt wants a word!” in capital letters. It makes it personal. Firstly it brings into perspective who the actor is, then it’s involvement with the reader is direct, sharp and authorities in order to appear rude to the reader. So therefore it’s mental attack with words is clear already, that the reader in question must have some nerve, and with the magazine must expect nothing short on being blunt with it’s words, with no fancy language at the moment in effect to persuade the reader to read it, in fact the magazine almost wards off the reader. But this could be why it’s alluring to men who are more associated with the intrigue of danger and violence, then women. So it’s confident and cocky approach in fact enthrals their audience more. The heading is also captioned in a red box, making the letters murderous with the use of the red colour, as well as having to caged as if the wrath of the words can not stand alone and have to be controlled.

The character again is dressed in dull boring colours, with a dusty scarf, over what looks an expensive coat, which could implicate he is vein because of his wealth and accumulate to dressing well, but this is disparaged with the weapon he holds and scar on his neck that makes him more menacing and less self absorbed in his attire that is relevant but not a huge part of his character.

The knife is cleverly made to look like it’s blade which is not just singular but double, is actually going to pierce the magazine fatally, due to the feel it generates. The knife it’s self connotates violence, and possibly death and also victory, as the facial expression on the actors face is defined as grim, but there can be glimpsed an underlying sense of pride. The knife is not seeming to glamorize the magazine but more of make a statement of this magazine is “cutting edge”.

At the bottom of the magazine Brad Pitts name is repeated again, as if to showcase this magazine on the subject of the stars status. Then very cleverly, as if to impose upon the reader a secretive file to be exposed they use the words “only” twice, in the colour red to stand out, as if their magazine is the only one which specializes in being able to conduct things in their magazine what other magazines can’t. The repetition of “Only” also sets a growing amount of wonder at what’s going to be provoked and uncovered in the magazine. At the bottom a banner reveals male celebrity’s that are going to appeal to the male audience perhaps. There is a headline “Exclusives” that makes Empire look like they bring something new to the table and are always fresh with the newest news on films, with another insight into their consummate devouring of finding new things out, such as “Verdicts” that show their interest at reviewing the latest films and providing their source of opinion on the recent films that have came out which will intrigue their readers if they want to find out if the film has negative criticism or positive reviews.

Overall Empire manages to bring their magazine into the style on one which is opinionated, blunt but which also transgresses into a tongue in cheek humour, expressively directing it at the reader in a rude way, which makes the magazine more exciting in it’s appeal of being daring to defy the readers in some way.

After deconstructing this Empire magazine it has helped me with my view of how if want to plan out my magazine and the approach I may want to give it. I think as my film is in the horror genre it might be good to have a magazine with a front cover that is scathing with reaching out to an audience and making them feel scared just like a film would. This could be adopted into my magazine by making sure that the characters on my magazine would have expressions that convey hostility towards the reader, as well as not having bright colourful images and vibrant backgrounds, as instead of setting a sombre affect to my magazine, I want to make the magazine look strong. I could perhaps do this by choice of writing being set in a certain way with the right colour, and right stance across my magazine as well as perhaps giving a historic old age appeal to give the magazine the sense of not being worn down and beaten, but the sense of having endured time, making my magazine seem knowledgeable and display less naivety.