Analysis of the magazine cover- powerpoint slide
War veterans and homelessness.
Discuss why the Big Issue chose to highlight this issue.
Most people usually believe and see all homeless people as undeserving however they do not think about the few war veterans who have become homeless too. Therefore, this has become an issue which nobody is resolving or actually realising it, so that is why the Big Issue is focusing on it and emphasising it.
The Big Issue tries to break the stereotype that ''all homeless people are undeserving of help'' as the war veterans who are homeless are actually deserving of help as a result of what they have done for all of us.
A reason for the soldiers who have been left homeless is because of the Post-traumatic stress they have received after the war. The memories of war remain forever and haunt the soldiers forever therefore is really hard for them to continue their 'normal life' after the war they have been fighting in. Unlike some other homeless people, the homeless soldiers have actually got a reasonable and serious reason to have become homeless because.
At least 13,000 of our war heroes are homeless after leaving the military, a Sunday People probe reveals.
Charity bosses say the problem has been made worse by cuts to the armed forces, which has led to almost 30,000 troops losing their jobs since 2010.
“The Government is spending more than £1billion to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.”
•Most media studies on poverty point in
the direction of a recurring observation that usually the poor are
presented in one of two contrasting frames: the ‘deserving poor’ and the ‘undeserving poor’.
•While
the
frame of deserving
poor employs a sympathetic treatment of the poor, the frame of the
undeserving poor is built upon the rhetoric of deficiency in
individuals who
are portrayed as a burden on the taxpayer due
to their dependency on
welfare policies
•(see
also, scroungerphobia,
Golding & Middleton, 1982)
Gerbner theory
Theory: Cultivation theory states that high
frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages and the
belief that they are real and valid. Heavy viewers are exposed to more violence
and therefore are effected by the Mean World Syndrome, the belief that the
world is a far worse and dangerous place then it actually is. According to
the theory heavy viewing of television is creating a homogeneous and
fearful populace, however so many studies have been done in this area that
really no one knows how or even if violence on TV or in film negatively
or positively affects its audience.
Now
cultivation theory has taken on a more general definition in regards to mass
media. It now extends to encompass the idea that television colours our
perception of the world. For example; if someone stays inside and watch news
about crime all day, they might be inclined to believe that the crime rate
is far higher than it actually is and they might easily become the victim of a
crime. Or in another sense heavy viewership of any media can
perpetuate stereotypes both positive and negative. It really
comes down to the question of to what extent does reality shape TV
and vice versa.
Essay
You will create an essay on isue 1332
of the Big issue: Still at War. You will
anaylyse the
media language and media representations associated with the front cover.
As part of the essay you will need to
discuss the social and politcal
contexts which have lead to a rise in homelessness in overall and inparticular
within the veteran community.
You will also discuss how newspapers
(right wing and Big Issue) vary in the way the represent homelessness. As part of your arguments you are required to
use Gerbners
theory.
RESPONSE TO ESSAY QUESTION
Firstly, the Magazine Big Issue is itself mostly sold by the woking class and lower class people usually immigrants who have just came to England. The pay for the work they do is very low however it still helps them and leads them in the correct diection in order to become stable. Therefore, the Big Issue is a magazine which focuses on serious issues for example having the 'homelessness of soldiers' as one of them. In order to try to get help to resolve the issue they have made a front cover based on it.
