Magazine Front Covers

What to comment on when analysing the front cover of a magazineWhat to comment on when analysing the front cover of a magazine

facial expression

posture

gaze/ eye contact

clothes/appearance

use of colour

camera shot and angle

font style, size, colour

position of text

masthead

cover lines

use of language

Marjorie Ferguson identified 4 types of facial expression in cover photos

super-smiler (full face, big smile, head thrown back) –the look is confident, assertive, and challenges the reader to be just as

self-assuredinvitational (mouth shut, only a suggestion of a smile, eyes are

emphasised, head is often titled or looking back over shoulder) –the look is more mysterious with a sense of personal contact with the

readerchocolate box (slight parting of lips, glimpse of teeth, smiling, face is

full-on or only slightly turned away) –the emphasis is on uniformity of feature and flawless beautyromantic/sexual (this can be the overt ‘come-on’ look that promises

sex or on the other hand a more sensual, dreamy look of the female beauty that only hints at availability)

Cover Photos (Women’s Magazines)

• Imperative sentences (e.g. Get stress off your back)

• Problem/solution format (e.g. Feeding friends? Relax)

• Rhyme (e.g. Catch him, snatch him, make him yours)

• Alliteration (e.g. Frisky fellas)

• Assonance (Fake mates)

• Language of excess (e.g. There’s zillions of style to suit you)

• Puns (e.g. Nice tackle! The sexist rugby players you’ve ever seen)

• Intertextuality (e.g. Curl Power)

• Contractions ( the boy spesh)

From The Language of Magazines by Linda McLoughlin

The Language of Magazines

Point

The front cover appeals to women’s insecurities about their physical appearance.

Example

For example, the cover line ‘The 5-minute test that will boost your body confidence.’

Explanation

The phrase ‘5-minute test’ implies that readers can attain confidence in a quick and easy way. The words ‘boost’ and ‘body confidence’ suggest that the magazine has something special to offer the reader. There seems to be no doubt in this cover line and this confidence could make the reader trust the magazine.