Tatler CSP case study

 Introduction - Tatler Media pack

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

The editor introduces the magazine by telling the consumers about the target audience which is upper-class people because it says "shot to the very richest readers in the country".

2) Now go to page 4 of the Media Pack. Focus on the print magazine. List the key demographic details: age, gender %, ABC1 % (social class), HHI (Household Income), % of those living in London and the South East. What do these demographic details suggest about the average Tatler reader? 

 Female: 73%  Average Age: 41  London/Se: 70%  Average HII: £261799  ABC1: 83%

The demographic details suggest that the average readers are from the upper-class,  are mostly female and from London and the South East.

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

Tatler readers think that they should wear designer fashion and they spend over £840 million.

4) Go to page 10. What are the special editions of Tatler that run throughout the year? What does this suggest about the Tatler audience? What about the psychographic audience group that best fits Tatler?  

January: Travel Guide - The audience has a lot of money to travel a lot and go wherever they want.

March: Wedding Guide - The audience is rich enough to hold a luxurious wedding which is very expensive.
April: Beauty & Cosmetic Surgery - The audience has high beauty standards and cares about looks. 

June: Spa Guide - The audience has a lot of money to spend on self-care and enjoy relaxing in peace.

July: Watches & Jewellery - Luxuries are important to them and they like to show people how wealthy and well off they are.

October: School Guide - The audience is old enough to have kids of their own.

This suggests that Tatler Audiences are rich and are upper-class because the products and luxuries shown are expensive. 

Media language

1) What different examples of typography can you find on the cover of Tatler? What are the connotations of the serif and sans serif fonts?

-"The New Posh" shows sans to show that they are cool and modern - plus they are also trying to show they are modern and sophisticated by saying "RULES FOR THE 21st CENTURY".

-The colour scheme has been intentionally chosen to show they're class and that they are on another level.

-The central image has a cover model who has a serious look on her face to show her professionality.

-The title of publication "TATLER" uses serif showing the audience that they are posh and write about luxuries and riches.

2) How do the cover lines appeal to the Tatler target audience?
The cover line "who is at the top of everyone's party guest and who is at the bottom"  may appeal to a Tatler target audience because it shows how social status is important to the upper-class people and that the higher the social status the better it may be for them among other upper-class people.

3) What are the connotations of the Tatler colour scheme on this particular front cover? 
The gold colours on the cover models outfit highlight luxury and wealth. Plus the pink and white colours stand out which may connote femininity and the green and yellow pastel colours have connotations of a warm, tranquil and refreshing feeling.

4) 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 gold and white coloured costume on the cover model create interest for the audience because it represents rich luxuries which will make the consumers look good and make them want to buy the cloth and see more clothing like that. Whilst te heavy eye makeup also draws the audience attention. Lastly, the jewellery (pearls) make her stand and create interest because pearls are expensive and show the target audience is upper-class people and are used to show the poshness in the magazine.

Representations

1) What different groups of people are represented on the cover? (E.g. men/women/white people etc. Look at the image and text/cover lines to help here)  

The groups represented on the covers are white, beautiful women that fit the beauty standards.

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

The focus too much on beauty standards and are rich.

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

There are stereotypes being reinforced such as spending money on looking pretty and luxuries will make the consumers pretty and beauty standards are shown in the magazine by the cover model because there isn't any diversity, different body types or features and it is showing that women should be slim and have a lot of money.

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

A preferred reading would be that the consumer would buy the product being shown and agree with all of the points the cover shows. And on top of that agree with the beauty standards. However, an oppositional reading would be that the magazine reinforces the stereotype of women needing to be white, slim and being rich to be seen as beautiful. Furthermore "THE NEW POSH - RULES FOR THE 21st CENTURY" people would disagree because a lot of people are middle class and it shows that the magazine is trying to present that if you are rich only then you can experience a fun free lifestyle which is untrue. Plus it only focuses on the good parts of being rich and not the downs.

Social and cultural context

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

They do not show us the disadvantages that rich people have to face; middle-class life; people who don't have much money; people who do not fit the beauty standards of Tatler.

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? 

The magazine presents life in Britain to be full of luxuries and posh without any problems. Plus they are presenting life in Britain as perfect without worries about money which is untrue for people who aren't rich.

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

Most people who are not part of the target audience: people who don't fit Tatlers beauty standards; people who aren't rich; people who disagree with Tatlers ideas.

4) Find three other front covers for Tatler from different months. What issues, subjects or people are regularly featured in Tatler? 

-Wedding Guide

-Travel Guide

-Watches & Jewellery 

The subject regularly mention is luxuries, people who have a lot of free time and upper-class people.