The document discusses magazine cover codes and conventions. It analyzes covers of three horror/film magazines - Total Film, Empire, and Fangoria. Common elements identified across the magazines include using red text to convey horror themes, centering the magazine title and images to draw the eye, varying text sizes based on importance, and utilizing dark backgrounds except for Fangoria which stands out with a bright cover. Key techniques like font, colors, images, and layout are used consistently across magazines to attract readers and communicate their brand.

1. MAGAZINE RESEARCH 2: GENERIC CODES AND
CONVENTIONS

2. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Codes: A system
of symbols used
to convey a
message or idea
Conventions: The
repetition and
reinforcement of
normative values.

3. MAGAZINE COVER 1: TOTAL FILM
Prominent
use of Red.
Use of red
and a more
scarier font
to help
emphasise
the themes
of horror
and
vampires,
The face of the
celebrity is put in
front of the text to
draw attention to
them as readers will
usually look at the
title of a magazine
first
Code: Gray
Convention:
The model of the cover is
a well known actor which
will appeal to the
magazine’s male
audience. Additionally,
the actor’s makeup and
appearance helps
showcase the magazine’s
spooky theming.
The title of the magazine
and the model are in the
middle of the magazine
as that is where the
audience will first look
when they see the cover

4. MAGAZINE COVER 2: EMPIRE
Code: Gray
Convention: Blue
Red Text
Most of the cover is
shrouded in darkness
to help convey an
atmosphere of fear
Size of text varies based on
how important it is to show.
Generally the title will be the
largest text on the cover and
the rest of the text’s size will
depend on how relevant and
popular the article is
Pun based on the
film to help draw
the audience’s
attention.

5. MAGAZINE COVER 3: FANGORIA
Code: Gray
Convention: Blue
Sets itself apart
from other horror
magazines by
having the
background be
very bright. This
helps make the
magazine stand
out when
compared to
other horror
magazines
Red
connotes
themes of
fear and
danger
Model put in the
middle of the
cover to make it
more eye-
catching
White as a colour connotes
emptiness and coldness which line
up with the film being shown on the
cover and adds to the creepy
The font fits the
aesthetic of a
horror magazine

6. COMMON MAGAZINE ELEMENTS
 Red text to connote themes of horror and danger
 The title of the magazine and the model are placed in the centre as this is the point where audiences will look
first when looking at the cover.
 Generally the background of the cover will dark or black to help connote themes of horror but as shown on
the Fangoria cover this is not always the case.
 The size of the text shown on the cover will vary depending on how likely it will attract a reader to buy it. E.G.
The Masthead is almost always the biggest sized text shown on the cover.