Initial Analysis

Our second task was to analyse the same front cover. We added connatations and denotations:

The main image ( the model on the cover) is large and striking and connotates fear , and terror. The mask and the dark colours lead you to suggest something dark and evil lieing underneath the mask.It takes up the majority of the page deliberately so it can try and make you think this. The way the model is bearing his teeth conotates a evil almost animalistic look , combined with the black lips and eyes makes him look strikingly evil.
The mask looks vaguely human, but missing some key facial features such as ears, which represents something evil, or hiding. Its weird mutation suggests something familiar, but still has a sense of something wrong.
The red areas, and the blood splat connotates violence and make an eye catching effect the certain bits of text.
The top of his head is obscured, which leads the reader to feel a sense of unknown. It also makes the image feel in your face, and striking. The eye hole is there, but as the eyes are missing and blacked out, it continues the sense of not knowing. You could also argue that as the eyes “ are the entrance to the soul” the models soul must be dark and black , which is a very sinister underlying feeling that runs throughout the image.
The mask has several colours, with dirty patches, which reinforces grimy and non-comformity image of the magazine.