Magazine	Date and Issue
The Big Issue - A Suffragette Century Freda	February 5-11-2018.

Analyse the connotations of the different elements of media language:

Elements of Media Language	Analysis of meanings (including specific examples)
Overall layout/composition	Homemade and vintage (40's looking) aesthetic, cut out looking - the homemade aesthetic is usually the overall layout for all Big Issue magazines. The homemade aesthetic can portray a sense of comfortability and make people feel more welcome. The 40's looking aesthetic may bring back a sense of nostalgia to the people who were born back in the 40's and hence, can relate to the magazine.
Masthead	"A suffragette Century Freda" old looking typography, portrays that it dates back to perhaps the 40s/50s. Stands out the most from all of the other text, which instantly introduces what the whole magazine is about; the suffragettes who formed in 1903.
Cover lines	"Her lifetime of incredible change" depicts she has struggled a lifetime of trying to get women rights and has gone through a 'lifetime' of change in getting those women rights.
Font size. Type, colour etc	Large serif, dark purple-looking font, old/vintage typography - again creates a sense of nostalgia to the 40s.
Images/Photographs (shot type, angle, composition)	A cut-out looking image of a woman, supposedly a suffragette, mid-shot, we can only see from the waist up, she is making direct address to her audience and is smiling - could connote she is happy about her accomplishments as a suffragette and has successfully gained women's rights. The background takes an appearance of an antique look that predates back to the 40s.
Mise En Scene	Suffragette Freda at the front of the cover, making direct address - is the main focus on the magazine. Antique/vintage looking background - connotes that it dates back to the 40s/World War 2.
­Language/Anchorage	Anchorage is 'A suffragette', without it, we wouldn't assume Freda is a suffragette. Use of 'we' reinforces a sense of community.
Narrative established	Freda is a suffragette who has lived a lifetime of incredible change into establishing women's rights.

How does the combination of elements of media language:

Communicate messages and values?	Women's equality and women's rights - Took many years to establish this and the fact that it is established, is a big deal and still, needs to be talked about as enforcing women's rights was a challenge throughout the years.
Reflect the political/social/cultural context?	The Suffragette movement was political Suffragettes were members of militant women's organisations in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections, known as women's suffrage.
Establish the brand identity of the magazine?	UGC/cut out looking aesthetic Serif font Vintage/antique looking background Brown and purple colour scheme
Construct and appeal to its target audience?	Elderly - make them reflect on the 40s. Young women - learn about the history of the suffrage movement and how women's rights came about.

REPRESENTATION QUESTIONS

·         Groups/peoples/themes

•     How do these representations reflect the industry context/ ideology of The Big Issue?

•     How is the audience positioned in relation to these representations?

·         Is there any evidence of The Big Issue’s ethos of a ‘hand up not a hand out’ and reinforcing the message that the magazine is achieving its aims. Is there an increased focus on campaigning and political journalism?

·         Are a diverse range of people represented?  

·         Any empowering message that positions the audience to respond positively and align with this point of view?