Audience
In the subsequent page I will analyse the term audience within my three research films and express the audience intention within my own film.
I will define and explain an audience theory through the analysis of my three research films. I will also apply an audience theory to my own film from my understanding of the similarities and differences between my own film and my three research films. An audience is a group of spectators, the persons reached by a particular product. A regular public that manifests interest, support or enthusiasm. The target audience for my film is 15+, because although the protagonists are in their teens, the concept of memory is relatable to everyone. |
'Ivan's Childhood'
October 2012
The film, 'Ivan's Childhood' by Andrei Tarkovsky can be represented through the audience theory of uses and gratifications presented by Blumer and Katz. The uses and gratifications theory is an approach into understanding why there is a desire to proactively search the media for an enhancement of knowledge. It presumes that the audience partake in an active - rather then passive - role whilst engaging in a film and interpret and integrate the media into their own lives. Blumer and Katz express that there are possible reasons as to why audience members may consume a film:
Diversion, an attempt to escape daily routines, activities or problems. Personal relationships, utilising the media for emotional interaction. Personal identity, constructing one's own identity from the characters they perceive in films. Surveillance, information gathering. The uses and gratifications theory is clearly demonstrated with 'Ivan's Childhood'. The film is identifiable for those who were apart of Soviet Union. |
Images above (left) Katz and (right) Blumler
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From 1:24:27 to 1:27:06 Tarkovsky clearly represents the destruction that Russia went through, something that all those involved can relate to and understand.
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'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
November 2012
'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' by Michel Gondry can be attached to the audience theory of reception which originated from the work of Hans Robert Jauss in the late 1960s. The theory dictates that analysis of a text is specific to each individual as no text has a singular meaning. It suggests that the audience individually decodes the text based on how it hails them in particular, this would be a result of one's cultural background, the time and place of perceiving the text, gender and current age. The reception theory attempts to comprehend the differences between interpretations.
This theory can relate to the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' in particular because of what it presents to its audience. The moral challenges that face both Joel and Clementine will be perceived in different ways to each individual dependent on their personalities. The choices each character makes and the and how they deal with certain situations will be registered in different ways by the audience too.
This theory can relate to the film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' in particular because of what it presents to its audience. The moral challenges that face both Joel and Clementine will be perceived in different ways to each individual dependent on their personalities. The choices each character makes and the and how they deal with certain situations will be registered in different ways by the audience too.
Above image of Hans Robert Jauss
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These clips from 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' depict the two moments when the protagonists, Clementine and Joel discover that they apparently erased each other from memory. They are give a tap on which they have each stated why they what to go through the process of having their memory of the other person erased. They give two different approaches to the same situation and display differences in how Joel and Clementine deal with things in different ways.
'Memory'
January 2013
In Andrei Tarkovsky's film, 'Memory', it is clear that it is particularly aimed at those who lived within communist Russia. Jaques Lacan's perception and audience theories can be attached to this short film. Lacan's work began during the early 1930s, mainly known for the 'Mirror Phase' which can be seen in Tarkovsky's short film. 'Memory' is a clear reflection on the lives of those who lived in communist Russia. It depicts the chaos and the solitary environment that was inhabited. The shots that involve water are outlining that this is a reflection of the lives of who the film is aimed at.
Above image of Jaques Lacan
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My film, 'Minnie'
My own film, 'Minnie', could also fall under the audience theory of uses and gratifications. However, I believe it wouldn't be depicted from the personal identity component, but the diversion and personal relationship components. The setting for my film is unusual and a very small minority of the population would be able to identify specifically with the event. However, my film does not present any illustrations of historical events and so could be seen as a diversion from everyday actives as the audience would be able to not identify with the situation.