This document analyzes and summarizes the key symbols and themes conveyed by the posters and magazine covers for three romantic films: The Last Song, Breaking Dawn, and Love Actually. For The Last Song poster, the expressions and positioning of the characters imply a sad story involving a broken relationship. The Breaking Dawn magazine cover symbolizes romance through the intimate pose of the characters and its simple, calm color scheme. Both the Love Actually poster and magazine cover prominently feature the color red and symbols of love like hearts and letters to clearly mark the film as a romantic comedy targeted towards female audiences.

1. Two Ancillary Tasks
Poster and Magazine
Sophie Nicholls

2. The Last Song Poster
By the girl looking in
the opposite direction to
the boy, shows that she
is turning her back on
him or has had her hear
broken by him. The
expression on her face
shows that it is likely to
be a sad film
The simple, cursive
writing shows that the
film is likely to be a sad
or romantic film, as a
horror film for example
is likely to have a big,
bold text, not as simple
and plain as this text on
the poster.
The side of the boy’s
face could be
symbolising that he
may not be as
important as the girl,
or that he has turned
his back on her,
possibly once being
in love at some point
in the film
The background of the
two characters in the
clouds could symbolise
heaven, meaning it is
likely to be a sad film.
However the sunshine
in the distance could be
symbolising ‘light at
the end of the tunnel’
The image of the man and girl hugging
one another shows that they have a close
relationship in the film.

3. The Breaking Dawn Magazine Cover
The boy and girl
standing with their
heads together and eyes
closed symbolises
romance, showing that
they are in love, and so
the film is likely to be a
romantic film.
The background
colour shows that
the film is likely to
be a sad or
romantic film due
to the calm, simple
colour shining
through in-
between the two
characters
The film name’s
text is in big,
bold letters,
which is likely to
be showing the
audience that it is
a romance or
fantasy genre.

4. Love Actually Poster
The red clearly
symbolising
romance, as red
symbolises ‘love’
The bow and
what looks like a
love letter,
symbolising the
romantic genre of
the film
The colour red
consistently being
used and the word
‘love’ clearly telling the
audience it is a
romantic film
The red and white
could also be
telling the audience
that the film is set
around Christmas
time, as these
colours symbolise
Christmas.
The white being a
plain colour could
symbolise purity or
happiness

5. Love Actually Magazine
The bright pink lettering
shows that the film is
likely to be a ‘girly’ film,
the pink is to draw the
women’s attention to the
magazine
The four girls
standing together,
their outfits all
very similar and
wearing big high
heels, shows that
the film is more for
females than
males.
Colour and
text could
symbolise
romance or
even comedy
The different
coloured shoes could
symbolise their type
of character. Red