This post was created through A2 Media R block's excellent responses.
Introduction
Definition - Audience refers to the people who consume media texts. There are now a variety of different ways to ensure that audiences from around the world can consume media, even if the text is produced on the other side of the world. Producers typically target specific audiences in order to ensure income and revenue, and thanks to the advances of globalisation, potential audiences are bigger than ever.
Argument - Generally, my chosen texts specifically target global audiences to a great degree. They do so using a number of techniques including global online distribution, high production values and well known celebrities. However, there are some instances where texts target local audiences over global audiences, and this is done so for a variety of reasons.
Context - In order to illustrate this argument, I will be looking at True Detective, a crime investigation drama initially broadcast in the US by HBO in 2014, The Hunt, a nature documentary produced by the BBC and first shown in 2015, and Made in Chelsea, a docusoap/reality drama initially shown on E4 from 2011.
Key scene - The Hunt - Chameleon scene
- Variety of sound effects are created in post-production to emphasise the dramatic atmosphere of the scene. The pleonastic sound of tongue squelching, and the clicking of eyes. Uses and gratifications - Anthropomorphisation allows huge audiences to identify with animals, regardless of language.
- Narrative heavily constructed. Nature documentaries stitch together vast amounts of footage to create an entertaining scene, through the use of montage, and significant use of reaction shots. Construction of reality, that a global audience can identify.
- Colour palette, emphasis on green and vibrant colours. High quality digital photography and extensive post production, exceptionally high production values! By focussing on visuals over language, global audiences can enjoy the aesthetic.
- Positioning - use of match on action and disorientating cinematography specifically positions audience with chameleon, allowing them to identify with the animal.
- Distribution - variety of distribution channels, including broadcasts, BBC iPlayer, official YouTube streams, BBC america, global DVD distributions and even illegal downloads, which could lead to brand awareness and discussion.
Key Scene - True Detective - bar scene
- Mise-en-scene - Dingy, low key lighting, neon/fluro lighting, presents connotations of seedy, dangerous. Stereotypical/iconographic of an American bar, providing a global audience with escapism.
- Dialogue - conventional of the crime drama. Focused around finding a missing girl. Rust's voice is gravelly and tired, which is a convention of the crime drama. Crime Dramas are a popular genre throughout much of the world.
- Characters - Mid shot of Marty's wife in revealing clothing, emphasising her body, example of sexualisation. Appeal to heterosexual male audiences, through use of stereotypically attractive women.
- Distribution - HBO a subscription based channel, though distributed through channels such as Sky Atlantic and Now TV. DVD and Blu Rays, can be purchased in Japan. Widely pirated.
- Celebrities - both Matthew Mcconaughey and Woody Harrelson are internationally recognised actors with star appeal.
- Regulation - v strong language, nudity, themes of drugs, prostitution, murder, and attacks on Christianity may prevent global audiences from viewing the text, limiting its appeal to certain countries.
Made in Chelsea - Key scene - Series 5 episode 1 opening montage and party
- Setting - Mise en scene of wrought iron fence in black, symbolic code of wealth and luxury, specific to British audiences.
- Characters - Lack of diversity. Predominantly white, thin, straight people. Catering to a specific audience, specific stereotypical representation of British people, and reinforces hegemony of white people in the United Kingdom.
- Title card - Intertextuality, or a referential code of the famous British 'keep calm and carry on' poster.
- Lexis, modes of address - Gossip and drama, cheating and so on, takes on similar conventions to the soap opera genre. Specific accents, posh and Southern, easily identifiable for a British audience
- Preferred response - dedicated, cult following