Analysing different types of magazines

In media studies class today we looked at magazine front covers and how they are displayed and we also look at how magazine design double page spreads. Firstly what I find out with the layout with this front cover conforms with the normal conventions you would associate with a magazine. For example the title is the biggest text on the page and it stands out and is identifiable.  Then you notice that the rest of the text is smaller, this text is where you are likely to find information on what articles you are going to see in the magazine, and also the colours of black, white, and yellow is used repetitively which shows the designers have thought about what they are doing. Then of course there is a picture of a famous celebrity and in this case Justin Timber-lake. This will likely attract people who like music. This is interesting because CQ magazines is not a conventional music magazine and focuses more on celebrities.  Also because there is so much info, it will be able to attract a whole range of people like those who like reading celebrity mags, or those who like music etc etc. 



Now look at this image on the cover of empire magazine. I have used this as an example because in media class today at a music magazine that had Jay z in the cover but used a close up shot and included little information on what the magazine contained. That  was an example of a magazine not being conventional. Here Empire magazine have actor Marlon Brando on the cover, with essentially no other text apart from the title which is in gold. However it has to be said that the simplicity of it makes it stand out from the crowd. However with a cover like this you would assume that film lovers are likely to buy this magazine, as a cover like this is unlikely to attract say someone who is interested in rock.