Textual Analysis

There is a clear image of what would presumably be college student. She appears to be relatively happy in the image. The title of the magazine is written in big bold letters at the very top of the page. The main topics that the magazine will cover is written on the right hand side of the page. The image of the girl is very clear but the background is blurred. There is a competition to win a prize at the bottom of the page.

The main headlines and the title of the magazine are written in dark bold letters as they are the main things that they want the reader to see. The other colours are much more brighter and pleasing to the eye. The girls shirt and the other headlines match a bright pink colour. The blurred background is a very bright white. This is done to make everything else on the page stand out more. The girl on the page has posed as if she is currently working as she has one hand on what appears to be a computer and the other hand on her chin as if she is thinking. However, her expression and gestures show her smiling which could indicate that she is enjoying the college and the work she is doing. Its difficult to tell whether its the lighting or make-up that makes her face slightly pale, but it does make her clothing stand out much more. From the computer and also what appears to be a book shelf in the blurred background, i would say that she is in the college library. The main composition of the image is the girl in the center of the page; she would be the most eye catching thing on the page.

The shot distance from the image of the girl is a medium shot. It doesn't appear as if the photo has been zoomed in or out, it seems as if the photo was just taken up close to the girl. There isn't any complicated camera angles on this magazine. The shot of the girl is taken at a simple eye level. The main image of the girl is in focus whereas, the background is blurred out. The film stock is very smooth. There is no grainy parts of the in focus images and text. The background, being blurred, is more grainy. Nothing is in black and white meaning that all is in colour. There are not many shades of the bright colours though, everything is rather high contrast. The lighting on this cover does not seem very natural at all. it appears as if the lighting on the girl and also the lighting in the background have been enhanced to appear brighter. The brightness of the page definitely give off a positive mood. All lighting is high key. The image of the girl has a very sharp focus whereas the background is more of a soft focus.

The language used on this magazine cover is used to really promote the education standards of the college. The phrases they use are there to make you feel as if this college would be the perfect place for your education. For example, 'The Perfect Major for me' and 'From the most unique to the most in-demand'