Comparing Reveal and Tatler

Do Now: Define these key terms

• Preferred Reading
• Symbolic Codes
• Cultural Imperialism
• Ideology
• Stereotypes
• Archetypes

Representation lies at the heart of many media debates. As students of Media Studies we are interested in whether these representations are positive or negative, truthful or false and what impact these might have on audiences and societies

Re-Presenting the World

A useful way to think about representation is to think of it as the way in which a media text re-presents the world back to the audience. They create the diegetic world of the text to reflect a world that is recognisable to the audience. This process often involves using stereotypes within the text as they are easy to identify and communicate information to the audience in a short space of time.

Media theorist RICHARD DYER writes about how there are both positive and negative representations within the media and how stereotypes are an oversimplification (homogeny) of people and social groups constructed through the use of a few immediately recognisable and defining traits

1. What stereotypes are present in the two front covers?

2. Why have these stereotypes been used?

3. What values do these stereotypes communicate around gender roles within our society?

Media theorist Stuart Hall argues that whilst the media appears to reflect reality it actually constructs reality. This is a challenging concept, simplified this refers to the power the media has to shape peoples’ views and beliefs on different groups or ideas within in a society, through the way they are portrayed within media texts such as magazines.

Q. How is the world presented in the cover of the two magazines?

Q. How might the covers above shape people's views and beliefs within a society?

Stuart Hall also explored how important the role of the producer is in constructing representations within media texts. It is important to understand the purpose of a text when exploring this issue.

Q. How do magazines make money?

Q. What is the purpose of both magazines? Do they differ?

Q. How do the representations on the cover of the magazines help the magazines create profit?

Assessed Essay (20 marks)

Compare and contrast the representations on offer between Reveal and Tatler (CSP products).

You should discuss the following:

•    how they both use media language to engage their specific target audience
•    how they represent groups, issues and ideas
•    the different values and beliefs offered by the two products