Audience Theory

1. Why do we choose to consume certain texts?
2. How does the audience consume texts?
3. What happens when they consume texts?

There are three threories of audience that we can apply to help us come to a better understanding about the relationship between texts and audience.
1. Effects Model/ Hypodermic model
2. The Uses and Gratifications Model
3. Reception Theory

Frankfurt School theorised in the 1920/30s that the mass media acted to restrict and control audiences to the benefit of corporate capitalism and government.

Case Study

Columbine High School Massacre
In 1999, a massacre took place at a high school in the US. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher, injured 21 others and another 3 were injured whilst trying to escape before commiting suicide. The boys were said to of consumed violent media text such as violent movies, video games, music (such as Maralyn Manson) and internet useage.

Earlier this year, two boys in England were planning the same plot but luckily were caught. They planned to bomb a shopping centre and go on a killing spree at Audenshaw School.

Severance
Simon Everitt was murdered based on a scene three boys had seen in Severance. One of the boys had said whilst watching the film "wouldn't it be wicked if you could actullay do that to someone in real life?!"