Abba Big issue

How does intertextuality create meaning in this source?

In this source intertextuality is obvious to notice as soon as you see the front cover. The over sized heads of the politicians have been placed on top of the notorious, European band members of Abba. It comically encapsulates right wing characters of modern politics.

A reason for illustrating these people, may be that they are all of a right wing nature, and the political ideology of the actual magazine is left wing as it has left wing ideals due to the mass effort the Big Issue brand puts in to helping the homeless and caring for society in a socialist nature. In terms of the cover, some of the politician’s faces have been placed onto the band members of the opposite gender. For example, Nicola Sturgeon's face has been placed onto a male's body. This may be a way of how the editor is suggesting that she presents herself in a masculine way, or lacks femininity. Or, perhaps the fact that she has qualities similar to other male politicians. Also, other politicians such as Boris Johnson and David Cameron have been placed onto the two female singers in ABBA. This can be seen as comical as the designer of the cover has emasculated the males, which is ironic because their values include representing themselves as stereotypically having masculine traits such as being ‘strong’ ‘alpha male leaders’. However, in this instance they are comically presented which could suggest that they aren’t serious about their duties in today’s political society, and especially for Johnson who already is seen as a foolish person for going against his parties leader by going against her views and speaking on her behalf in terms of prominent issues such as Brexit and also speaking upon his personal views rather than the views of his political party. In terms of David Cameron, here, he is completely undermined as he didn’t want to have Brexit at all, he is presented as singing the emotional song but through the use of intertextuality is  seen singing this song about the European union, as if its and emotional breakup. Nigel Farage is presented with an overly enthusiastic expression on his face while the body is playing the piano. This could be suggesting the fact that not only is Farage happy with the outcome of having Brexit, but this image also illustrates him as being behind the scenes playing and controlling the outcomes.

The Big Issue have made the world into a disco ball, showing all the politicians 'performing' underneath it. It creates the effect that the politicians are controlling the country as it is prominent on the globe and perhaps aren’t thinking about their actions in terms of the country as it is not within their focus. The cover also intertwines a ballot paper, a ballot box, and a sparkly 70s disco background.

The use of lyrics of ABBA's songs have been featured and have also referenced to key current affairs such as Brexit in the speech bubbles next to each of the politicians.

The masthead is traditionally black and white. The speech bubbles are also black and white to add to the masthead and headline theme. Over all, the colour theme is detailed as all colours are tied together for example the background is blue white and gold which matches the colours of the outfits.