Inside the mind of girl

Just taking life day by day with a wine glass in my hand

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Blog Post #3

In this blog I will be covering the last third of the semester which includes chapters seven to chapter 10 and the corresponding reading assigned. The point of this paper is to pick out the main points discussed in all the readings and how they can be applied in a real life setting, also to explain how they have made an impact on our daily lives.

Starting with the terms and ideas covered in chapter 7 and Kim’s article titled the influences of sporting viewing conditions on enjoyment from watching televised sports: An analysis of the FIFA World Cup audiences in theater vs. home. In this chapter we focus on the reception context which refers to both a physical place and the web of interpersonal relationships and interactions that occur within that space (Sullivan p. 163) and the rituals in which people use media. A media ritual can consist of the time, place and atmosphere in which audiences consume media (Sullivan p. 178). An example that I have that relates to media rituals is that certain days of the week and at certain times, a television series I am interested in while premiere a new episode. I plan my day around watching the new episode. I make sure I am at home either comfy on the couch under a blanket or even in my room lying in bed with the television on. If for some reason I cannot be home during the time the show is playing, usually because I have class during that time I PVR the episode and watch it as soon as I get home. This example also relates to the idea of spatial or physical context as this is known as the concrete, physical dimensions of the location in which the audience consumes media (Sullivan p. 163). In the example given, for watching Television or movies my preferred physical context is somewhere I can be comfortable while consuming media, such as at home. In the case where not being able to watch the show as it is being aired relates to the term time-shifting, since the integration of new web based technologies there is the rise of the digital video recorder where one can record the show and watch it whenever they have time (Sullivan p. 165). Along with spatial context there is the idea of social contexts, the multifaceted space that includes people typically loved one and friends, relationships and memories of past experiences (Sullivan p. 163). An example of this could be when my mom and I get together on certain nights of the week to watch certain television shows. Currently it is a ritual that we get together on the couch on Wednesday nights and watch the new episode of Survivor.

According to the Kim’s article there is a certain impact on the physiological response made by the atmosphere in which an audience consumes their media. In their study they take an approach to see how different venues of watching sports, give the audience different viewing experiences (Kim, K., et al.  p. 390). They consider the multiple factors involved in a viewing experience between watching sports in your home versus in a theatre, this considers not only technological factors but also the social factors that drive sports viewing. These factors include “the screen size, image quality, and audio quality […] also social factors such as cheering atmosphere” (Kim K., et al. p. 390).

In chapter 8 we discuss the idea of fans and fandoms and how the impact audiences. The fan by definition is often used to describe a religious member, belonging to the temple, a devotee (Sullivan p. 192). And often seen in media there are several genres that appeal to many different types of audiences. A way to increase a fans devotion to a franchise is to find ways to involve the fans, either from the franchise themselves or fans create ways themselves and get the idea out using social media. According to Sullivan, this can be referred to as social aspect of being a fan in which fans of the media come together in either a formal or informal structure to share their mutual interest (p. 195). An example from an informal structure of fans getting together is back in 2015 when Zayn decided to leave the band One Direction, the rest of the group continued with the tour and finished what they had started. Since the fans are connected via social media that most common one is Twitter we could easily share information and contact other fans. We had made a group for the Toronto tour date and agreed to make signs to hold up during a particular song that would be played during the concert. Some fans even made extras to make sure that everyone had one, once we entered the venue there was a sign placed on every seat. The band saw the signs and was very grateful that we stuck with them during this hard time. Another theme that follows fans and even applies to the example of One Direction is fan fiction, original stories about media texts written by fans that often include actual characters from the text. The two types of fan fiction is where the writer writes themselves into the story to interact with the original characters, and the second being where the writer explores sexual relationships among the characters (Sullivan p. 204). Any franchise has these types of fan fiction, looking at the TV show Supernatural Fans of the franchise are obsessed with a sexual relationship between one of the main characters Dean and an angel Castiel. Most of the fan fiction relating to the show is what the internet world often refers to as ‘smut’ in which the writing is very graphic between the characters. Others could be where the writer allows themselves and the readers to insert themselves in the lives of the characters. For example, there are short stories called Imagines where the writer gives the audience a potential scene that could happen to them involving their favourite characters.

Fans often have a collection of merchandise and memorabilia related to the franchise (Sullivan p. 208), they can collect action figures, comic books, and many more items. Every time I go to a concert before the concert starts I make sure to bring enough money with me to buy merchandise at the concert hall, whether it’s t-shirts or jewelry, it’s something to help remember the night later on, and where the shirt after the concert is a way of finding other fans.

Fans play a crucial role in the creation and continuation of a franchise, according to Booth “Fans’ engagement at multiple nodes within the production process portends a consequential role in the production of the media object” (p. 151). It’s because of fans that there is a financial gain to creating more material. For example Doctor Who originally aired in 1963 and continued into 1989, with only 2 episodes airing between then and the revival in 2005. Since the revival there has been a large demand for the show to continue, between the original fans from when the show first sired to new fans that started with the newer episodes and eventually watched all of them.

