Audience Theory Profiling

L/O: Using your own detailed examples, examine why audiences respond differently to media texts.

Task 1: Discuss: Finish this for homework if not during class.

The same media text can attract/target a range of different audiences? 

 Refer to your own detailed examples.

200 - 400 words.

Year 12 written tasks success criteria:

Knowledge of the concept of audience/representation/narrative

Awareness of relevant theories

Uses examples to draw on relevant issues

Use of media terminology/key words

Quality of written communication

__________________________________________________________

Here is an example of a textual analysis for you to read and consider before you answer:

  Nike Advert (Wayne Rooney)

National Identity/ Patriotism: Audiences are positioned to take a preferred response to the visual codes in this advert by perceiving football as being ‘as important as religion and British culture’ (deconstruct the image to illustrate this- e.g. crucifix-like icon of Rooney). 

Religious Beliefs: People who consider themselves to be religious may be positioned to take an oppositional response to the text as they may feel insulted that Rooney has been compared, through use of symbolism, to Jesus Christ.  You can argue that Nike as a company may encourage this response from a segment of the audience as the controversy will bring more attention to the advert, thus helping them receive more publicity and PR and promoting their product further (especially as Adidas was the key sports brand sponsor of the World Cup 2010).

Celebrity endorsement- football fans may be attracted to this advert as he is endorsing the Nike product, explain how they will consume some of the ideologies and how they may agree with them.

Patriotic audiences may be attracted to this product- explain what is being presented to the audience and how this may agree with their personal social values- this reinforces their beliefs

Positions audience to take different responses to the advert and controversy- explain who would have these responses and what they would be

______________________________________________________

Here is a structure suggestion for your answer:

Introduction:
· Outline that a media text's primary aim is to attract audiences so they keep getting funding for their product or target again to meet target audiences needs and get high viewing figures.

· Explain that audience are attracted to media products for many different reasons and give some examples of what they may be...... (e.g. Narrative, Characters, Personal Identity, Information, Loyalty, Social Identity etc)

· Explain which texts your answer will approach

Main Body:
Give 2 textual examples.

· Remember you need to choose texts to discuss that attract a RANGE of different audiences so it needs to be a text that will be popular with different audiences

You will need to explain:

The genre of the text

Reason for attracting different audiences

Examples from the actual text that may attract different audiences for different reasons- explain
these reasons in detail

Viewing habits- if a programme is on at prime time 6pm-9pm then it is more likely a more diverse
audience will be attracted to the programme than after the watershed.

With reference to film, a classification may affect who views it (e.g. if the film is an 18 it discounts
anyone below this age barrier)

Compare and contrast different reasons for consuming these texts and what may be communicated to the audience through them

Summary:
· Sum up points you have made briefly about your chosen texts
· Give brief reasons for diverse and different audiences
· Sum up what may attract different audiences to the same text