(Brexit) Analyse why The Big Issue magazine has used an intertextual approach on its front cover

Analyse why The Big Issue magazine has used an intertextual approach on its front cover. In your answer you must:

·      analyse the use of intertextuality to create meaning in the source.  
·      make judgements and reach a conclusion about the advantages of this use of intertextuality to The Big Issue magazine.


The Big Issue is a street newspaper, which has the main focus of helping the poor, by offering them jobs as vendor, who sell The Big Issue Magazine, instead of just giving them money, and this makes them feel as if they earned money and that they are not getting handouts, which is highlighted by their slogan 'A hand up, not a hand down'. Street 'vendors' are the homeless that wear bright red jumpers and sell the magazine. 'Vendors' are normally found in and have cities and areas with high populations and have a huge circulation all around the UK.

Intertextuality refers to the relationship between texts, which may link to graphics or other features of magazines. In the June 15-19 2016 edition of the Big Issue, there is a front cover with politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon (current Scottish First Minister)  David Cameron (ex-Conservative leader/ ex-Prime Minister), Boris Johnson (ex -Mayor of London, and supporter of Brexit) & Nigel Farage (the leader of the UKIP movement). The headline is 'Decision Time- Winner Takes it all', which may  refer to the EU referendum which went on in 2016. Furthermore, by the text besides the individuals named above, such as 'breaking up, it isn't easy, I know' which refers to  a song, and this is highlighted by the body playing a guitar. The character with Nicola Sturgeon “breaking up is never easy, I know”, which is a reference to Brexit. Also David Cameron's face is also pasted onto a body, which states 'Knowing me, knowing you' which is a great use of world play, and shows elements of comedy. On Boris Johnson's speech bubble, it says 'This time we're through' which plays on the comedic element that Great Britain leaving the EU is like a broken relationship. Also Nigel Farage bubble exclaims  'This time were through'. An advantage of using this intertextuality is that it shows elements of comedy, which may reach and target some of their target audience. Also, this may help a younger audience understand what is happening with BREXIT, and makes it easier to understand. The quotations in the bubbles are all the lyrics from various songs, and the characters have costumes that relate to the band who made the songs, and also have guitars. In addition, the mise-en-scene includes a valet box on the bottom right hand corner.

The message of this cover is to tell a story about Brexit, using politicians and humour to characterise the individuals involved. Also the use of comedy helps reach target audiences that are not the primary one.

Comments

  1. Medialeyton4 December 2018 at 03:47

    A bit confused. You do understand that the magazine is ridiculing the politicians, but this needs further exploration, with reference to the song lyrics, their body language and mise en scene, and your own contextual knowledge of the EU referendum. V

    ReplyDelete

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