The Big Issue Representation

Question 1

How do The Big Issue represent homeless people?

Answer 1

In a sympathetic way shining a positive light on them as supporting the homeless is their main goal

Question 2

On the letters column of The Big Issue homeless vendors are referred to as …

Answer 2

‘Inspirational’ and ‘Friendly’

Question 3

Why do The Big Issue use lots of personal anecdotes and first person perspectives?

Answer 3

It helps readers to understand and sympathise with the homeless vendors

Question 4

In the set text - The reference to homeless people and the weather creates a representation of homeless people being …

Answer 4

Brave and Strong

Question 5

TRUE or FALSE
All representations of the homeless are good in The Big Issue

Answer 5

FALSE
The Big Issue highlight the gritty and rough culture of the homeless

Question 6

The Big Issue talk about homeless culture creating a realistic representation of them - How these representations formed?

Answer 6

Through anecdotal accounts of homeless life including taboo topics such as drugs, alcohol and violence

Question 7

The representations of the homeless are not idealised - How does the magazine do this?

Answer 7

They don’t leave out the horrible realities of being homeless

Question 8

Which political wing are The Big Issue positioned

Answer 8

Left wing

Question 9

TRUE or FALSE
The Big Issue convey right wing ideologies?

Answer 9

FALSE
The magazine paints a negative picture of the conservative government as they feel they are responsible for the amount of homelessness

Question 10

The magazine convey negative representations of which former Republican President?

Answer 10

Donald Trump, calling him a ‘Garish self publicist with weird hair’

Question 11

The Sky Atlantic Westworld advert represents men how?

Answer 11

In a stereotypical way for the media, Powerful, Successful and Important

Question 12

In the article ‘why don’t the homeless just go home’ how are women represented in terms of the interviews with the CEO’s?

Answer 12

Every single head of the company that The Big Issue interview are male reflecting context that women aren’t really hired in managerial jobs - Shows men as powerful and higher status

Question 13

What sort of representations does the blu-ray DVD construct about men?

Answer 13

That men are macho i.e A team DVD

Question 14

TRUE or FALSE
All the artists credited for their work are female?

Answer 14

FALSE
They are all male

Question 15

What could all this male domination reflect?

Answer 15

That men are more likely to become homeless so the focus could be on creating more positive role models for men

Question 16

The magazine create masculine and macho images of the founders - How do they do this?

Answer 16

They use masculine and aggressive adjectives to describe the founders ‘Hard nosed’ and ‘tough’

Question 17

What two film characters are in the magazine further reinforcing masculine stereotypes?

Answer 17

Captain America and The Terminator

Question 18

The use of words such as ‘Legend’ and ‘The Modfather’ are just a few words used to described various male celebs such as the Dali Lama, Paul Weller, sir Alex Ferguson and more - Is there a difference in how the women are described?

Answer 18

Yes, the men are being described as successful and powerful whilst the women are just referred to as what their job is for example Joanna Lumley is just an ‘Actress’ etc

Question 19

Which famous music artist appeared in The Big Issue who is rich and powerful but doesn’t conform to gender stereotypes?

Answer 19

David Bowe

Question 20

The representation of Grayson Perry is counter typical as it shows a man comfortable with…

Answer 20

Expressing his more feminine and creative side wearing dresses and makeup

Question 21

It can be argued that with The Big Issue’s use of showing people like Grayson Perry that it adds a more…

Answer 21

Modern and diverse representation of masculinity that is often not seen in mainstream media products

Question 22

The Big Issue also talk about Grayson Perry’s past being in the army and watching war films etc - What does mean in terms of masculinity and his juxtaposition of himself?

Answer 22

It makes representations of masculinity quite complex and not one dimensional

Question 23

The Big Issue also include women of power in the set text - Who are they?

Answer 23

Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon (Reflecting contextual views at the time)

Question 24

TRUE or FALSE
There are articles representing women as educated and respected in their fields of work?

Answer 24

TRUE
Providing a counter type to many mainstream representations of women

Question 25

The Turn2Us pension advice creates a more stereotypical representation of women being…

Answer 25

Financially dependent on their husbands - perhaps targeting older women

Question 26

TRUE or FALSE
Being an alternative magazine means it doesn’t make sense for them to challenge traditional stereotypes of gender and sexuality

Answer 26

FALSE
Being alternative opens it up more as they can subvert from the norm

Question 27

TRUE or FALSE
Readers of The Big Issue are more liberal and have alternative views

Answer 27

TRUE
It makes sense for The Big Issue to convey left wing ideologies as their readers are liberal