Coursework

1. Megan Trahearn
Mediaanalysis
Sexuality
George Michael
‘YoungLGBT people comprise upto24% of the youth
homelesspopulationinBritain,withmanysayingthe
problemisdirectlyrelatedtotheirsexuality.’The BigIssue is
setup to offerhomelesspeople,orpeople atriskof
homelessness, the opportunitytoearna legitimateincome,
therebyhelpingthemtoreintegrate intomainstreamsociety.
Supportinglessrepresentedgroupsof peopleisone of the
Big Issuesaims,hence the drive toputa focuson sexuality
beinga keytheme topresenttothe public.Asa niche
magazine,theyare therefore more likelytodiscussand
challenge commonmisconceptionssurroundingsomewhat
tabootopicslike homosexuality.
‘Amongthe mostprevalentoutcomesof LGBTpeople
becominghomelessweresexualexploitationandmental
healthissues,alongside homophobicbullyingandalcohol
abuse.’, ‘Theyare significantlymore likelytoexperience targetedviolence,sexual exploitation,
substance misuse,andphysical andmental healthproblemsthanotherhomelessyouth’.George
Michael’sjourneyof comingoutcoversmanyaspectsof what vendorsof The Big Issue meetwhen
tryingto survive homelessness.George Michael hadn’tspokentothe pressforsix yearsuntil he
broke the silence withhisinterviewwith AdrianDeevoy abouthisjourneywith‘dope,deathandhis
much-debatedsexuality’.Thiscreatesanew openingforthe vendorsorhomosexual people to trust
inThe BigIssue foundationwhichiswhatGeorge Michael hadtrustedforhisfirstappearance insix
years.
Popstar; George Michael is representedbyhissexualitywithinthismagazine cover. Thispopstars
sexualityisopenlyknownbeinggay.Usinghis1998 arrest as a platformfromwhichto highlightand
make lightof commonprejudiceswithinsociety,George Michael wasalmostaswell knownforhis
promotionof gayrights thanhe wasfor hismusiccareer.
Homosexual malesinthe mediaare stereotypedasveryfeminine anddramatic. George Michael has
beenrepresentedaroundapinkbackground connotingthe more femininequalities whenpresenting
a gay male.The pinkcolouris mostspecificallytargetedtohomosexualsfromtheirknown ‘feminine’
stereotype,thishasbeentakento anextentof havingtheirownphrase ‘The PinkPound’which
definesthe moneyspentof those withahomosexualorientation. Homosexual malesare
stereotypedtohave anundyinglove of fashionandshopping,thisismostlyfeaturedwithinthe
mediaof films. The PinkPound therefore furthersthisideaof shoppingbyfeaturingthe ideaof
money. Thisfeature uponthe performance position he standsinwithdirectaddressandan
outstretchedhand canconnote to variouspurposes.The positionhe standsisstereotypicallyseen
posedbya performingfemale inthe media,typicallythe bodyfacingaway yetface creatingdirect
addresswiththe audience. Thiscontinuesthe ideaof gaymenhavingfemininequalities,alongwith
the overall dramaticsense of the cover.
The Big Issue use challengingtopicinsocietylikedisabilityandsexualityinattempttonormalise
theirpurpose.Thismagazine coverdoesn’tfeature anywordsof George Michael’s sexuality,using
onlyhowthe audience knowthispopstar. AsGeorge Michael isso well knownforhispromotionof
gay rights,there wasno needtohave hissexualitywrittenoverthiscover; therefore The BigIssue
useda more subtle message usingapinkbackground.