Research:- codes & conventions of magazine front covers

 

Cosmopolitan 

This magazine has a bright, floral colour scheme. There are selections of dulled pinks and purples. These are highly feminine colours to attract the target audience. The title is in a bright yellow. This is also a floral colour but contrasts to the other colours. This combined with the large bold text helps it to stand out and suggests how this magazine can help the women to stand out.  The subject is looking directly at the camera, as if she is looking right at the reader, encouraging them to buy and read the magazine. Her hair is also wavy and free. This combined with her wide smile and the low exposure helps the image look warm and approachable as well as being very summary. This is continued through the summer dress she is wearing which highlights the maturity of the woman and that the magazine can appeal to a wide spectrum of women. On the left hand side there are a lot of buzz words which have been put in italics with exclamation marks to show their important. ie "genius!" would make the woman feel more confident about herself. It is very targeted and stereotypical though, as it is telling women to shop but this is reaching out to the magazines target audience. 

GQ

The colour scheme is completely different for this magazine. It is monochrome, just white black and red being the only colour which is predominantly a male colour. This makes the riding in red stand out, such as the main feature which is in large black text but with a red indent. Also, the white background makes the magazine look clean and fresh. On the left hand side a '+' symbol is used instead of and. This shows that it is technical and mathematical which is stereotypically things men are good at so it attracts their target audience. The subject in the photo is looking straight into the camera, having the same affect. His eyes look more fixed and serious which is also seen through the lack of a smile. This along with his simple black and white clothing helps him to look sophisticated and implies the magazine can help men do that. It is a high exposure, making the man look like he is on show to the world. His power is also seen through his slicked back hair and the fact his photo is infant of the magazine logo, suggesting he is more important than the magazine or that he makes the magazine.