Website Analysis
The Twilight Saga : by Stephanie Meyer
The Twilight Saga : by Stephanie Meyer
The Twilight Saga is a collection of four books written by Stephanie Meyer. Her books took the world by storm, they captured an audience ranging in age and was translated into more than thirteen languages to ensure no one missed out. The books centre on a couple it was your typical teen romance with the twist of the male character and his family are vampires. The books intertwined two concepts that appeal to young readers as well as adults; romance and a dangerous fantasy. The webpage encapsulates exactly what the books are about. The mystery of the unknown, the draw of mystery and depths of darkness in people that attracts and arouses the audience to stay in demand for the next instalment. The webpage shows a consistent use of colour throughout and the repetition of the banner across the top of the page reinforces the 'Horizontal Attention leans Left' theory of Jakob Nielson (Nielson's Alertbox, April 6, 2010). Throughout this analysis I will also look at the the way the website interacts with the media, the following of the author as well as the film adaptation actors. The links from the Twilight website to the magazine and newspaper articles surrounding the Twilight Saga phenomenon. I will look at the design of a webpage and how it transcends into different outputs of medium, (Ross Shannon, 2012). The last aspect that I will be looking at is the visual transition (A. F. Wysocki, 2004), between the text and other forms of media for example the connection of sound and image through the videos and audio on the website.
Colour and Theme
The webpage depicts exactly how the books are seen or the image that they create as you read. The black and grey background demonstrates the darkness that is often associated with vampires – to be brooding and dangerous. The red tones I feel that they represent the romance or love story that is surrounded by the darkness and danger the couple faces throughout the Saga. The webpage is designed with an eye-catching banner at the top of the page. It grabs the viewers attention while using the two prominent colors of black and red to draw the viewer to the title. The fading red line towards the book causes the readers automatically to follow the horizontal line to the book and linking it back to the title. This is a tool Jakob Nielson described as the 'Horizontal Attention Leans Left'. This Nielson described as 'people look at information above the fold far more than they do at information further down the page.' (Nielson, 2010). For a webpage to have success at drawing its readers in should grab them from the first glimpse of the web page the Twilight headline or banner has enough imagery and contrasting colour that it picks interest as well as getting across the concept or theme of the books.
The webpage depicts exactly how the books are seen or the image that they create as you read. The black and grey background demonstrates the darkness that is often associated with vampires – to be brooding and dangerous. The red tones I feel that they represent the romance or love story that is surrounded by the darkness and danger the couple faces throughout the Saga. The webpage is designed with an eye-catching banner at the top of the page. It grabs the viewers attention while using the two prominent colors of black and red to draw the viewer to the title. The fading red line towards the book causes the readers automatically to follow the horizontal line to the book and linking it back to the title. This is a tool Jakob Nielson described as the 'Horizontal Attention Leans Left'. This Nielson described as 'people look at information above the fold far more than they do at information further down the page.' (Nielson, 2010). For a webpage to have success at drawing its readers in should grab them from the first glimpse of the web page the Twilight headline or banner has enough imagery and contrasting colour that it picks interest as well as getting across the concept or theme of the books.
Interaction with the Media
This part of the webpage has links to other forms of media relating to the books and author. These links take the web browser through to interviews with the main actors at award shows and red carpet moments on television. It includes interviews of the author on various prominent networks in America. As well as links to the magazine and newspaper articles written about the books, author and then the success of the books that were then turned into movies. The cycle through media forms is one of the reasons I chose to use this website, it takes the written books into television media and transferred it back into written media through magazines and newspapers. Within the links to the newspaper and magazine articles the links all take you to the web page that published the articles and also at the top of the article is a print or email option, this is for fans and people that would like to have a hard copy for themselves. The Twilight website keeps its fans updated with the latest headlines and interviews from the author to the actors that star in the movie version if the books. The designers of the webpage make the page easier to conform to print so that the images and context are not distorted. This function allows the webpage the opportunity to restyle the webpage for a different output medium (Ross Shannon, 2012). The transition is smooth and flows easily from the link to ensure every aspect the viewer is interested in about the media and the type of coverage and publicity surrounding the Twilight Saga is covered for it's audience and fans. This shows again on the Homepage of the website in the side column with the ink to various online bookstores where the viewer can purchase their own copies of the books as well as the link to each book so the viewer can read a sample of the books before purchasing.
