Empire magazine is a magazine which chief focus is on up-coming movies and new releases. It is published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media and distributes across the UK. The first issue was in 1989. It is currently the UK’s biggest selling film magazine and consistently outsells its closest rival Total Film. Empire is populist in its approach and coverage rather than more serious and conservative film magazines like Sight & Sound. Its primary focus is on both mainstream movies and art movies. This is a huge advantage for the magazine because it means that it can appeal to a vast target market. The front cover gives clues as to the articles and features that will be inside. It is quite obviously going to have at least a double page feature on Megan Fox and Transformers 2. Also, the front cover indicates that there will be exclusives on three other movies: Wolverine, Star Trek and Angels & Demons.
I think that the target audience for Empire magazine must be wide because in this age directors create movies which appeal to every niche market possible. In order for Empire to attract all of these niches they must feature articles on them. Therefore, we can conclude that Empire has no specific target market and aims there magazine at anyone who likes watching films. However, the content is very reader friendly which suggests that the magazine is aimed at people who are in the band C1 and C2 of the social demographics scale.
The central image on the magazine cover is of actress and movie star, Megan Fox. The shot is taken at a slight high angle. This gives the feel that she is fragile and defenceless, it is stereotypical women attributes. This theme is furthered by the way she is kneeling down and covering her body. However, the fact that she is looking straight at the camera contrasts to this and connotes that she has some sort of power over the reader or men and not afraid of other people’s thoughts of her. In addition to this, the central focus of the image is Megan Fox’s back and especially her tattoo. The back is typically the sexiest part of a women’s body and the tattoo signifies a sense of freedom and free speech. I feel that this is important because Megan Fox is known to be a very sexy and forthright woman. The central image suggests that the magazine wants a close relationship with its reader because of way in which Megan Fox is looking straight at the camera; it almost feels as if she is addressing the reader directly.
The individual in the image on the front cover is Megan Fox. She is an actress who has featured in many starring roles and been in huge blockbusters. Her first major role came in 2004 when she played Carla Santini in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, since then she has shot to stardom and won numerous awards for her acting career. On top of this success, she has also become a favourite in men’s magazine. She is seen as a sex symbol to many men. However, on this particular cover Megan Fox is on the cover because the magazine features an exclusive interview with her, focusing on the up-coming release of Transformers 2, in which she played a leading role.
The anchorage text says ‘One on one with the most wanted woman in Hollywood.’ This is very appropriate because it has a double meaning. She is most wanted in real-life and Hollywood because she is a sex symbol and the perfect women. Also, she is most wanted in Hollywood because she is a great actress and every director would love the chance to work with her. Moreover, it could be an indication on the type of film Transformers 2 is. The fact that she is ‘wanted’ could suggest that the new movie is a crime thriller. After watching Transformers 2, it came to my attention that a lot of the movie focuses on her being wanted. In the movie she is being chased for her love when she becomes resistant to admit she loves Shia LaBeouf, who plays her partner in the movie.
The magazine cover and central image itself are representing women. Megan Fox is revealing her body, showing she is not afraid to reveal herself. She is proud of her body and femininity. By revealing her back she is revealing the sexiest part of a woman’s body. Also, the fact that some of the writing is in the colour silver suggests desire for wealth. This perhaps suggests a woman’s drive and desire for wealth. Silver is elegant and sleek. These are all words you would expect to be used when describing an idyllic woman like Megan Fox. Furthermore, the use of the buzzwords ‘Hot’ and ‘sizzling’ in big writing, again, links to Megan Fox’s representation of women.
The title block is very prominent; the reason for this is because it is very bold and uses the colour red. Red connotes energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love. These are all words which you would like to see in a good movie. Therefore, the title block is representative of the magazine as a whole. The font used for Empire is fairly simplistic. However, the use of it is effective, because it is neither elitist nor populist. It is middle of the road, therefore, it again implies that the magazine does not have a specific target market and aims its magazine at anyone who enjoys watching and reading about movies.
The title of the magazine tells us a lot about the type of magazine it is in general. Firstly, Empire connotes a sense of unification and conjunction. This is exactly what the magazine would be hoping to achieve; the whole of the film market unified by one magazine. Secondly, the title itself can tell us a lot about the general brand image of the magazine. The word ‘Empire’ is a very grand and bold word; it applies to a whole nation. This is an indication to the type of brand image the magazine wants to achieve because it wants to be seen as the being on top of the film industry, be the grandmaster if you like. Empire magazine is definitely top of the table in terms of film magazines; therefore, the title does mirror its image and achievements. I think that the style the title Empire connotes could be interpreted in different ways. Either the language is very grand and elitist, or, more likely, the language and style is created to appeal to the whole empire and a wider audience.
There are four main colours on the magazine cover; Red, white, blue and silver. The danger, strength and power of the red used in the main title contrasts with the elegance and sleekness of the white, silver and blue. This works really well because it actually underlines the plot of the movie that Megan Fox is going to talk about in her exclusive. In Transformers 2 there is a main theme of action and danger. However, underlining this is a story of love and passion. I think that these colours have been chosen purposely to represent the theme of the magazine.
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