Textual Analysis – Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan

Mongol: The rise of the Genghis Khan is a magazine review that has been featured in

‘total film’, a well-known film review magazine. The product has been featured with a

quarter of a review on the product, allowing the audience to identify (uses and

gratification theory) with the product.

The text is the most significant aspect of this article, due to it

dominating the image on the far right of

the page. The review follows the

stereotypical house style of the

magazine, for example, all the text is the

same font and size as the other reviews. The five star rating and

the black box centred in the rule of thirds has been represented as the same as each

other review. This allows the audience to identify with the magazine

that the product has been featured in. The review appeals to a wide

range of people, creating a mass audience as the review has a section

‘in short’ for those who are in a rush and want to skim read a

product.

The product is set before the time of today, this has been

identified (uses and gratification theory) by the image used,

for example, the use of the horse greatly signifies this as

horses were the main source of fighting before the 1920s,

when technological advances of vehicles came into play.

The group of horses and characters signify the important of a unit and working together

during war, reinforcing the ideal of an ‘army’ as they all join as

one to protect their homeland. Moreover, the use of natural

colours such as the browns and greens, allows the audience to

identify (uses and gratification theory) with the stereotypical

conventions of the colours of war. These colours connote

nature and the natural order of things, representing that war is

in need to be fought for the world to go round. Furthermore, the caption under the

image allows the audience to gain factual information (uses and gratification) about

what they are represented with.

The magazine review has been featured with four other reviews over a double page

spread. This decrease its significance as a product as most of

the audience will skim read the product. However, this is

challenged by the fact that it is the first review the audience

are witnessed with and, therefore, will potentially spend a

more time reading the product. The product review also has

the highest rating than the rest of the reviews represented

on the page, meaning the audience are automatically enticed

Textual Analysis – Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan

to look at the product as they want the best possible product.

As represented through the main image, the article is mainly dominated by the use of

the text, this allows the audience to be enticed through certain scenes spoken about

within the product, therefore, tantalizing them to want to go and watch the product as

they are left on an enigma of unanswered questions. Moreover, the text has been

represented bold and of a medium sized font in order to drag the readers eye, evidently

portrayed within the black box, contrasting that of the other text due to it being on a

different coloured background, representing a binary opposition between the two. This

further entails a narrative as the audience may wonder whether opposition becomes an

evident factor within the product. Key quotes have been written into the article in order

to entice the audience further to want to watch the product. Although, the text

dominates that of the image, the text still does not reveal all about the product as they

want people to come and watch the final production. The article has been written in a

format of columns in order to give it a sense of structure, potentially representing the

narrative flowing through the product in a systematic order.

Conclusively, this product stays within the stereotypical conventions of house style and

although it being a short review, the product entices the audience in many ways, for

example, with the coloured pictures and the star ratings.