Task 1.
1. Do you think the audiences for most media texts do come “from all walks of life” or do different kinds of people watch very different kinds of programme? Are there any examples of media texts that you can think of that do seem to have audiences of all kinds of people?
I think that different programmes appeal to different people. For example CBBC programmes would appeal to children, and not adults. Teenagers would be more appealed to watch skins/the inbetweeners for the inappropriate behaviour and that it is a teenage programme, whereas the older generation would me more appealed to period dramas.
2. How much of your media experience occurs when you are on your own and how much when you are with others?
When with friends, I tend to share my media experiences with them, for example going cinema with them, watching T.V. and playing games. When on my own, I tend to watch most television on my own unless it’s a film I will go and watch it with my family. I also read books and magazines by myself.
3. Are there any ways in which you share your experiences of the media with other people who weren’t around when you experienced the text? List as many ways as you share experiences (e.g. msn etc.)
People text and talk over Facebook 24/7, this causes more and more friends to speak to each other/spread the word around instead of not being face to face. Some people use msn but social networks have made them the past.
Task 2
1.Can you think of any examples where the media have been seen to influence public behaviour or have been blamed for an individual’s behaviour?
Mainstream rappers in the media (50 cent, Eminem, T.I) use a lot of obscenities and talking about guns / drugs in their lyrics, also containing political challenging lyrics. This is a bad influence to the listener as they may inspire to these lyrics and can become aggressive when listening to this sort of music. Also the E4 series ‘Skins’, which displays graphic use of drugs, sex and smoking of underage teenagers can inspire young teenagers to do the exact thing because “they have seen it on TV” or “to make them look cool”.
2.Is this influence always negative?
No, not all these are negative, for example there are rappers out there who do not use offensive language to sell music. But music which you can listen and inspire to.
