The Big Issue Essay Question

Analyse why The Big Issue magazine has used an intertextual approach to the referendum on its front cover.

Intertextuality is used to make you relate shows to the show and almost make light of the situation. They used clever word play an puns to joke about political situations. This an come across offensive to a lot of people. Intertextuality is the relationship between texts. The Big Issue used Intertextuality on the cover of this paper that's talking about Brexit, this being a big issue at this point in time and a lot of people want to know about it, the cover shows four politicians: Nicola Sturgeon, David Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, they are only their heads and are placed on top of the famous Swedish pop group Abba.Only an older audience will get this and find it funny as the group was mainly popular from 1974-1982 so their younger readers won't get this. They are very clever with how they use the Intertextuality as they don't want to a fend anyone but a the same time they aren't afraid to voice their opinion and everything they are saying links to the name or lyrics of one of Abba's songs, for example David Cameron is saying 'Knowing me, knowing EU' this would be funny as it's a pun of one of Abba's songs called 'Knowing me Knowing you' so although this pun is smart and funny it is only relevant to those who know Abba and their music. To other people this reference would be irrelevant and might go over their heads. Another use way they used Intertextuality is by the cover title which reads 'The Winner Takes It All' which is another reference to an Abba song. This time talking about how depending on the vote we will either leave or remain in the EU it will be one or the other it cannot be a mix which is why they have used this cleaver pun. This means that the people who not as familiar with Abba might not get all the references and find it hard to relate this means it will mean nothing to them and make them not buy it! This is a problem for the article writer because they will want as many people as possible to buy it. They might have to try and include people that the younger generations know and like to get them to buy their product.