Analysis of contents pages.

My Analysis of Empire's contents page.

In this analysis I will go through the key conventions of a contents page. The target audiences of the magazine is people between the age of 16 to 30 and is targeted at both genders. The
majority of people reading the magazine will fall into the audience demographic at band B down to D this is due to it mainly talking about high end films by big companies and no small end films so it will appeal to high and lower classes.

The layout of the contents page is quite simple with one column about the key topics with the page numbers to the left side of the text however I don’t like the idea of having the page number before the text which as I think the page number is better placed after the text. However the layout is very good because it is very clear and simple to read. The layout is effective because of the way that it makes the image  link to what is on the context page and links with key stories in the magazine. Also they have made the image the key part of the content page because they made the image of the women’s head go over the text 'contents'. The use of mise-en-scene is also very good as all the text and images link with the cinema theme.

The use of colour in the empire contents page  is  simple and only uses 3 colours black white and red it is where good combination because when I see red and white it all ways reminded me of vintage cinemas and old popcorn boxes.  I also like how they have used red bold text to show the key parts of text and put the less important text in white. I also like how the image has only just used the colour black, white and dark grey this includes all the objects in the image. 

The typography in this text is effective as all the fonts used are simple and clear to read. One of the main parts of typography used on the context page is the empire text logo, which is the same font, and as the cover page so people can relate the two pages. They have also put the date in average font (July 2012) so that people will know that they have not just read the magazine again for a second time. One problem is the issue page is not on the context page which you would expect to be on the contents page so that people could also tell if they have read the magazine before by reading the issue number. One of the key parts I like about the typography is that they have the key parts in red so it pops out at the audiences and then has less important information in white so the red text stands out even more. Another part I like about the typography is that the page number is the same size as the whole page descriptions which helps the page numbers stand out from the bright red text. The one key part of connotation I like about the magazine is the brand logo Empire which  means a big group of people under one person but they have changed the world into a new type of empire and made there own magazine empire. A key part of denotation I like is how they have put "contents" in big writing which informs the reader of the start of the magazine. The magazine has also used a good part of lexis as they say "first look : Ted" giving the reader the idea you can read it first here.

The use of semiotics is acceptable as they have used handcuffs to symbolise trouble. There is not much uses of images in the Empire magazine as there is only one image of a women handcuffed which is a wide shot however they have used the picture well as it is the focus of the page and helps keep a structure to the context page. However I think it would have been better if it had some smaller images to go alongside the stories. The use of iconography is very simple as the magazine has only used one image however they have used the image in a very effective way as it is the centre of attention on the page.

Analysis of GQ contents page.

In this analysis I will be comparing this GQ magazine contents page along side the Empire magazine contents page. The magazine GQ also has the target audience of 16 to 30 year olds however it is more targeted at men but may also appeal to tom boys. The readers are around the social group of C1 to E however it could also appeal to sporty higher class people.

The layout of the context page is acceptable however it looks too much for one page and look may put of the reader. Although I really like the left hand column as it looks neat and tidy I also like how the page numbers are in bright red to stand out to the reader,  unlike the Empire magazine the tile of each of story does not stand out like the empire magazine however apart from that there is not much I like about the GQ magazine as it is not as reader friendly as the Empire magazine.

The use of colour in the GQ magazine is a little dull, they may of used more colours than in the Empire magazine contents page however GQs contents looks a little cheap and unprofessional . The uses of mise-en-scene is also very good as the surfer costume in the image will appeal to the male audience by keeping to the idea of the sports theme.

The typography in the GQ contents page is very different from the Empire contents page. The GQ contents page has a big area titled contributors, the empire contents page does not have text like this which I think is nice, on the GQ contents page however above the word contributor is some more text which looks out of place and does not need to be there. The magazine has also used a good lexis as they have the word sport on the contents page 3 times and other words to do with sport which is really good as it really links with the male target audiences. One main pieces of typography I like on the page is that it has the issue number on the contents page which Empire did not have on the page as it only had the date.One piece of text I do not  like is the small text in the bottom left corner which just makes the page look more cluttered. The use of connotation  is very good as they  have put the words classic moments in sports which straight away makes you think. The use of denotation is also good as they have put the word kick off which is always been linked to  football in capitals which grabs the attention of any football fan.

There is a lot more images in the GQ contents page unlike
the Empire contents page which only had one image. However they have one main image which is a wide shot showing of the surfer. There is then three medium shots at the bottom right corner. There is then a image of Mike Tyson on a GQ cover page in the bottom left corner. The use of images on the page is acceptable but its just random unlike the Empire cover page which was well placed and thought out, the main image  on the GQ contents page which fits in with the magazine genre but the image should of been more focused. The use of iconography is also very good as in the first magazine as the main image links in with the sports theme of the magazine, I also think by using this wide angle action shot it really draws in the reader. The use of semiotics is very good, they have the image of the surfer with the LG logo on which is seen as a high end brand giving the audiences the idea that this magazine is a high end product.

In conclusion both magazine contents pages have pros and cons for example my favourite part of the Empire magazine is that the image is the focus of the page and everything else comes second. My favourite part of the GQ magazine content page is the bright red page numbers which really jumps out at the reader. However what I dislike the most about the Empire contents page is that they don’t have an issue number on it. What I dislike the most about the GQ contents page is that they didn’t use the full potential of the surfer image. So in reflection both magazine contents page have their positives and negatives but I must say I think Empire is the most appealing of the two contents pages.