Front cover analysis for my media coursewrk

1. Target Audience and genre
The target for Hammermagazine
wouldbe 20+, as it containsalcohol
and game adverts.Mostly,itis
aimedat malesbutthe secondary
audience wouldbe females.The
genre isvariationsof metal/heavy
metal/industrial metaletc.
Main Image
The model creditisthe extra
informationonthe mainartist,
whichisthe Black Sabbath. The
phrase underneathmaincoverline
catchesthe reader’sattention;as
we can see the iconographicimage
of a cross.This symbolisesthe anti-
religiousviewthatmanymetal
artistsassociate with.The word
‘MAGICKAL’isspeltwronglyon
purpose tocatch people’s
attention,asitlooksunusual which
oftenfitsintometal genres. Also
the use of lowkeylightingmakesit
looksmore excitinganddarkforthe
readers.
Masthead
The mastheadisin gloomygreencolourswhich
suitsthe blackbackgroundand alsothe genre.
The font of the title isrigid,alsothe firstletter
‘H’ lookslike aguitarwhichblendsintoagenre
of thismagazine. Inadditionthe masthead
alsocontainsword‘meta;’whichgivesthe final
touch of makingthe magazine lookhardwhich
fitsthe purpose of the magazine asit will
attract the reader.
The GutenbergDesignPrinciple
The Gutenbergprinciple showshowpeople
lookat a magazine.Atthe start the reader
looksinthe primaryoptical area whichisthe
mastheadandthe picture of BlackSabbath,
whichattracts the readeras he isa famous
figure. Then,the readerlooksatthe terminal
optical areawhichis inthe middle right,it
showsthe subcoverlineswhichattractsthe
readeras theycan findthe favourite artist.
Next,the readerlooksatthe strong fallowarea
inthe topright whichcontainscharacteristic
make up of Ghost B.C inthiseditionwhich
catchespeople’sattentionandgivesthe
magazine itgenre.Lastly,the reader,looksat
the weakfallowarea,whichisinthe left
bottomcorner,it containsmore detail about
the magazine andany adverts,whichmakes
people curiousaboutthe restof the magazine.
Coverlines
The coverlinesgive the readermore insight intowhatisin
the magazine;more details.‘The Algorithm’isacoverline,
the fontlookslike ithasbeenscribbled,itwhite soitin
contrast withthe background.However,itisalsoitis put in
the shallowfallowfield.

2. Model credit
The main image isof KingDiamond,BlackSabbathand Ghost B.C.As thisimagesare
justbelowthe masthead.These imagessymboliseimportance of themand
probablythe mainsubjectinthiseditionof Hammer. Aswe lookat howthe
musicianlookwe canassociate thiswithmetal,the use of blackcolourssymbolise
dangerbut alsosomethingdeepandheavy.Also,the satanicmake upof Ghost face
makesthismagazine lookeerie andtherefore thisimpliesthatthe use of lowkey
lightingmakesthe readerknowthatisa metal magazine.The atmosphere created
makesthe audience be interestedinthiskindof genre.Especially,asBlackSabbath
isa knownband.
Main CoverLine
The main coverline isthe ‘BLACKSABBATH’as thiseditionof Hammerfocuseson
thisband,whichishighlypopularamongstmetal fans,asthisbandis quite
importance asin the pedestal f othermetal bands.Therefore,BlackSabbathhasthe
creditof beingon the maincoverline.Also,the fontsuitsthiskindof magazine asit
standsout, andthe eye inthe middle makesitlookbizarre;whichisdone on
purpose tocatch the reader’sattentionaspeople whoare intometal genre are also
intodemonicdarkcoloursand unusual fonts.
Colours/Typefaces/House style
The type of house style of the Hammermagazine isconsistentasthe
mastheadisusuallyonthe top,and the maincover line isinthe middle.
Thisgivesthe audience asense of familiarisationasthe readersare used
to it.Also,the constantuse of lowkeylightingsuitsthe genre andstyle of
the magazine. Lastly,the use of gruesome image andsatanicsensations
fitsto the target audience.
Banners/Flashes/badges
The bannersusedinthismagazine are thissame colour masthead. The
bannerof a star inthe circle createsa satanicatmosphere andtherefore
suitsthe metal genre.The advertof ‘VipTickets’attractsthe readeras the
readermightgatherticketforthe favourite band.Atthe endan iconic
fontof howRammsteinisspeltgive afamiliarlookforthe audience of
that band;alsothe provocative quote togowithitattracts the readers as
it contextinterestmany people.