EMPIRE MAGAZINEBy Kirsty Steward

House Style

The colours included on the front cover appeal to a male young audience due to the cover being both persuasive and cool. The red masthead connotes a bold exciting atmosphere and will catch the reader's eye and the grey, blue and quite connote a cool sophistication which readers that age would like to be associated with.

Value for MoneyAn issue of the magazine was originally £3.99 but has recently gone up to £4.10. Although this caused some discontent with customers (as seen on such forums e.g. http://www.empireonline.com/forum/tm.asp?m=2619075) , it is still a decent amount for a magazine and the target audience who will be able to obtain a part-time/full time job so therefore, the amount for the magazine would only be a small amount out of their budget each month.

Language usedThe language used on the front cover relates to the image and is made to appear more exciting so the audience will focus on each aspect of the magazine. A lexical field to do with heat is included with the words 'hot' and 'sizzling' as both objects can connote the idea of exclusivity and physical appearance, therefore making the magazine seem exclusive and relates to the image of fox looking attractive. This is also because a young male's eye would be first drawn to a half naked woman, so the language needs to coincide. Furthermore, alliteration is used in 3 sizzling exclusives in the coverline to not only sound phonologically pleasing, but to make sure the audience's attention is focussed on all areas of the magazine.

How the character in the film is portrayed

Megan Fox's character is portrayed as being very sexualised which is seen with her costume, positioning and body language. Her costume consists only of a pair of leather leggings, her positioning shows her on her knees, covering her breasts with her arms and hands and her eyebrows are slightly raised at the camera. The leather leggings are tight and fully show her figure as well as her bare flesh showing the same, her positioning and facial expression connotes a provocative nature and her being on her knees has the connotation of her being submissive. This communicates Laura Muvey's male gaze theory as Fox is clearly shown to be a sexualised object to attract men to buy the magazine which would especially entice the specific target audience of Empire.

Conclusion

Overall, the front cover successfully attracts a young adult, male audience due to both the images and language coinciding to create a sexual feel. Relating to Laura Mulvey’s theory again, this targets a male audience who are said to typically view women as sexualobjects, meaning the enticing image wouldpersuade them to buy the issue.