GQ - A Level Media

• Dominant Signifier

  
  

  Close-up shot of Robert Pattinson 'remade' in punk style has allusions to Sid Vicious (famous punk artist from the band Sex Pistols from the late 1970s)
• Colour scheme


  Blue ombré colour scheme creates a cold yet bright tone, perhaps reinforcing stereotypical ideas of masculinity but also signalling change
• Main coverline


  Enigma code through the use of the rhetorical question 'Who is Robert Pattinson?' evidently anchors to the main image and is written in a graffiti style font to reiterate the tone of the 'art and fashion issue', which is one of rebellion and chaos; it invites audiences to delve deeper to find out more about the reimagined Pattinson
• Cover lines font style

  Appears typewritten with clean lines and unimposing size with the emphasis on the juxtaposing graffiti style font; references to 'The Godfather' and 'Golden Age' indicating a sense of nostalgia
• Masthead


  GQ logo establishes brand identity. Placing the cover star in the foreground of the font suggests that the brand is established and easily recognisable by its audience
• Facial expression and body language / posture of the actor

  Indicate a confrontational and challenging demeanour hinting at masculine identity in turmoil
• Masthead

  The contracted 'Gentleman's Quarterly' establishes the brand as reputable and recognised as a quality product, which launched back in 1931. The font is sophisticated and modern with a confident boldness
• Cover model

  Famous male celebrities who are attractive and young. These people are symbolic of power - physical, cultural, sexual and economic
• Use of a British actor

  Reinforces this edition culturally as a UK text and also relies on 'star' power; audiences who are fans of Pattinson will want to know more about his makeover and new persona
• Lightweight fonts


  Indicate a movement away from typical masculine fonts that dominate the page
• Large font main coverline

  Bold and large compared to secondary lines to set it apart and convey the hierarchy of content contained
• Punk graffiti font


  The 'Art and Fashion' edition and main coverline share the same font, suggesting a sense of disorder; the inclusion of creative, artistic content as opposed to machismo themes indicates a movement towards more refined topics
• Courier Prime Sans font

  Often used for scripts relates to the reference to director and film writer Francis Ford Coppola; in addition, the squarish shape is reminiscent of tradition and professionalism
• Authoritative tone in the coverlines

  Suggests this magazine perceives itself to be the connoisseur of style and status; references to the 'Golden Age' of creativity and 'Holy Grails' of modern menswear elevate the magazine's knowledge and expertise
• Tone of power and rebellion

  Created through the processes of selection and combination on the front cover
• Sense of intrigue


  Created by the combination of the image of Robert Pattinson with the rhetorical question in the coverline, 'Who is Robert Pattinson?'
• Influential tone

  Created through the references to inside information on famous film director Francis Ford Coppola and the notion that GQ is the authority on all things 'fashion' in the coverline 'Holy Grails of Modern Menswear'