The Big Issue 2

Theories -
Barthes, Neale, Baudrillard, Hall, Gauntlett, Van Zoonen

Semiology - Barthes
The study of signs and symbols (language and images, connotations and denotations) Draws attention to the naturalizing effect of ideology in any text.

Genre Theory - Neale
Can be applied to any media product that as genres and link together media language, audiences and industries. The concept of genres as a shared code explains how genres can change.

Postmodernism - Baudrillard
Can be applied to any cultural product
Particularity applies to news about news or celebrities. Where there is no clear sense of real behind the hyper reality.
We are in a world of artificial realities. Everything in media is processed to be heightened and the 'best' of reality.
A simulacrum is a copy of something with very little link to reality.

Representation - Hall
Can be applied to any media product. Applies particularly to the way in which headlines try to fix the meaning of a representation, both the copy and the photographs. Draws attention to the power of representations

Identity - Gauntlett
Applies to the sense of identity that a newspaper or magazine can offer its readers. Applies to the ways parts of print media offer media messages to readers.

Feminism - Van Zoonen
Can be applied to any media product, especially representations of gender.

The front cover of this magazine will appeal to fans of game of thrones and fans of Kit Harrison as they will recognize him and be more likely to pick it up

'Game Changer' title plays on Game of Thrones title

Representation theory.












representation and identity theory

black male represented positively 'i wanted to look after my mum' shows he cares. Hardworking.

Tough upbringing
The big issue don't want to be seen as right wing










'in a world gone wrong'
Use of emojis, cartoons and Facebook 'like' button suggests the internet and social media is needed to be happy.

Donald trump with money eyes head on twitter -suggesting all you need is money to be happy and powerful

postmodernism, semiology and representation theory

everything is very ironic. the world is in a bad place but everyone is pretending it is happy.
Passport = brexit

Putin on a unicorn copy of putin on a horse.



The big issue was launched in 1991 by Gordon Roddick and A. John Bird in response to growing numbers of homeless people.

vendor-centric - charity work is led by the hopes and aspirations of Big Issue vendors
Inclusive - social and financial inclusion at the heart of their philosophy

Intertextuality -
Suit - john wick? James bond?
toys in the bath link to his movies
the enigma code machine
small doctor strange toy ontop the boat
the hobbit - dragon
jump right in - bath - jump into his movies
rubber duck Sherlock












the big issue are supportive of their employees 'the incredible invincible bubble the big issue vendor who wouldn't give up'

promotes him in a positive way. the big issue take pride in what they do.
'sun rays beaming out from him' presents him as 'holy'
normal photo of him smiling presents him as relatable and friendly
nothing negative
not using star power









the Beatles
star power
audience of older people who were around when the Beatles were making music
anyone who likes the beatles
yellow submarine is one of the Beatles most recognizable songs and so people would easily be able to tell that its them
Beatles in the window
'the making of a timeless icon' - lots of readers wouldn't be alive when the Beatles were making music







Explain how the representations in magazines reflect their contexts. -

The representations of people in the big issue magazines often reflect modern day society. This can be seen in the 'How to be Happy' magazine where the front cover uses dramatic irony and exaggeration for the representations, for example the 2 Korean rockets has smiley faces on them, which implies that although they are bad to stay happy you need to have a positive outlook and see them as good. This magazine front cover applies the semiology theory to all the images there are multiple connotations that can be pulled from each of the images, for example Donald trump has dollar signs for eyes which suggests he only cares about money, or you need money to stay happy. He is also photo shopped onto the twitter logo which uses intertexuality and calls back to his twitter presence.

 The 'Saw the face of God' big issue cover uses representation differently to the other magazine covers as the man in the cover is represented as 'Invincible' and 'Incredible' to reflect the context of the story and show the big issue as good. The cover uses the representation theory and uses the headlines and sub-headings to show the man and the big issue as strong and good, they use words like 'incredible' to portray the employee as strong, this gives the big issue good representation too as they are seen as supporting their workers. The cover also has a sun ray effect behind the photo of the employee which portrays him as holy and good.

The cover for the Will.i.am magazine uses representation to portray Will.i.am as a hardworking musician who is going to continue to do big things. This representation and context presents him as a strong black role model. Quotes surrounding the magazine like 'I didn't want to be a star I wanted to look after my mum' presents Will.i.am as a kind person and goes against a lot of rapper stereotypes. This cover also applies the Semiology theory as the cover is heavily themed around robots or the future. Will.i.ams face is given a geometric style to it and looks as if he is being loaded into the page as the edges of his face arent fully in place, quotes like 'my teenage self prays to me every day, pinging me coordiantes' adds to this and draws from the context of Wills futureistc style, however it also presents Will as the future of music which continues to show him as a positive role model and suggests his career will last a long time.

The Dive Inside magazine cover represents the Beatles as 'timeless icons' and uses the yellow submarine as context to backup its claim. The Beatles being presented to the reader as a 'timeless icon' is a very positive way of presenting the band and will appeal to the audience of the magazine as they will likely been around to listen to the beatles and have good memories of them, alternativley it can attract an audience that dont like or have never heard of the beatles to see what makes them a 'timeless icon'.This cover applies the Semiology theory to the cover as the yellow submarine is used to connote that the band are a 'timeless icon' and is used to help reinforce the context as the yellow submarine song is something that most young and old people will know about.