Magazine Cover Analysis: Maxim and Fhm

These magazine covers show Nicole Scherzinger and Neha Dupia, attractive females which automatically attract the readers attention, which is then enhanced by the fact neither women are wearing much clothing. Both covers show clevage which implies the magazines are being directed towards a male audience. Although not revealing anything significant, there is enough body being shown to be provocaticve and appeal to a male audience. The look on the ladies faces are enticing, coy and suggestive, again appealing to the male demographic, as if the ladies were crying for example, the pictures would lose their sexual appeal. The colours used are predominantly white, with both women wearing white clothing connotating purity and an almost angelic quality despite the context that the women are in. Both backgrounds are darker, providing a contrast to the white clothing connotating light and dark or good and evil, naughty or nice. The colours of the text vary but are thematic, with the Maxim cover using a yellow and white font colour, while the FHM cover uses a yellow and white font but uses other colours such as red and in particular uses an organge, white and green colour scheme, relating to the fact that this particular copy is the Indian version. The typography is clear to read, proffesional looking but not boring to look and appears to look contemporary and stylish, as is the main theme of the magazine.

The language used isnt complex to read however it retains the appeal and interest for the reader. As it is aimed at a male demographic, it focuses on themes of relationships (mainly the sexual aspect) and thing that men would enjoy or be interested in. For example, on the FHM cover it reads "Dump Your Girlfriend Properly, Mess Free Relationship Termination". This advice is gold dust to men, and instantaneously gets the reader interested, despite the information provided being blunt. This shows it is aimed at a male audience, playing on the stereotype that men need to be spoken to slowly or with very little complexity. The shot types are close medium shots allowing the face, chest and legs to be seen appealing to a male audience, again focusing on sexual attraction as opposed to the content of the material.