Study task 2: Book cover analysis

There are numerous cover designs for the book 'To Kill a Mockingbird', each with a design style thought to best compliment the storyline and themes within the book. 

Figure 1 uses silhouettes to build up a scene consisting of all of the elements considered to be big parts of the storyline. They are frequently seen to be in the front garden playing on this, watching the others in the town go about their lives. The artist may have chosen to use the tyre swing image as it can be used to remind the audience of the children's innocence and that throughout the book this needs to be kept in mind so that we can understand why they have chosen to view things differently to the adults in Maycomb. 

The artist may have found it important to include the tree in the design as it plays an important part in the book, the initial connection between Boo Radley and the children. It is the combination of the swing and the tree that show how a small childish/innocent game can actually form a very big lesson for the children and uncover the full depths of the inequality within the town.

The colour palette used in this design is limited to only black and cream, potentially representing the ongoing battle of equality between the different races of people in the town. 

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 2 shows a much simpler approach to the design of the book cover. The very small illustration above the quote reminds the audience that killing a mockingbird is considered one of the biggest sins, showing the bird on its back looking helpless. This evokes sympathy and also leaves the audience questioning why this is relevant to the story line and how the killing of a mockingbird can reveal so many different life lessons. 
The typography on this book cover is relevant to the storyline and could be interpreted to represent a number of different things. The filling in of some of the counters could represent the idea that not everything is as simple as they seem and that the childhood innocence of Scout and Jem is something that will gradually prevent them from understanding all of the social hierarchies an problems within society. 

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a scene in which the three children (Scout, Jem and Dill) are stood behind the fence looking over the field to the house, Boo Radley's house. The eldest boy Jem is shown to have his hand around his sister, symbolising the fear that they all have as they start their game of trying to see Boo Radley. The fence may also have been used to also highlight this fear and throughout the book it is seen to act as a divide and element of protection for the children as they venture from their house across to the Radley's. 
The illustrative style continues across the front of the book all the way around to the back, working well to build up a visual scene of the main locations and features of the book. 
The artist has chosen to colour the typography as part of the colour that is used for the illustrations and has placed the title and authors name in the gaps that are present. 
The tree as the spine works well to make it dark and bold, ensuring that the audience will be able to easily see it on the shelf in a book store. 
The colour scheme used represents the time of year that it is set, the middle to end of the summer holidays and with fall approaching. The colour orange is thought to symbolise adventure and discovery, something the children are embarking on in this book. We are shown their adventurous childhood games and also their discovery into the truths of adult views and their different ways of looking at the situations that they are faced with.