"The Ivory Trail" appears to relate to the idea of "journeys" on both a literal and metaphoric level. This book cover allows the viewer a brief preview of the novel. Techniques such as text, images, colour, focus and composition in frame convey the general meaning of the novel to the responder.
This novel appears to be about a physical journey down "The Ivory Trail" where the protagonist overcomes mental and physical obstacles to obtain an understanding of unknown mysterious and understanding within himself. .
There are three examples of text on this cover, the authors name, the title and a phrase "Not all journeys have an ending", which may suggest the overall theme of the novel. The author's name and the title "The Ivory Trail" are in the middle ground, off centre and at diagonals to each other. These two texts immediately attract the viewer's eye, because they are bold and large. The fact that the title of novel comes second to, or underneath the author's name suggests perhaps the author's narcissism, feeling he is better than the book. Or the idea that the subjects metaphorical journey to better understanding results from and is more important than the physical journey that the protagonist takes. "The Ivory Trail" immediately offers the viewer information. The word "ivory" relates to elephants and suggests an African or Indian journey, the pictures also support this assumption. "Ivory" also has connotations with danger and rarity. The word "trial" establishes the idea of a physical journey. The text "Not all journeys have an ending", located at the pinnacle of the pyramid suggests that this is the central focus of the novel. It acts as a "teaser", inciting the viewer to read the novel.
The dominant images in this text are the sphinx, an Egyptian pyramid, an exotic background of eastern tableaux and an extreme close up of an adolescent boy. The first image we notice is the pyramid and sphinx because of its central location and brightness in comparison to the rest of the picture.