Magazine Analysis 1 - Variety

 

Magazine Analysis 1

The ‘Variety’ masthead sits at the top of the middle third of the cover, creating subtle attention towards the brand, however not distracting from the main image of Kate Winslet by enlarging and stretching the masthead across each third as conventional mainstream magazines such as ‘Vogue’ do. The chosen colour is an off-white, similar in shade to Winslet’s outfit to maintain the beige colour scheme and not divert attention away from the message of the cover; it can be interpreted to display the simplicity of representing a woman as powerful and inspirational without sexualising or stereotyping them. Winslet is against a background of a fawn, floral wallpaper which matches the silky mattress she is sat on, creating an image of organisation and simplicity, subverting the conventional use of colourful contrasts in a magazine. The muted tones emulate the modesty of the image, with Winslet wearing off-white loose trousers and a button-up shirt, implying a sense of casual formality which captures the subtle seriousness of the cover, which in turn suggests a peaceful tone of communication. She is positioned in the center third of the cover, imploring an even balance of symmetry which further captures the arranged calmness of the magazine, targeting a middle-aged white female audience who enjoy organisation and muted colours. Unlike conventional covers that include multiple cover lines, there is a single cover line ‘King of the World’, an intertextual reference to Winslet’s hit blockbuster ‘Titanic’, grabbing the attention of film-loving audiences, particularly those who are fans of Winslet’s work. The film genre is a romantic drama, primarily targeting a younger female audience who are interested in romance and cinematography. The font of the cover line is slightly wispy and cursive, implying a scholarly, sophisticated theme that replicates the main image and colour scheme, yet adds a slight contrast by being black, much darker than the beiges and whites used, creating an additional point of interest for the readers. Underneath this, the ambiguous cover line: ‘How Kate Winslet Reigns’ is written in a smaller black font, enforcing an air of mystery and intrigue as to the subject matter discussed in the magazine - this encourages readers to turn the page so they can find out what is discussed in the articles, and whether the muted theme continues throughout. Unlike mainstream magazines, there are no supporting images, datelines, or selling lines, suggesting that Variety’s focus of this cover is to portray Kate Winslet as an iconic, mediating pop-culture figure making a statement of independence, with the ability to inspire women similar to her age.