Audiences and institutions

1. Do you agree with Stewart's point regarding self-determination of audiences?
Cultural and social fads in people determine the size of audiences for films. I would go see a film if it was something that i found interesting such as psychological thrillers. Regarding Stewart's idea, the popularity of the film depends of if that genre is popular at the time. For example, Vampire based films, the Twilight Saga would be perfect.


2. Hall's idea about audience positioning identifies three ways that an audience can respond to texts. Using three case studies, identify a preferred, negotiated and oppositional reading and explain your own   reasons for each case study.
I do believe that an audience can interpret different meanings for a film of TV program, especially in soap operas.  When i watch a soap opera there are certain characters that seem to be horrid so i dislike them. With a film, some people don't watch a movie because of certain actors starred.

Case Studies
Broken- This is a film that i would have been to see because it is with in the area of film which i like. Also i would go to see it because Tim Roth is in it.
Life of Pi- I would not have been to see this because in my personal opinion i thought the plot looked boring. Also there aren't any actors in it which i recognise.
Batman The Dark Night Rises- I did not go and see this because the subject matter of a fictional character fighting villains is not my cup of tea. Also i have never seen any of the other batman films.

3. a] How can gender effect how you respond to a text?
Females prefer story lines that envolve relationships with in an action film. They care more about curreent affairs and relationships. Males focus more on the action, this was seen by BFI statistics when action was the most seen by males in 2001, this is because films like Captan America had just been released.
b]Why would you choose to go to the cinema as opposed to watching a film at home?
If it was a great new film that sounded interesting, i would want to see it straight away, but if it was something that didn't sound as good, i could wait until it came out o DVD. Also the quality of the cinema would have a huge affect because I like to be comfortable when watching a film.
c] Can you think of a text where you gained 'cultural knowledge' which shaped your expectations? Was that the reasons why you chose and enjoyed that text?
TV shows like Castle and Bones were the ones that interested me the most. It is more likely to be a TV show that included 'cultural knowledge'.

4. How do converged websites apply to Gauntlettes idea of a 'pick and mix' audience?
Convergences allow the audience to connect with the film in more than one way. It also boosts their awareness of the film and increases their fan bases.

5. To what extent do you believe in the effect model and the uses and gratifications model?
I believe that the audience is more active than passive, becuase you are morelikely to report to friends about a bad film after seeing it than if it was a good film. Both sides of this support the idea that audiences are active.

6. Mcquail believes audiences use texts for four different reasons. Can you identify these features in the marketing materials from your case studies.
a] Entertainment and diversion- To escape the pressures of everyday life films are put onto the screens for people to escape their normal routines and enjoy themselves. The Hobbit's live screening n the internet from New Zeland is one example of this.
b] Personal relationships- With all films there is always a chance to talk about it with another whether its positive or negative. The online convergences such as Facebook and Twitter allow people to discuss popular topics and movies for example Sky Fall.
c] Personal identity- Peoples imagination can allow them to picture themselves in a number of different fantasy lives, and see for themselves what it would be like to be a character of their choice.
d] Information/ education- Creators of films have influence from current events. For example spy films give the audience an insight in to the life of the government and how those governments work, for example, James Bond.

7. What is the audience fragmentation? How jas it changed the composition of audiences and the texts available to them? Has the Internet influenced this in any way?
Audience fragmentation is a phrase that focuses on the way people engage with media. It shows how the idea of audience in the digital ears are changing. User-created content and social networking are appart of convergence which have transformed. The problem is that more people are likely to see a trailer on the internet [e.g. Youtube] than on actual television. This is causing smaller groups to come together. Ther are less big-budget, blockbusters now and more fims are aimed at promotiong a 'cult' audience.

8] What is the 'push' and 'pull' media? How has the Internet shaped audience behaviour in realtion to 'pull' media?
Push media- where producers push films at the audience and we recieve and consume passively.
Pull media- the adience decides what they want to do with the media and how to access it in a way that suits them. Piracy is a big problem with pull media as it is so easy to illegally download a piece of media e.g. films and music.