Audience Theory

Objective: Research audience types and, using your new-found understanding, apply this to your coursework

STRIPE: Reflective Learner.

Research the following audience types: Categories A, B, C1, C2, D, E

Audience

Consider: age, gender, demographic profile, socio-economic group, existing/new, lifestyle, values, attitude

Categories A, B, C1, C2, D, E http://www.mediaknowall.com/gcse/keyconceptsgcse/keycon.php?pageID=audience

What is Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze? Is your audience mass or niche? What would the three reactions to your c/w be: 1. A preferred reading (your intended interpretation)(Verisimilitude?2. An oppositional reading (someone who didn’t like it)3. A negotiated reading (someone who isn’t the target

audience but might appreciate it for whatever reason)

Audience

Every media text is made with a view to pleasing an audience in some way – how did you try to please your audience?

Success is measured by the audience’s response to a media text and those that do not attract and maintain an audience do not survive.

At the heart of this is the fact that all media texts are created in order to make money.

Audience Types

ATop management, bankers, lawyers, doctors and other highly salaried professionals

BMiddle management, teachers, many 'creatives' eg graphic designers etc

C1Office supervisors, junior managers, nurses, specialist clerical staff etc

C2 Skilled workers, tradespersons (white collar)

D Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers (blue collar)

E Unemployed, students, pensioners, casual workers