CSP - Tatler Research

GENERAL

1) Based on the trailer, what type of people produce and read Tatler? Consider demographics and psychographics.

They are wealthy consumers with excessive disposable income. Mainly A-B social classes, perhaps even C1 classes. The predominant audience gender would be females around the average age of 41. As for the psychographic target audience, it would be posh, elitist adults looking to further branch out or smarten their reputation.

2) Look at the Tatler Media Pack 2018. Go to page 2: how does the editor introduce the magazine?

She introduces the magazine as "a fabulously targeted sensationally accurate rifle shot to the very richest readers in the country." The reference to a rifle links to the upper classes interest in shooting/poaching/hunting which is not normally found in middle class Britain therefore specifically targeting the demographic who would engage in those activities.

3) Now go to page 4 of the Media Pack. Focus on the print magazine. List the key demographic details. What do these demographic details suggest about the average Tatler reader?

(See previous answers) It suggests the readers of Tatler is an Aspirer and reads Tatler to satisfy this psychographic need for status and fame .

4) Look at page 6. What do Tatler readers think about fashion? How much do they spend?

Tatler's audience holds a very strong importance for fashion and personal image, especially with trending and expensive clothing and jewellery. They read Tatler as they "often buy fashion products after seeing things advertised in magazines." A whopping £843m was spent on fashion in the past year.

5) Go to page 10. What are the special editions of Tatler that run throughout the year? What does this suggest about the pyschographic groups who read Tatler?

The special editions of Tatler are uniquely designed for each month therefore setting out a plan of the month/year for their readers. They guide the readers on how to conduct themselves or special events that would be better suited to a specific month than another.

MEDIA LANGUAGE

1) How many of the 12 magazine cover key conventions feature on this edition of Tatler?

Title of publication, Central Image, Headline, Selling/Cover lines, A colour scheme, Name Checks, and Direct address.

2) What is the font choice used in the title and what does this choice connote?

The font chosen is Serif which is used in this magazine to connote tradition, authority and sophistication.

3) What font is used for the cover lines? What does that choice connote?

The font of the cover lines is Sans Serif to connote more modern themes/events that would relate to the audience.

4) How do the cover lines appeal to the Tatler target audience?

They include gossip about celebrities and upper class lifestyle events such as "most invited 2017" which refers to high social class balls or other events a targeted audience member might attend.

5) What are the connotations of the Tatler colour scheme on this particular front cover?

The colour scheme is comprised of paler, muted colours like sage green and sand yellow, these colours compliment the pearly white and gold of the model's necklace and clothing. The gold in particular connotes wealth and social status. The yellow connotes freshness and joy which links to the season: spring. In which this issue is distributed. The green connotes nature and serenity which is similar to the calm expression on the model's face.

6) How is the central image designed to create interest in the magazine? Find three reasons for your answer. (E.g. Mise-en-scene such as props, costume and make-up, body position, facial expression)

The colours are all very light save for the sudden kohl black eyeliner around the model's face which could show a new trend or fashion style, her eyes show vague intrigue and she is staring directly at the reader.

REPRESENTATIONS

1) What different groups of people are represented on the cover? (Look at the image and text/cover lines)

The groups of people represented on the cover are wealthy, aristocratic and upper class British people.

2) What do the cover lines suggest about the lifestyle of rich people in the UK?

They suggest that they live mainly busy but luxurious lifestyles, enjoy reading gossip about celebrities, buy clothes and accessories on a regular basis and rely on magazines and other sources to keep up their reputation.

3) Are there any stereotypes being reinforced or subverted? How? Why?

The stereotypes reinforced could be the attendance of aristocrats/rich white people at formal events or excessive spending of money on materialistic goods.

4) Are there any misrepresentations or under-representations of groups? What might this suggest about the target audience?

Under-representations might be the groups who are not represented in the magazine such as, black people or people who don't have as much money to offered the clothes and jewellery advertised, or even a monthly edition of Tatler itself.

5) What would be the preferred and oppositional readings to this cover of Tatler?

The preferred reading would be that Tatler is elitist and professional and that if you read it, you are important and will be up to date with all the current events.
An oppositional reading might be that other people who don't read Tatler or are aristocrats aren't worth as much as those who do. Therefore demeaning and suppressing the mainstream public who aren't rich or posh enough to read their magazine.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT

1) What aspects of British life are NOT reflected in Tatler?

Politics are an aspect missed out in Tatler, it is not mentioned in many of the covers, this may link to the earlier version of Tatler and the main gender of the target audience women. In history, women were not supposed to vote or be involved in politics. That could be something that Tatler believes too.

2) Tatler runs special issues on holidays, spa breaks, cosmetic surgery, watches and jewellery and private schools. What does this suggest about the magazine's representation of life in Britain?

It suggests life in Britain is pompous and splendorous and of the highest quality and that Britain is constantly churning out, intellectual, sophisticated, high-end aristocrats and lawyers etc.

3) What audience groups might be offended or insulted by the front cover of Tatler April 2017?

Darker skinned ethnic groups or poorer people might be offended by the lack of appearance of their minorities in issues of Tatler. Feminists may also be offended as the model is only showing of clothes and jewellery whereas there are more important matter and crises in the world.

4) Find three other front covers for Tatler. What issues or problems are regularly featured in Tatler?

Issues feature how to entice rich men to marry you or what trends are in fashion. It also instructs you how to get your children into high-end school. In source 2, it asks "HAVE THE MIDDLE CLASSES RUINED EVERYTHING?" This directly targets the middle class  therefore showing how someone reading it would be of higher class.

Source 1

Source 2

Source 3