What is Audience?
At the core is “the group of people who have gathered to watch or listen to something (a play, concert, somebody speaking, etc.)” [Oxford Learner’s Dictionary]. Audiences are the consumers of a media text, who are represented and are the ones who interpret and respond to media texts (from the syllabus). So audiences are the people who interact with the media text, who view the media text with an –hopefully– unbiased lens. Different audiences can perceive or receive the message of a media text in several ways. Author Stuart Hall, came up with the Active Audience theory which states that audiences are aware of a media text’s (notably films) fictionality and are NOT completely influenced by what they see in media (aka little to none). Furthermore, in Hall’s reception theory, he states that there are different levels of audience reception (aka there are different levels of perception of a media text). For example, the negotiated level, where the audience accepts some of the intentions the producer had for a film and rejects other intentions/reasons why the producer made those choices. This means that the audience brings their own knowledge, and creates their own interpretation of the meaning, rather than the full one.
On the other hand, the Hypodermic Needle theory (crazy name, I don’t really like it cause I don’t like needles), by Harold Lasswell, talks about how influential media is, and how audiences are completely PASSIVE and are UNDOUBTEDLY influenced by media (aka direct link between media and influence on lives and why things are a certain way). These two different perspectives on an audience make good points, that overall, an audience are the ones influenced or perceive your media text and somehow interpret it and apply it to their life.
Who is my target audience?
The specific audience that I am targeting (aka demographic that I am trying to reach) are young girls, couples in long distance relationships (or just couples in general). The main generation being represented in my film intro is generation Z, so naturally those of that age range are going to relate more with the themes of the film intro. The reason as to why that is my target audience, is to spread the message and reveal the toughness of long-distance relationships and the duality of women’s emotions; overall, how something such as love can be so impactful to someone, and how love can have its positives and negatives. (which is established through the various forms of binary oppositions in the film intro). Catch me next time as I am covering the editing done for the film intro and the CCR and then I will be FINALY finished 🙂
January 18th-20th: Further blogs on idea
January 27th: blogs due
February 1st: chose filming location
February 3rd: Blogs due, reveal title of film intro
February 7th: ask Frances (again) to be in video and write the plot/dialogue [half done]
February 10th: figure out costumes, camera, and editing software (AND BLOGS DUE)
More like the 11th… (DONE)
February 14th: Get filming down for first 45 - 60 seconds of film intro
Will probably be moved to the 16th.. (DONE)
Things occurring on that day may interfere with filming
February 17th: Blogs due
February 24th: Blogs due
February 28th: Get filming done for the second half
March 1st: (need some parts done for the second half so will be done the 1st.) ~ NOT DONE
March 3rd: ALL FILMING DONE/blogs due
March 7th: Begin editing process
March 7th: See if you have time to stop by You Media. (no time 😡)
March 10th- complete CCR Pt.1/hard deadline on blogs
March 14th: complete CCR Pt.2
March 17th - 21st: Edit CCR and finalize the film intro
Monday after spring break [March 31st]: PORTFOLIO DUE
References
Media Studies (AICE) syllabus
