Audience

Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications Theory

This theory focuses, not on what the media does to people, but what the people do with the media.

 

 Who creates the content the media or the audience?

I think that the media creates the content but they must create it in a way that will be well received by the audience. Therefore, the audience does have some control about what goes into the media as the media adapts to fit in with them. Also, due to social media, the audience has much more control about what goes into the media; anybody can start a blog, website or post a video on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube - this is then creating content in the media.

 

Can the media exist/function without an audience? Can an audience (public) exist/function without media?

The media needs an audience and the audience needs media. Media, by definition, means mass communication through the means of television, radio, newspapers etc. Therefore, if there is no audience there is nobody to communicate with and so the 'media' is not actually media.

The public can exist without the media, however it would be impossible to function in today's society without it. We have become too dependent on the internet for both information and entertainment as well as movies and television shows. They have become a large part of our lives and many social interactions involve media in some way - whether you are communicating via social media or talking about something that has been seen in the media. In 2015, 77% of females had a Facebook account and so did 66% of males and 171.9 million cinema tickets were sold. This emphasis the amount of media we consume in the UK alone and proves that removing it will make the live of the public much more difficult.

 

Who is more powerful: the media or the audience why/how?

Both the media and the audience have power over each other. The media is able to create things to brainwash their audience and make them think a certain way. For example, many people have stereotype of different kinds of people in their head and these stereotypes were mostly put here by the media. However, you could argue that the audience has power over the media because the media would not exist without its audience (for example a magazine would not be able to run if people were not buying copies) and so the media must adapt to the audience's wants. Some might argue that the media does not do this- on the front of women's magazines are edited photographs of women and article titles that are degrading and many women say they find infuriating- but they still buy the magazine don't they? Even if women say they dislike seeing covers of magazines covered in lines like 'How to lose weight' and 'how to look more desirable' because everyone should be happy with how they look, they still buy the magazine and read the article. But is this because the media has made them believe that they must always try to improve the way that they look because they are not already 'perfect'?

 

Why do people consume media (e.g. movies)?
1. For information
2. Education
3. For entertainment
4. For social interaction (discussions with friends)
5. Escapism

 

 

Film and You

1. What do we mean when we use the word 'film'?
The word 'film' was originally used to refer to the tape inside a camera that photos and videos were printed onto. This film could then be put into a projector where it can be viewed.
Now, the word 'film' is commonly used as a synonym for 'movie' which is a recording of moving images which tells a story that people can watch on a television or in the cinema.

2. What is meant by the word cinema?

'Cinema' is the word used for a theatre where films are played to the public for their entertainment. It also could refer to the production of films in the film industry.

 

What are your ten favourite films?

1. Titanic

2. The Family

3. The Others

4.  Grease

5. Quarantine

6. The Ugly Truth

7. Boyhood

8. Gone

9. At the Devil's Door

10. The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Why do I consume media?
I use social media to keep in contact with people that I would otherwise have difficulty keeping in contact with and also for keeping up to date with the latest news as I follow newspaper and magazines on social media.
I watch television shows and movies for escapism and also sometime to appreciate the art that goes into making a film. I like television shows especially because you get to really know the characters and get to follow them and watch them develop. I also watch some television shows for social interaction. For example, The X Factor is a show that I watch every weekend during the autumn/winter television season and usually discuss the show with friends at school the next day. This is the same for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and I am able to discuss this with many people as lots of people watch this show for social interaction, also.
Sometimes, I also watch Documentaries to gain information on a subject I am interested in or to gain more knowledge on something that I am studying at school.