Audience Theory

The theories are split into two areas with the first on being the Hyperbolic Syringe Model meaning that media is a drug which we absorb without actually acknowledging what we are consuming causing us as consumers to react in a particular manner. An example of this is BBC where they may be informing those to be healthy on Cbeebies by attracting the attention of little ones by using bright colours. This would target those in the age range of 2-3year olds. This is a clear example of how audience feedback is rather irrelevant to them.



The other are is called Users and Gratifications Model. This is heavily focused on the media audiences making thorough use of what media is available. The audience have needs which are split into four categories which are:

·         Diversion- A form of escape for the viewer so they forget about their everyday life for 30mins or so)

·         Personal relationships (This is how the viewers can relate to the relationships of those in screen as they would have real-life events occur)

·         Personal identity (This is where we compare our lives to those being portrayed on screen)

·         Surveillance (When we get a chance to get an insight into the i.e. celebrities life, almost as though we are walking in their shoes for a short time)

This theory has been made possible due to us as consumers becoming more open to other media an example of this could be when we are flicking through channels, this may suggest that we are more willing to expose ourselves to other medias as opposed to watching whatever is shown.