The masthead ''Still at war'' is most importantly written in bold with capital letters in order to emphasise the issue that even though the veterans are not physically i war they are mentally still in fighting and the war is still going on and remaining in their heads and lifes. Moreover, the adverb ''still'' emphasises the frustration and the long period of time that war has been going on for suggesting that actions should be taken towards this issue and it finally needs to stop. Over the eyes of the soldier in the front cover there is a cover line saying ''the battle for peace of mind back home, rebulding lifes, fighting for futures''. The fact that this cover line is placed exactly over his eyes implies that havig his eyes covered causes him to be unable to see the real world as they are in war and war is not life. He is being blinded by the war which prevents him from seeing the real world that the other people are seeing and the beauty of it. It is socially constructed and different people see in a different way. For example, the soldiers and war veterans will see the world and life in a negative light and as a bad place, as what this world and life ha gave them is war and that's what they have experienced. Moreover, the phrase ''fighting for future'' can mean that the war veterans who are homeless are fighting for their own futures and to have a better life. The noun ''war'' and having it wirtten in capitals&bold can implicate the fact that the soldiers are unable to adjust to the normal life after contributing and being part in a war. This is because the memories from the war are going to remain in their heads forever and are hanting them. Also, some have returned back from war which big effects such as having Post traumatc stress which makes the proccess of beginning to live the normal every day life even harder as they have snap-shots of the war in their heads and constantly are remembering them. This is a very seroious mental disorder, that has to be treated, in order to minimise it. To support this point, the facial expressions of the war veteran are not shown as the readers are unable to see his eyes therefore his emotions cannot be conveyed to the readers hinting that after the war the soldiers have became hopeless and emotionless after all the negative stuff they have experienced there. Also, as his face is in black&white this symbolises the hopeless nation of homeless ex war veterans and creates a sense of despair and sympathy towards them from the readers. The colour black is an unsaturated and muted colour therefore it has negative connotations such as of death and evil which links to war emphasising the loss and amount of people who have died already and are continiueing to die. The presence of only black and white colours on his face and the absence of saturated colours implies that he has no identity or has no found it yet as his country may be a dangerous place therefore not allowing him to go back to live his life there and find his identity. On the other hand, the helmet is the only aspect in the picture that is in another colour rather than black or white. This could be because it is something that has a very important meaning towards the front cover however it is hidden. The helmet could be a tool used in order to protect his mind and mental well being. The fact that the colour of it its green links to the armed forces and the colour of clothes that they wear.
It has been estimated that 22% of London’s homeless population had a Service history. Therefore this means that around 3,000-4,,000 veterans are homeless in London each night.
A big proportion of the Dandeker reported veterans being more likely to report physical health problems than the general homeless population. Homeless veterans were more likely to report alcohol-related problems. A reason for this is because of the struggle to come back into reality and norma life therefore majority of the veterans find alcohol as a way to escape the reality and issues. Relationship breakdowns and financial problems and crisis or bereavement can lead to the alcohol addication and alcohol-related problems furthermore resulting in the rise of homeles veterans. After being back from the military career, maintaining stable employment or a normal family life for example was found and proved troublesome Mental health problems are commonly reported among homeless veterans too. Randell and Brown’s (1994) participants reported high levels of mental health issues, with 23% having spent time in a psychiatric unit. There has been a popular feeling that PTSD is suffered frequently by a very high number of veterans who find life difficult and makes their adjustment to normal life even harder.
Other reasons for the high number of the homeless veterans in the UK are because veterans were better at surviving on the streets and were also less likely to engage with support services. Veterans have reported that they considered themselves, through their military experiences and training, better equipped for dealing with street homelessness than others. Lemos and Durckacz found that homeless veterans considered themselves separate and perhaps a class above their non-veteran homeless peers.
On the other hand there is a political context linked to this issue. Firstly, the right wing have negative views and thoughts towards the homeless people no matter if they are homeless veterans or just normal homeless people.
However in order to resolve this social issues linked with the rise in homeless a range of information and services available to Service leavers and veterans to assist them with accessing and maintaining suitable accommodation both on discharge and later in life have been created. However many veterans are ashamed of using these services.
Homeless people statistics
7,500 homeless people in London
2,500 are children
1/200 is homeless
telegraph- right wing (newspaper about the romanians) undeserving of help views
daily mail- left wing
dailty mirror- left wing
RESPONSE TO ESSAY QUESTION
Most people usually believe and see all homeless people as undeserving however they do not think about the few war veterans who have become homeless too. Therefore, this has become an issue which nobody is resolving or actually realising it, so that is why the Big Issue is focusing and emphasising on it.
The Big Issue tries to break the stereotype that ''all homeless people are undeserving of help'' as the war veterans who are homeless are actually deserving of help as a result of what they have done for all of Britan and he poeple living here.
A reason for the soldiers who have been left homeless is because of the Post-traumatic stress they have received after the war. The memories of war remain forever and haunt the soldiers forever therefore is really hard for them to continue and get used to their 'normal life' routine, after the war they have been fighting in. Unlike some other homeless people, the homeless soldiers have actually got a reasonable and serious reasos that has resulted them in becoming homeless.
However, as there is still many veterans who are homeless even though it is not recognised and no attention has been put on that, there should be more stuff done towards to help them.
However, there is many organisations and online websites which have been created in order to help the veterans/soldiers who are homeless and deserve support as they have done so much for the country.
Firstly, the Magazine Big Issue is itself mostly sold by the woking class and lower class people usually immigrants who have just came to England. The pay for the work they do is very low however it still helps them and leads them in the correct diection in order to become stable. Therefore, the Big Issue is a magazine which focuses on serious issues for example having the 'homelessness of soldiers' as one of them. In order to try to get help to resolve the issue they have made a front cover based on it.