This part of the webpage has links to other forms of media relating to the books and author. These links take the web browser through to interviews with the main actors at award shows and red carpet moments on television. It includes interviews of the author on various prominent networks in America. As well as links to the magazine and newspaper articles written about the books, author and then the success of the books that were then turned into movies. The cycle through media forms is one of the reasons I chose to use this website, it takes the written books into television media and transferred it back into written media through magazines and newspapers. Within the links to the newspaper and magazine articles the links all take you to the web page that published the articles and also at the top of the article is a print or email option, this is for fans and people that would like to have a hard copy for themselves. The Twilight website keeps its fans updated with the latest headlines and interviews from the author to the actors that star in the movie version if the books. The designers of the webpage make the page easier to conform to print so that the images and context are not distorted. This function allows the webpage the opportunity to restyle the webpage for a different output medium (Ross Shannon, 2012). The transition is smooth and flows easily from the link to ensure every aspect the viewer is interested in about the media and the type of coverage and publicity surrounding the Twilight Saga is covered for it's audience and fans. This shows again on the Homepage of the website in the side column with the ink to various online bookstores where the viewer can purchase their own copies of the books as well as the link to each book so the viewer can read a sample of the books before purchasing.
.The use of Other Media Types
One of the pages of the website is media, it takes the viewer to videos, audiobooks and music. This features some scene clips from the film adaptation of the books as well as trailers of the movies. This page enhances the viewers interest in the page by engaging another sense, sound. The visual transition of seeing the webpage and connecting the books to the website through the colours and recurring themes will be further enhanced by engaging the viewer through watching the trailers to see the books come alive (Wysocki, 2004, p 136-137). The transition between the written text and the videos are smooth and flow easily through the links so that the viewer is not disturbed or left waiting through transitions. This ensures that the viewers attention to the screen is kept captivated. The videos are another step for the fan who has read the books and loved them. It creates that next step in the relationship between the reader of the Twilight Saga books to the movies. The music videos again relate to the connection between sound and visual. The viewer is able to watch and listen to some of the sound tracks of the movies that brought the books to life. The audio books are another way that the designer can reach out to the audience with another form of media, making it accessible and user friendly.
One of the pages of the website is media, it takes the viewer to videos, audiobooks and music. This features some scene clips from the film adaptation of the books as well as trailers of the movies. This page enhances the viewers interest in the page by engaging another sense, sound. The visual transition of seeing the webpage and connecting the books to the website through the colours and recurring themes will be further enhanced by engaging the viewer through watching the trailers to see the books come alive (Wysocki, 2004, p 136-137). The transition between the written text and the videos are smooth and flow easily through the links so that the viewer is not disturbed or left waiting through transitions. This ensures that the viewers attention to the screen is kept captivated. The videos are another step for the fan who has read the books and loved them. It creates that next step in the relationship between the reader of the Twilight Saga books to the movies. The music videos again relate to the connection between sound and visual. The viewer is able to watch and listen to some of the sound tracks of the movies that brought the books to life. The audio books are another way that the designer can reach out to the audience with another form of media, making it accessible and user friendly.
Overall View
The website as a whole is aesthetically pleasing, it catches the viewers attention and holds it. The links and pages covers everything a fan may like to know about the Twilight Saga. The images and text cover all the facts about the books and the author as well as the latest in news, gossip and events surrounding Twilight. The website is user friendly and interactive, this is shown through the Blogs, Discussion board and the Members page. It includes the viewer and allows the viewer to feel more connected to author and books. The Twilight Saga phenomenon has been encapsulated and well represented throughout the website.
The website as a whole is aesthetically pleasing, it catches the viewers attention and holds it. The links and pages covers everything a fan may like to know about the Twilight Saga. The images and text cover all the facts about the books and the author as well as the latest in news, gossip and events surrounding Twilight. The website is user friendly and interactive, this is shown through the Blogs, Discussion board and the Members page. It includes the viewer and allows the viewer to feel more connected to author and books. The Twilight Saga phenomenon has been encapsulated and well represented throughout the website.