The Big Issue: Media Language and Representations

Location: The cover is set in London, this is shown through the background as Big Ben can be seen in the distance. Linking to the idea of migrants, London is the capital city, therefore migrants are more likely to go there rather than the countryside or other cities as it is a capital icon of England. London is also known for welcoming many different migrants to the city, therefore this cover encourages them to be seen positively. The use of London helps to reinforce the Big Issues ideologies to solve the issue of homelessness. The Big Issue company has made an effort to solve the crisis through providing an employment opportunity to homeless people to sell Big Issue magazines with for £2.50 with the seller gaining half the selling price (£1.25). The use of Paddington therefore promotes the migrant and homeless issues. However it could also convey that an increase of migrant levels may lead to more homelessness in London.

Costume: Paddington is wearing a red hat and a blue coat which could connotate the idea of 'Britishness' due to the fact he is wearing red and blue and the background with snow is mostly white, therefore makes up the colours of the union jack. This could indicate the sense of unity through bringing people together. His attire and colour is also for intertextuality due to that being the clothing that he normally wears but could furthermore signify the fact he is in England due to him wearing a coat as England has been stereotypically known for its bad weather and rain which usually requires the common use of coats. The fact he is wearing a summer hat could also imply or reinforce the idea of him being an immigrant coming to England and looking welcomed due to him smiling and waving. The colours used are primary blues, reds and yellow/gold which is appealing to the audience as the colours link with the intertextuality of Paddington bear.

Props: Paddington has a suitcase and a ticket which supports the idea of him being like an immigrant and seeming foreign, reinforcing the idea that immigrants are welcomed to London as he seems happy there. This also highlights the idea of homelessness in London at Christmas as many homeless people have to live on the streets with their own belongings, just like Paddington visiting with his belongings to feel a sense of unity at a festive time where people come together. This could make those who are less fortunate feel unified as well as migrants feeling welcomed.

Lighting: The lighting is brightly lit via CGI editing of the background's use of a streetlight which lights up the whole scene, making the audience focus on the snowfall and Paddington in the foreground. It also reinforces Big Ben in the background to emphasise the location of the cover being in London. The whole picture is brightly lit so that it is clear what the scene is about to show the main features for the audience to take a glimpse and understand more clearly.

Camera shot/angle: The main focus of Paddington is a full body image, inferring that he has nothing to hide as he is proud to be a migrant in England. Everything on the cover is made via CGI, therefore no camera shots were necessary due to the use of computer generated software. The CGI clearly shows the location and main focus of the cover and the interpretation and idea of how the Big Issue helps those who are unemployed to find a way of making money so that they are able to be safe and feel part of something bigger to give them a chance to make their own way in life through defeating the crisis of homelessness.

Typeography: The large gold capitalised bold font of 'one of us' on the cover is the main focus of the cover other than Paddington. The words 'one of us' could symbolise