The masthead ''Still at war'' is most importantly written in bold with capital letters in order to emphasise the issue that even though the veterans are not physically i war they are mentally still in fighting and the war is still going on and remaining in their heads and lifes. Moreover, the adverb ''still'' emphasises the frustration and the long period of time that war has been going on for suggesting that actions should be taken towards this issue and it finally needs to stop. Over the eyes of the soldier in the front cover there is a cover line saying ''the battle for peace of mind back home, rebulding lifes, fighting for futures''. The fact that this cover line is placed exactly over his eyes implies that havig his eyes covered causes him to be unable to see the real world as they are in war and war is not life. He is being blinded by the war which prevents him from seeing the real world that the other people are seeing and the beauty of it. It is socially constructed and different people see in a different way. For example, the soldiers and war veterans will see the world and life in a negative light and as a bad place, as what this world and life ha gave them is war and that's what they have experienced. Moreover, the phrase ''fighting for future'' can mean that the war veterans who are homeless are fighting for their own futures and to have a better life. The noun ''war'' and having it wirtten in capitals&bold can implicate the fact that the soldiers are unable to adjust to the normal life after contributing and being part in a war. This is because the memories from the war are going to remain in their heads forever and are hanting them. Also, some have returned back from war which big effects such as having Post traumatc stress which makes the proccess of beginning to live the normal every day life even harder as they have snap-shots of the war in their heads and constantly are remembering them. This is a very seroious mental disorder, that has to be treated, in order to minimise it. To support this point, the facial expressions of the war veteran are not shown as the readers are unable to see his eyes therefore his emotions cannot be conveyed to the readers hinting that after the war the soldiers have became hopeless and emotionless after all the negative stuff they have experienced there. Also, as his face is in black&white this symbolises the hopeless nation of homeless ex war veterans and creates a sense of despair and sympathy towards them from the readers. The colour black is an unsaturated and muted colour therefore it has negative connotations such as of death and evil which links to war emphasising the loss and amount of people who have died already and are continiueing to die. The presence of only black and white colours on his face and the absence of saturated colours implies that he has no identity or has no found it yet as his country may be a dangerous place therefore not allowing him to go back to live his life there and find his identity. On the other hand, the helmet is the only aspect in the picture that is in another colour rather than black or white. This could be because it is something that has a very important meaning towards the front cover however it is hidden. The helmet could be a tool used in order to protect his mind and mental well being. The fact that the colour of it its green links to the armed forces and the colour of clothes that they wear.
It has been estimated that 22% of London’s homeless population had a Service history. Therefore this means that around 3,000-4,,000 veterans are homeless in London each night.
A big proportion of the Dandeker reported veterans being more likely to report physical health problems than the general homeless population. Homeless veterans were more likely to report alcohol-related problems. A reason for this is because of the struggle to come back into reality and norma life therefore majority of the veterans find alcohol as a way to escape the reality and issues. Relationship breakdowns and financial problems and crisis or bereavement can lead to the alcohol addication and alcohol-related problems furthermore resulting in the rise of homeles veterans. After being back from the military career, maintaining stable employment or a normal family life for example was found and proved troublesome Mental health problems are commonly reported among homeless veterans too. Randell and Brown’s (1994) participants reported high levels of mental health issues, with 23% having spent time in a psychiatric unit. There has been a popular feeling that PTSD is suffered frequently by a very high number of veterans who find life difficult and makes their adjustment to normal life even harder.
Other reasons for the high number of the homeless veterans in the UK are because veterans were better at surviving on the streets and were also less likely to engage with support services. Veterans have reported that they considered themselves, through their military experiences and training, better equipped for dealing with street homelessness than others. Lemos and Durckacz found that homeless veterans considered themselves separate and perhaps a class above their non-veteran homeless peers.
On the other hand there is a political context linked to this issue. Firstly, the right wing have negative views and thoughts towards the homeless people no matter if they are homeless veterans or just normal homeless people.
However in order to resolve this social issues linked with the rise in homeless a range of information and services available to Service leavers and veterans to assist them with accessing and maintaining suitable accommodation both on discharge and later in life have been created. However many veterans are ashamed of using these services.
Homeless people statistics
7,500 homeless people in London
2,500 are children
1/200 is homeless
telegraph- right wing (newspaper about the romanians) undeserving of help views
daily mail- left wing
dailty mirror- left wing
