Tatler magazine FOCUS: Media Language and Representation of people and groups on the front cover of Tatler April 2017.

General information Tatler is Britain’s oldest magazine (founded in 1901). Targeted at upper classes and upper-middle classes.(AB) Lifestyle magazine with focus on fashion; high society events such as balls and celebrities such as the Royal family and members of the aristocracy (people with inherited wealth, titles and land.) There are versions in Russia, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Over the years, Tatler has remained interested in the lives of the Royal family, but has tried to re-invent itself as more ‘edgy’ and modern in recent years, to try and target a younger audience.

Social and cultural contexts The issues that Tatler is concerned with tend to be political but not in a particularly gritty way because the magazine is more interested in fashion, merchandise, beauty and ‘lifestyle’ rather than dealing with news in any depth. The preoccupation with parties, private schools, luxury holidays and exclusivity (the ‘Tatler Privilege Club’) assumes a high level of income and an elitist attitude which may alienate or offend people from a different social class. 81% of the readership has an above average income. 44% buy shoes or clothes more than once a month so the cultural context of the magazine could be judged as ‘niche’ (for the few) rather than ‘mainstream’ (for everyone). Some of the stories can be seen as out-dated as they are concerned with riding, hunting and shooting which are pursuits generally only enjoyed by higher classes.

Social and cultural contexts TATLER MAGAZINE Questions on the Media Pack and Posh People trailer 1) Based on the trailer, what type of people produce and read Tatler? Consider demographics and psychographics. 2) Look at the Tatler Media Pack 2018. Go to page 2: how does the editor introduce the magazine? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uGePWVcveimzPEnai9s7OZaL2_oANpey/view 3) Now go to page 4 of the Media Pack. Focus on the print magazine (NOT tatler.com - the website). 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? 4) Look at page 6. What do Tatler readers think about fashion? How much do they spend? The issues that Tatler is concerned with tend to be political but not in a particularly gritty way because the magazine is more interested in fashion, merchandise, beauty and ‘lifestyle’ rather than dealing with news in any depth. The preoccupation with parties, private schools, luxury holidays and exclusivity (the ‘Tatler Privilege Club’) assumes a high level of income and an elitist attitude which may alienate or offend people from a different social class. 81% of the readership has an above average income. 44% buy shoes or clothes more than once a month so the cultural context of the magazine could be judged as ‘niche’ (for the few) rather than ‘mainstream’ (for everyone). Some of the stories can be seen as out-dated as they are concerned with riding, hunting and shooting which are pursuits generally only enjoyed by higher classes. ‘Posh People’ BBC2 doc trailer

Media language in Tatler 1) How many of the 12 magazine cover key conventions feature on this edition of Tatler? 2) What is the font choice used in the title and what does this choice connote? 3) What font is used for the cover lines? What does that choice connote? 4) How do the cover lines appeal to the Tatler target audience? 5) What are the connotations of the Tatler colour scheme on this particular front cover? 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)

Representations in Tatler 1) What different groups of people are represented on the cover? (Look at the image and text/cover lines) 2) What do the cover lines suggest about the lifestyle of rich people in the UK? 3) Are there any stereotypes being reinforced or subverted? How? Why? 4) Are there any misrepresentations or under-representations of groups? What might this suggest about the target audience? 5) What would be the preferred and oppositional readings to this cover of Tatler?

Representations Tend to reflect dominant audience on cover image: predominantly white, predominantly female, predominantly wealthy (or associated with wealth such as this actress who plays a role in Downton Abbey). Average age is 41 but the cover tends to focus on celebrities or models who are younger than this (due to dominant ideals of beauty in the Media). Cover lines (stories inside) tend to focus on preoccupations of upper classes e.g. ‘How to get your son into Eton’- an exclusive and very expensive private school.