Ancillary Analysis 2
Typography
The masthead is san-serif and is clearly related to the horror genre. The font itself has a dripping effect, this dripping has connotations of blood, this type of connotation is common for the horror genre. Furthermore the skyline is also in a san-serif font. The font used for the skyline also dennotes a comic book theme. This may have been used to help it appeal to a young adult target audience. The price and issue number have been laid out like a plug, this text is in a serif font, this is a more formal style and is suited to this generic information that is on all magazines. The main feature article "Hellraiser Revelations" is written in a serif font. The style is once again formal,however it also has Gothic connotations. The cover story "The Curse of Frankenstein" uses a large san-serif font, this contrasts to the adjacent article and as a result it stands out from the page. The three cover stories that are spread across the bottom of the page use an identical block capital font, while being easy to read, at the same time they do not overshadow the more important articles above them on the front cover. The majority of this front cover uses san-serif fonts, having said this a sharp serif font are used for the feature articles and their additional information. This effectively distinguishes them from the other articles, helping to bring them to the reader attention. A banner across the bottom displays more information, This piece of text has a sub-heading "Plus!" to show the extra content in the magazine.
Images
This front cover consists of five images and each one relates to a cover story The largest image corresponds to the main feature article. The size of the image indicates this stories importance. This image in question is a close up of the antagonist from the "Hellraiser" film franchise known as "Pinhead" his terrifying appearance places his character well within the horror genre. This character's features will also draw the attention of an audience, his chalk white complexion, pitch black eyes and pin covered face would easily draw an individuals eye to it.
Overlapping this close up is an image related to the cover story "The Curse of Frankenstein". Specifically this is a mid-shot of the well known character. However the mid-shot has in black and white this hints at the idea that it is an archaic film from a time before colour television; it relates to the stories information "Hammers classic revived". The final three images have been placed along the bottom of the front cover. Each one has a border to give it a polaroid picture effect. The images consist of a close-up and two mid-shots. "The Walking Dead" cover story has used a mid-shot to show the physical presence the character has because of his size. In the image next to this an intimidating close-up is used. This is suited to the ghost story themed cover story. Once again I think that a mid-shot has been used in the last image to display this character's undead, frightening appearance.
Layout
The layout of this front cover is very cluttered, this hectic assembly of the different of aspects of this magazine are perfectly matched to the fast moving and often violent nature of the horror genre. Adding to this the jumbled look to this front cover will appeal to a young adult target audience of 18 to 30 year olds. Nearly all aspects of this page are off centre or tilted. This type of layout begins with the skyline and can also be seen with the Masthead. This theme also has connotations of a scrap book, this idea is implied particularly through the polaroid image boarders and comic book style font. On the other the hand, despite the cluttered layout the front cover still has a conventional root of the eye.
The images and font also have a layered effect. This gives a sense of depth to the page, the main image of Hellraiser acts as a background whilst all other cover stories are placed on top of and around it.
Colour
Red is a prominent colour in this magazine front cover, it is used in the blood splatters in the skyline, banner and the covers stories. This effect relates the magazine immediately to the horror genre. Furthermore the red smears at the top and bottom of this page act as a frame for the cover's contents. Red also relates the popular themes in horror of blood, violence and gore. For the Masthead and web address white is used, this becomes pronounced from the other colours and is easy to recognise. This colour denotes fear. The skyline and issue number both use black font with a yellow background. This colour combination contrasts, as a result the text can be noticed with ease. Black is one of the most used colours in horror because of its implications of darkness. The remaining colours are used in a pattern with each piece font. The Frankenstein cover story has a pattern of white font above yellow. "The Walking Dead" title follows the same pattern, but it's then reversed; "The Conjuring" has a yellow font above white. Finally for the last cover story it has a white title above information that is yellow. This use of a pattern will help the cover look aesthetically appealing.
Conventions of Genre and Form
The typography is very conventional for the horror genre. The masthead particularly has connotations of gore and blood, these are both popular features in this genre. The Gothic serif font of the main feature article fits directly into this genre. Horror is predominantly masculine, this convention is adhered to with the extensive use of san-serif fonts,for the other cover stories. This type of font also has masculine connotations. The images on this front cover are the main reason this page is conventional for the horror genre. Each character is clearly related to the genre in some way either through their menacing or intimidating appearance or in the way the information underneath describes why they are on the page. The layout is clearly conventional for the genre because of its slanted and cluttered arrangement. This frantic layout suites the, violent and intense themes that surround horror. The colours conform perfectly to the conventions of this genre, the red signifies gore. the yellow and white can often imply fear and cowardice. All of these are popular ideals and themes in horror.
