Magazines: 2 Front Covers of The Big Issue

Context and Background

The Big Issue is a street newspaper established in the UK in 1991 as a response to the growing number of homeless people in London.
It aims to provide homeless people with the opportunity to earn a legitimate income.
The magazine’s content features strong social and political themes as well as entertainment coverage, creating a mix of ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ topics.

Media Language

Typography can play a key role in conveying meaning, setting the tone, and catching the reader’s attention on the cover of The Big Issue.
Mise-en-scène in the cover image – including gesture, setting, props, and attire – can be used to amplify the intended message of the cover story.
The use of colour can also carry symbolic and psychological meaning, adding to the overall impact of the cover.
Code and conventions such as teasers, banner, date, price, issue number, barcode and masthead all work together to contribute to the magazine format while also delivering snippets of what to expect inside.

Representations

Depiction of individuals and social groups can reflect or challenge societal norms and stereotypes offering alternate perspectives of society.
The Big Issue often represents marginalised groups such as homeless people, focussing on their individual stories and experiences.
Representation is also informed by the choice of front cover star – who they are and how they are shown can communicate specific messages, ideologies, or values.

Audience Interpretation

The interaction between the reader and the magazine content is influenced by the reader’s existing social, cultural, and political beliefs – this is known as the reader-response theory.
The Big Issue’s strong emphasis on social and political themes can provoke differing responses based on the reader’s personal interpretations and experiences.

Role of Media in Society

As a social enterprise, The Big Issue plays a part in addressing social issues, particularly homelessness. This highlights the social utility function of media.
The Big Issue also serves as a platform promoting dialogue about societal issues – emphasising the media’s didactic role.
The magazine’s sales model – vendors buy copies at a reduced rate and sell for a profit – highlights an unconventional model of media commerce that directly benefits a marginalised societal group.

Analysing the Text

Deconstruction of the visual and verbal signifiers employed on the front cover can reveal underlying themes or viewpoints intended by the creators.
Evaluating placement, size, colour, and type of the text and images can indicate their relative importance.
Identifying and analysing intertextual references - to other texts, people or happenings - enhances the understanding of the broader meaning of the cover.

Remember, understanding of media language and representations in the context of The Big Issue covers is fundamental to applying these concepts to other media texts.