PRINT REVISION

MARCH MOCK EXAM ANALYSIS

 

Below are just some of the points that could be discussed in the exam. Some points will naturally cross over (vision/written/layout).

 

Visual Codes

 

• White background - Signifies pure/health. It makes the colours of the rest of the magazine stand out and complements the high key lighting on the cover stars (holy entity is watching over them).
• Olympic rings (top right) support the fact that this is an Olympic/sports special - audiences identify with this symbol and it will persuade secondary audiences to perchance (those interested in the Olympics).
• Red text - Colours from the British flag. It has polysemic meaning and could signify that the athletes are hit blooded/warriors/competitive/fierce.
• Red text also makes the main cover line 'BEST OF BRITISH' stand out, therefore catching the readers eye.
• 'Don't miss a medal' created the assumption that Britain are winners!
• The athletes have been shot using mid shots - This allows their torsos to be captured which revels how fit the British athletes are.
• Posture of the athletes (body language) - straight posture - stood to attention and are proud. They have proud expressions and have their heads held high. They are proud to represent the nation (it could be argued that it is as if they are stood receiving the gold medal due to the cover line 'Don't miss a Medal'  - ANCHORAGE). Their eye contact engages the reader through direct mode of address - they mean business.
• Puff/plug - 'Free Wall Chart' - acts as an incentive to perchance the magazine.
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• The magazine depicts a range of sports on the front of the magazine - signifies that Britain is a multi-talented nation.
• Athletes are predominantly white - representation for ethnicity.

 

Layout

• the Masthead 'Radio Times' is behind the cover stars which signifies that they are more important. This represents how big the event is and will appeal to a range of audiences.
• Badge draws the audience attention to the important cover line 'Why BBC2 is No1 by Alison Graham'.
• Readers eyes follow the 'Z pattern'. eyes start from the badge and are forces across the page to the cover stars, box text, main cover line and banner.

 

 

Language/Written codes

• 'Goes for Gold' - The colour gold signifies that Britain are going for the gold medal and will not settle for anything less. High appraisal. 
• 'BEST OF BRITISH' - The word 'Best' has connotations of being the world leaders or being 'winners'. Puts Britain in a positive light.
• 'Don't miss a medal' created the assumption that Britain are winners! Red text also makes the main cover line.
• 'Why BBC2 is No1 by Alison Graham'. - No1 - connotations of the gold medal. The 'Why' creates an enigma codes.
• Athletes have labels to allow audiences to become familiar with their countries stars. 

Visual Codes

• 'Ok' masthead is presented in its iconic red colour - colour is polysemic and could have connotations of 'Hot off the Press', associations with 'Ret Top' newspapers (which could be of a similar audience) and celebrity gossip.
• The background is largely taken up with the grand finale of the ceremony. it is colourful so attracts the reader attention. It attempts to make the reader feel as if the event is something spectacular (The cover line 'The country unites...' anchors meaning). The long shot depicts how grand the event is and how big. Wide angle could signify how the ceremony is 'open to the world'.
• The image shows how busy, popular the event is. It is a spectacle. The Brits lead a colourful life.
• The colour purple is a regal colour.
• No mention of athletes (make comparison to the Radio Times) - The magazine lends itself you the royal family and celebrities such as David Beckham - They are cultural icons and therefore recognisable (Unlike the athletes on the Radio Times magazine).

Layout

• The background is largely taken up with the grand finale of the ceremony. it is colourful so attracts the reader attention. It attempts to make the reader feel as if the event is something spectacular.
• The magazines layout is set out so that the main image present the event, followed by the Royal Family. - focus is on the royal (OK magazine tends to pick up on royal stories and interviews - exclusive access).
• The Kate and Wills story is slightly larger and over lapping the photo of the Queen. This could suggest that they are more important and more popular.
• Queen is situated in the middle as she is the oldest. It presents her position in society (importance). youth are presented on the outside.

Language/Written codes

• 'The Country Unites for the Greatest Show on Earth'. This is a very big and confident statement. It focuses on the countries patriotism and how the ceremony has brought the nation together. The word 'Unite' almost becomes a hyperbole as it suggests that the nation has become one and all people have found common ground in this shared experience. 'The Greatest Show on Earth' suggests that Britain are the BEST and no other countries on the planet could produce a show to this standard in any context.
• 'William and Catherine's emotional moment' - The ceremony has brought the British prince and princess together. They are emotional because they too thought that the ceremony was amazing. The public share a common interest and if the royal family endorse the ceremony, then we will too.
• 'Her Majesty becomes the lasts Bond girl' - This was the highlight of the even and will interest most readers. It presents some humour to appeal to the British public. Those that did not see the ceremony may be intrigued to buy and find out more as the queen being associated with 'Bond' and standing next to Daniel Craig is almost a juxtaposition.
• 'Her Majesty' takes a more formal tone out of respect.
• 'Special Olympic Souvenir Addition' - The word 'Special' means that this magazine is slightly more important that their other additions as an attempt to attract readers from both their primary and secondary audiences. 'Souvenir' - will suggest that this magazine is for keeps sake and should be saved to look back on a historical event.