The typography is conventional for its form mainly because of its differing size, the most important article will be advertised as such through the use of the largest font. This can be seen through the "Hellraiser" article. Having said this the masthead will nearly always have the largest font because it is the name of the magazine. This idea of a hierarchy can also be seen with the images the largest one is for the main article. The images are also conventional because they relate to their corresponding article. The layout is particularly conventional for the magazine form because a Masthead is at the top along with issue information as well as cover stories throughout the main body of the cover. A skyline at the top and a banner at the bottom is also conventional. The colours are typical for a magazine because they catch the eye.
Magazine Analysis 2
Typography
The masthead is the largest piece of font on this front cover. This is the only style of font that stays utterly consistent in every "Fangoria" front cover. This is the case because the masthead is the feature that becomes recognisable to the audience and it acts as a symbol for the magazine itself.
The name of the actor is below the large main image; the font style resembles fire, this clearly relates it back to the film mentioned, "Ghost Rider". This character has the ability to burst into flames therefore the font connects to this. The line underneath this "Master of Horror" is also san-serif. Its rough ragged style reflects the unkempt, violent nature of many horror films. The font style of the first cover story implies the Victorian time period it is set in. The font style looks as if it has been written with a fountain pen. The text beneath this is san-serif and reads "New Hammer Horror" This bold masculine font contrast the one above it and stands out from the page. The last two cover stories use exactly the same font for both their title and the information below. Each one of these fonts are also san-serif. Once again this is masculine and the title of these cover stories also have aggressive connotations due to their jagged font style.
The Main film title uses exactly the same font that the Ghost Rider films used in their promotional work, this is effective because the audience can easily recognise a font they may have already seen. the date is a smaller san-serif style that contrasts with the masthead.
Images
There are four images on this front cover. The largest image is the main feature article and it fills the majority of the page. The image in question is a low angle close up of the character "Ghost Rider" this shot and angle is intimidating and because of this it will draw the attention of the reader. The CGI effects of a skull make for a frightening and aggressive image that fits in accurately with the horror genre. The next three cover story images are exactly the same size. Adding to this they all contain a main character from their respective films. This helps the audience easily recognise the articles that they are featured in and they are also likely to draw in a bigger readership with these images.
Layout
The Layout of this magazine front cover is very formulaic and neat, its also follow a conventional root of the eye. This does make the whole cover very easy to take in. Having said this their are some aspects that make it less effective than other horror movie magazines. One of these aspects is the fact that a film title is above the masthead, it would be more effective if it was below the main image. This neat look is appealing to the eye however it is not conventional for the genre.
Colour
The masthead colours are effective on this front cover. The red and yellow blend on the masthead is eye catching. Furthermore these colours connote aggression and masculinity. Although there is consistency in the colour scheme of yellow and white, it lacks variety, this may lead to the cover not peaking the interest of a large audience. Having said this the white and the yellow contrast well which does help its appeal. The red film reel effect that is used as a background for the cover stories give retro feel to the cover this effect may appeal to the an audience.
Conventions of Genre and Form
The typography of this cover is conventional for the horror genre, the vast majority of this cover is san-serif, this is very masculine and because of this it suites the genre. This covers font size is unconventional for a magazine because a smaller cover story is placed above a large masthead. Besides this the sizing is typical. The images are conventional for the horror genre because of their intimidating connotations, this can be seen particularly with the main image of Nicolas Cage. These images are conventional for form because the most important one takes up the all of the background space. Adding to this the rest of the cover story images are smaller, this is typical for a magazine. As already mention the layout of this front cover is unconventional for the genre because of its ordered look. However it does have a layout both typical and not for form. The cover lines are at the side and the date is in the usual place, however the main article information is above the masthead, this is unconventional.
The colours are conventional for the genre because the reds and yellows are aggressive and masculine, following on from this, they are conventional for form because they are eye catching and bright.