Manoraj Sivantharajah

Audience Theories.
Within media there is a 3 main theories that we believe make audience engage with a piece of media these being: Blumier and Katzs Uses and Gratifications Theory Richard Dyers Utopian Solutions Maslows Hierarchy of needs

Uses and Gratification Theory

This theory suggested that the media audience make active choices about what they consume from a media product. The theory consists of what reasons audiences have for consuming a media product. The reasons are as follows: Inform and educate Identify Entertain Social Interaction Escape their daily life The reasons that can be applied to our opening sequence based on the genre and the story line is: Identify as the characters in the film is mainly teenagers so as our film is targeted mainly at teenagers. This means that audience can identify with the characters within the opening sequence, which ultimately means that they engage with media product. Entertainment as the film will provide great entertainment to our target audience as teenagers get a great deal of entertainment for them. This will mean that the audience will engage with our media product. Social Interaction is another reason why audience will choose to consume our media product as they can watch the film and talk and discuss the film with their friends.

Utopian Solutions
This theory states that people will respond to a media text if it offers them compensation for the inadequacies in their own lives. This suggests that if people can be compensated in one of the following ways then they will engage with a piece of media product: Isolation Community Confusion Clarity Boredom Excitement/Entertainment Loneliness Social Networking

Manoraj Sivantharajah Within this audience theory there is only really one reason, which will lead the audience to engage with the media product: Boredom Excitement/Entertainment as the film will bring the audience from boredom to entertainment. This will mean that they will engage with our film.

Hierarchy of needs
This theory stated we all have the same 8 basic needs. With one these being applicable to consumption of a media product which is the level of Belonging meaning that the audience will engage with the media product if they feel like they belong with that type of media.

However this theory is not applicable to our opening sequence as our media product will not give a sense of belonging to anyone.