Audience Effects Theory

 1) Write a definition of a passive audience: 

This is the view that audiences take in information from the media that has the same effect on everyone.

2) Write a definition of an active audience: 

This is the more modern and generally accepted view that audiences interact with the media they consume.

3) Write a definition of the hypodermic needle theory: 

This the suggestion that audiences are always passive and therefore take the intended message from the producer as if it was injected into their minds.This assumes no individual difference in audience members. It was believed in the 1930s that the media was this powerful.

4) Write down a media product for each category of Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory and WHY it fits that particular audience use/gratification: 

Information/surveillance: Newspaper- Informs/educates the audience about what's going on in the world.

Personal Identity: Autobiography- Writer talks about their life which audience can relate to.

Diversion/Entertainment: Reality TV show- Gives audience a chance to escape reality and entertains audience.

Relationships: Soap Opera- Audience cares about what happens to long-standing characters.

5) Re-watch the clip from Blue Planet above and write a paragraph analysing how elements of the clip offer the audience pleasures or gratifications

The clip from Blue Planet uses these gratifications and pleasures: 

Information/surveillance as it educates the audience about the life of the animals that live in the ocean. Relationships as the audience may care about the well being of the animals and their life. Diversion/Entertainment as certain members of the audience may watch Blue Planet to escape and take their mind of things happening in their life right now. I think Blue Planet creates a Voyeuristic pleasure to the audience as the audience are watching the lives of animals in the ocean through hidden cameras. It may also create a Visceral pleasure as when watching an animal catch their prey it may cause suspense for the audience and give them a physical thrill.