So much of The Big Issue's identity is hinged upon deconstruction and finding the human elements within stories. Often, these two things go hand in hand but if they don't, one will still be present. A core piece of what The Big Issue does is taking big concepts and. obviously, issues and breaking them down. Most of their articles deal with topics that fit under a wider umbrella of poverty and homelessness. Whether they challenging the big corporations telling people why not to trust them, or simply interviewing a celebrity and attempting to show their 'true self', the aim is always to look beyond our first impressions or our perceptions that have been reinforced.
Despite this, sometimes this magazine can build itself up in order to create its own mythology. This fits with Barthes' idea that constructed meanings can come to be accepted as self-evident. We are quick to accept things that have familiarity, either because they reinforce our perceptions of reality or because we accept the 'preferred reading' of who - or what - they are. The Big Issue does do this and attempts to mythologise itself as a reliable, working mans' source of jobs and information. Their article called "Moving On" seems to be an effort to create an image of a company that is important and valuable, but more importantly, valued.
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