Past Paper Questions

1. Analyse the front covers for both GQ and Saga magazines commenting on:

* visual codes
* layout and design
* language and mode of address

A1. On the cover of the GQ magazine the colours that have been used are all quite dark and what he is wearing is also very dark so he blends into the magazines theme. The writing is in white because the background is dark colours so these stand out to the audience especially the bits which are bold white as they are easier to spot. Clint Eastwood is wearing denim on denim as the background is quite a denim blue colour and it links in with the colour scheme of the magazine. Clint takes up most of the magazine and looks very big on the cover which interlinks with the masthead to the side of him which reads "Badass of the year" which also links in with what he's wearing which suggests that he can wear what he likes and the look on Clint's face also conveys a lot of anger and determination which also links in with the masthead. His pose is quite serious ands his body language is like he is angry and he looks like he is ready for a fight. He is gazing right down the camera which is a direct address to the audience and he looks very determined and you can see the anger in his eye which in the end the visual codes link in with the label that has been given to him.

The central image is right in the middle of the page and takes up a majority of the front cover and even overlaps a bit of the title at the very top. This shows that the magazine name is recognisable and it is easy for the audience to know exactly what magazine this is.