q cover analysis

Typography- bold sans serif fonts are used throughout the front cover, this is used as bold fonts are more eye catching. The biggest font is the ‘Lana Del Rey’ (cover story) this is because it’s the main important article advertised and it accompanies the main picture, it also uses pink font which helps it stand out. All cover lines are in capitals to help them stand out. The text that accompanies the cover lines are not in capitals and are in a smaller sized font. The font used on the ‘Lana Del Rey’ is unusual and looks as if it has been written with lipstick and has been used to match the personality of the artist.


Layout- the layout of the front cover is ordered with text being positioned around the main picture and magazine title, this is a consistent layout used in every issue of the magazine. The picture is placed in the middle of the page and the masthead is placed in the top left corner of the cover. The picture is placed in the middle as it’s the largest feature of the cover and the biggest eye catching point. The cover story is placed near the bottom of the page and goes across the picture to show it accompanies it, this is a layout often used on magazine covers. The cover lines are on both sides of the front cover with text underneath each cover line in different colour and sized text. There is also another cover line at the top of the page. The layout used brings the picture to front and the masthead to back as you can see the picture covers part of the masthead. The date and price are located by the barcode in small font in the bottom right corner. All cover lines are in different colours.

Route of the eye: the route of the eye goes through the masthead across the picture and along the bottom through the cover story (main article). This is a common layout for magazine covers and is often used in music magazines.

Mise –en-scene – false blood is used as a prop on her face, this helps portray her character/personality and suggests that she is damaged. And her crown also suggests power but also may suggest she is unusual as it’s an unusual occasion to wear a crown.

Mode of address- the magazine speaks the audience formally as the language used is not directly directed at the audience. This is due to the magazine being aimed at over 25’s so the language has to be quite formal although the word ‘bloody’ is used.  Another reason that the magazine doesn't directly speak to the audience is that the magazine appeals to a number of genres and so has a large target population and so would not be able to directly speak to that target population as its vast and different.

Colour- there is a consistent colour scheme used throughout the front cover, the colours used are: Red, white, pink, yellow and black. Colours are used specifically with other colours on the cover so it doesn't look like to many are being used. For example yellow and black are used together as yellow is only used as a background on black font. White and pink are also used together a number of times. Pink is used on ‘Lana Del Rey ‘which is stereotypically a girly colour and she’s female. Red is used on the Q logo this is as its eye catching and helps the white Q stand out and connotations of red are blood and fire and so is associated with power.

Camerawork- A mid-shot of Lana Del Rey is used as the main picture on the cover. A mid-shot is used to so she is easily recognised and so is a big selling point for the magazine. The shot is slightly low angle to make her look powerful.