Magazine II

1. Early Magazine Covers

The Early Magazine Cover normally consisted of a title and a table of contents, very different from the common magazine cover we would see nowadays. They attempted to follow the style of book covers at the time, and would normally just have a title and the date of publication, lacking in a description. Sometimes, magazines would make exceptions and add a simple image or two, but it was not for the sake of describing the contents of the magazine, but rather, for decorative purposes. However, some later on decided to add pictures to represent the spirit of the publication, while others didn’t even have a cover; they would begin their first article on the first page. Most magazines would simple have a cover line or two, and then display its means of identifying itself. Finally, a bit of experimentation was put in; instead of using images to describe the contents, images were used to represent the departments within the magazines.

2. The Poster Cover

The Poster Cover brought in wonderful illustrators that had been influenced by the Art Norveau Movement. They could even become nationally famous for their amazing work, meant to represent a season or bring on a certain mood. They would have a small cover line that would announce the theme of the magazine, but they would often be completely overshadowed by the picture on the cover. Some had nothing but their magazine identification, in favor of bringing full attention to the cover. It went from no cover lines, to a few, and then to a point where cover lines were necessary. Modern poster covers speak of the contents inside without words, and the careful use of art or portraits has not fallen out of use, and likely won’t for a long time.

3. Pictures Married To Type

However, there were also magazines that were Pictures Married To Type, which relied on the use of attractive cover lines, rather than primarily depending on their cover images. Art and type come together hand in hand and work together mutually to bring in an audience. Some methods used often would be the model’s head overlapping the title, the model in a nearly full body pose, a model in an unusual or expressive pose, or a model surrounded complete by text. The placement of the type, when used carefully when taking planes into consideration, can give the magazine cover depth. An attractive picture that had a magazine logo and carefully placed text; that was the heart of these kinds of magazines. The use of text and the picture together can easily create the effect a magazine hopes to, as long as the magazine knows what it is doing. Daring typography could be seen as art by itself, as it takes just as much care and consideration as making art does, and the effects are just as impactful. Cover lines were changed from quiet side notes to voices with life, speaking to the reader as easily as a person would. Cover lines, during this competitive time, became so necessary, that models would be forced to pose in such a way that text could be fitted on the magazine cover. Cover lines became one of the most important things on a magazine cover of this style.

4. The Forest of Words

Finally, magazines have moved into a mixture of vivid images and striking cover lines. Some cover lines have even ended up being bigger than the title. Pictures are never enough in the common era; cover lines are far more important. Poster covers are still used today, but they are rare and don’t appear often on newsstands. However, this is good on its own; it brings attention to them and lets them gain a voice among all of the other generic magazines. The sorts of magazines that still have these covers are music magazines, art and photo magazines, travel magazines, and special magazines. Most others are the common one with loud images and just as bold text. Beautiful models are like roses among the bushes of cover lines, still standing out and providing lovely additions to the cover.