the big issue

 the big issue

their mission: Their mission is to dismantle poverty by creating opportunites to help the homeless. They are trying to make the government aware that the current welfare system is not helping to reduce poverty. They're bringing a community together.

context: The big issue is a weekly magazine published by Dennis and the big issue Ltd. The genre of the big issue magazine is a independent/entertainment magazine, focusing on news and current affairs. The first issue of the magazine was published in 1991. The magazine is apart of the big issue Ltd aswell as other conglomerates such as the big issue foundation (a charity supporting guidance for vendors in areas such as education, health and housing), big issye invest (helping finacial sustainable social enterpirises, charities and a social buying platform) and also the big issue shop (where the buyers are purchasing eco-friendly products from organisations using profits to support charitable causes.)

the issue- October 17th 2016. The pages of the big issue clearly represent the values and ideologies of the magazine and publishers. Their pages represent homeless people in a positive and sympathetic light because supporting the homeless is their main goal as a magazine. This allows people to make money legally. The representations of homelessness are not all idealised or seen in a postive way. There is very strong left wing ideologies, for example there is articles where they're critising margret thacter and negatively talking about the conservative government. The negative representation of other presendents such as Trump, ties in to the magazines left wing ideologies. Typical readers of the big issue are more likely to be left wing and have liberal, alternative points of view.

front cover

The big 25 makes the big issue seem fancy and a 'hollywood' feel. The angle is from slightly below conoting the growing of the company and that they're on a pedestal of social awareness. There is a tagline 'a hand up not a handout' which shows how they are advocates for change and not a chairty case.

contents page

The use of personal stories and first person perspectives, helps readers to understand and sympthasie with homeless and vendors. By using langauge such as 'I' helps the audience feel more connected to the story. The use of the Donato story imparticulary, allows him to explain to audience what his life is like. It's giving him a voice which is what mainstream magazines never tend to do. The contents page represents underrepresented social groups. 

editors letter

The editors letter encourages a postive relationship by thanking audiences for how they have helped the big issue and which therefore may encourage audiences to continue supporting the magazine. 

feature article (a letter to my younger self)

Grayson perry is a bold and creative figure who isn't afraid to challange masuclinity and gender stereotypes. He is seen in photos across this article wearing dresses, makeups and wigs which is countertypical as it shows a man is comfortable expressing his feminine and creative side by wearing makeup and dresses etc. In this article he talks about his experinces growing up, using words such as 'transvestive' adding a more modern and diverse representation of masculinity, which is not often seen in mainstream media products. This particular article, apart from him having this feminine side, also includes elements from his more masucline moments in his life such as watching war films and joining army cadets and having a temper etc. This makes the representation of masculinity more complex. Although he likes dressing up he has a background of masculine elements too.

feature article (vendor sucsess stories: moving on)

In this article there is a diverse range of people who are seen as an inspiration to the audiences. It may give audiences who are in similar situations, the encouragement that they can do it and turn their lives around with the help of the big issue. This may also encourage the audience to carry on buying the big issue by thanking audiences for what they have done so far and helping those to get out of bad situations. Emotive stories from a wide range of people gives the audience a personal connection to those who has helped and get again encouraging repeat purchasing for the big issue.

feature article (rise of the homeless bakers: no soggy bottoms here!)

This article may make audiences feel happy due to the fact that it is showing them what they have helped homeless people achieve. The photo of the men isn't staged or planned which adds a personal connection between the audience and the men in the photograph. The men are also given names which helps add a more personal connection to the people they have helped through purchasing the big issue.

adverts

The A team blu-ray DVD advert is very male-dominated, constructing a macho representation of men. There is also other adverts, such as the artist/painting adverts, where most of the artwork is done by men. This connotes that the magazine is mainly dominated in men. This could be because the writers of the big issue are prinarily male, and so are the readers however it might also be reflective of the fact that men are more likely to be homeless than women, so their focus might be on creating more positive role models for men.

men across the magazine

Across the magazine, a majority of the images used are men being idolised and viewed as an inspiration. For example, theres a picture of the Dalai Lama, with a halo around his head which suggests he is somebody who should be worshiped and looked up to. There is also of other men such as Ser Alex Ferguson, John Lydon, Andy Murry who are described as 'legends' which is used to create powerful and respectful images of men. The articles views and creates this idea of these men being role models and the top of their field.

women across the magazine

The women across the magazine are represented in different ways to men. For example, Vicky Mcclure is described as just an actress where as men was described as words such as 'legends' and inspirations for others. They're not idealised as much as the men are. However, there is also images of David Bowie was a figure who challanged gender stereotypes and masculinity in many ways.

in comparison to vogue

The big issue caters for an alternative demographic to Vogue. The Big issue uses media language to promote working class values which is a binary oppositon against whats promoted in vogue.

theories:

structualism (binary opposites) levi strauss:  postive outcomes experinced by vendors through efforts of the magazine e.g moving on and sucsess stories

idenity theory, david gauntlett: representation of males and more imparticulary those challanging mascukinity such as grayson perry.

semiotics (roland barthes) : each ex vendor induvidually staged to show their strength in character.

reception theory (stuart hall) : preferred readings, negotiated readings, oppositional reading