David Gauntlett's theory of representation states that the media provides us with the resources to construct our identities.
The idea that whilst in the past the media tended to convey singular, straightforward messages about ideal types of male and female identities, today the media offers us a more diverse range of stars and characters- from which we pick and mix ideas. These icons then become role models for an audience, someone who they may share an ideological outlook with.
This can be applied to the Big Issue as their way of constructing people as individuals, rather than as part of a group- an 'other', helps their representation to be more 3-dimensional and realistic, rather than straightforward and simplistic.
Furthermore, the Big Issue is an example of the media offering a more diverse range of individuals and that they no longer attempt to convey singular messages about ideal male and female identities. This page shows how the individuals represented in the Big Issue are diverse and do not conform to gender stereotypes, in this case of the Grayson Perry article, through the use of clothing, hair and makeup. According to Gauntlett's theory, this then gives the audience a wide selection of resources that we can use to construct and create our own identities.
Moreover, the audience also are able to identify themselves with Grayson Perry in his, 'Letter To My Younger Self' as he describes his life story, forming himself as a role model that the audience could familiarise themselves with. The 'diary entry' style of writing makes the article appear more honest and authentic, allowing the reader to align their ideologies and create a more personal and emotional connection with the celebrity.
interesrung anlysis. I would however dissagree slightly about the image not conforming to representation of a specific gender sterotype, it clearly uses and conforms to those of a woman but just subverts them onto a male.