Audience theory

There are lots of theory's about the audiences of the media and how the react to certain things being shown i have researched into a few of them and this is what i discovered. 

The first is the hypodermic syringe theory.

the theory goes that the media is like a syringe, which injects ideas, attitudes and beliefs into the audience, who as a powerless mass, have little choice but to be influenced. 

The culmination theory is when one media text does not effect a person to much but years and years of exposure to violence for example will make you less sensitive to violence. so for example if you watch domestic violence in soaps for years the theory is that people will be less bothered when real experiences happen in real life. 

Genre theory.

Genre depends on the acceptance of generic conventions. The definition of a genre or genres is A set of types/groups which any medium may be classified.

•Western  Science-Fiction  Comedy

•Sitcom  Quiz Show  Soap

•Reggae  Drum n Base  Jazz

In each case the acknowledgement of genre depends on the acceptance of generic conventions   

 John Fiske - ‘Any one programme will bear the main characteristics of its genre, but is likely to include some from others: ascribing it to one genre or another involves deciding which set of characteristics are most important

Richard Maltby and Ian Craven- 'The success of Hollywood is reliant on the combination of predictable elements with variation'

Auteurs - A group of film makers that were considered to be particularly influential and artistic.

Edward Buscombe felt that iconography was the best way to achieve generic definitions.

Rick Altman-Genre theory presumes that viewers pre-read texts.

                        -Viewers become passive voyeurs

                        -Genres are therefore restrictive

                  -Does not acknowledge or allow for the hybrid - the blending of genres.