In chapter 9 we focus on interactive audiences and how digital media has changed the way in which fandoms work. Since the widespread digitization of media Sullivan discusses two major trends are shifting for audiences: audience fragmentation and audience autonomy. Audience fragmentation occurs because audiences are being separated into smaller and smaller groups due to the increase in media channels, and audience autonomy refers to contemporary characteristics of media, ranging from interactivity to mobility to on-demand functionality increased the capacity for user-generated content; all serve to enhance the affect that audiences have over media content (Sullivan p. 217). In audience autonomy we came across the term user-generated content which is where audience can interact with the media and create their own experience, often used in video games such as World of Warcraft. Even on other media platforms there is ways that user-generated content can be created. YouTube being one of the largest platforms where users can meld their own individual ideas of popular media by using small portions of existing media and creating new and interesting media, this is often referred to as remixing (Sullivan p. 221). It is also where users can upload vlogs (Sullivan p. 221), where the user talks directly into the Camera with little editing. They often include comments from previous videos or even other social media platforms or can even show video clips from previous video the user has posted.

Twitter according to Wasike is particularly worth studying because of its uniqueness for interaction and its prowess as an adept news breaking tools (Wasike, p. 7). While many social media platforms have the ability to reach large audiences, Twitter is best for interactional purposes. It also allows social media editors to post to multiple readers and have them respond with information in a short period of time (Wasike p. 7). An example of this would be the terrorist attacks in Paris November 13th 2014. I was sitting on the couch while my parents were out for dinner, when the news broke of the tragedy that had struck a concert in Paris. While I had the news playing to give me updates I also had Twitter up on my laptop because I was receiving updates a lot quicker from Twitter than I was from the news stations. There were people living tweeting as the attack was happening to let any family, friends or followers that were checking in on them, that they were safe. It was a fast and easy way to communicate with people all over the world to get access to the news as it was happening.

Finally chapter 10, we recover some of the major themes brought up in the textbook and how they will continue to change the way in which audiences use and interact with media. Transmedia production “refers to the coordinated use of multiple platforms to craft a narrative” (Sullivan p. 241). This opens ups the option for the audience to interact with the producers of a media text. For example, while watching the live broadcasting of a television season finale, living tweeting your reactions to the events that take place has become the norm. Seeing hundreds of people tweeting their reactions and watching as the hashtag associated with the shows starts trending so you can see in real time how people react and how many people are watching. Even in some cases, with media being as accessible as it is, it also allows people to avoid certain media content that they find offensive (Sullivan p. 243). The idea that on social media if someone is being disrespectful or just has an opinion that you cannot agree with you can easily block them.

Now the idea is trying to determine where exactly media goes from here. Does the audience become even more active? Do we stay at the level we have already attained? Or do we regress into being more of a passive audience? While Astigarraga argues that “active audience of traditional media has probably been pushed as far as it can go, […] interactive media [referring to the internet] put such activity at the center of both media design and media use” (p. 135), one must agree that as it stands it hard to see how audience could be any more active, we have the ability to see media content as it happens, how could we possibly improve on this? But then again, if we were able to go back in time and tell someone how audience would behave in today’s modern era, no one would think it was possible. Ultimately there is no way to definitively tell what the future hold for audiences with media content.  

[bl0nd3-amb1t1on]

Blog Post #2

In this blog post I will be covering the last three chapters in Sullivan’s textbook along with three different articles that focus on each week’s topic. I’ll go through the main points and terms provided along with providing actual audience experiences to show how these apply to real life scenarios.

In current times with constantly being surrounded by media and media being entangled in our everyday lives there is almost never time when we are not an audience. And with the accessibility to technology and technology improving everyday it makes it even easier to determine what types of media people are consuming, how often, and for how long. Companies like Nielsen’s look at ratings in the case of television where rating are identical to public opinion surveys as they aim to estimate the size and makeup of the audience as accurately as they can (Sullivan p. 85). They survey people and their watching habits by either cable or satellite television to determine how large the audience, commonly known as audience exposure, which is virtually a currency and is used to determine the cost paid by advertisers to networks for spot advertising (Buzzard p. 512). Looking at this idea I can look back to how commercials are set up during TV shows. Based on past experience they know what types of commercials to play based on what demographic will be reachable. Years ago, different commercials played during the day were directed at housewives because they were usually in charge of the finances as they did the shopping for the family, so ads for household products would be directed to them. Even in today’s society ads are directed to specific audience that are felt to be the most influenced by the ad. For example, when I’m babysitting on a Saturday morning and the kids want to watch cartoons most of the commercials played are directed towards parents because they are typically watching cartoons with their children during this time.

Relating audience experience to uses and gratification theory which is the study of how and why people use the media, it also proposes that audiences are engaged and creative that make conscious decisions about their media exposure (Sullivan p. 108). This would be the idea of why people, watch certain TV shows or like a certain genre of books, movies, and music. It explains why people use media the way they do. For example, why some people like horror movies, or in my case, why I love going to Halloween Haunt every year around Halloween. It’s a fun experience to do with friends and just like roller coaster you get a rush of adrenaline knowing that any moment a person could jump out at you and scare you. As soon as you walk into the park you are fair game to be scared and nowhere is safe. Not only do they jump out and scare you but they sometimes will grab your arm or leg depending on where they are hiding. The thrill of being nervous to turn a corner or walk by a building because you know someone will be hiding behind it. The noise of screams from other goers sending a chill down your spine, it’s exciting and terrifying at the same time.

The same idea can be applied for different genres, comedy can be used as a pick me up or if the person just has that type of personality where they are the jokester of the group they might enjoy watching things that make them laugh. I for one, when I’m in a sad mood will watch a sad movie such as the Notebook for a feel good crying movie. Sometimes when I’m having a bad day and I don’t want to be cheered up because I just want to get it all out I will watch a movie that is known for making people cry.. If I Stay is one that no matter how many times I watch it there is always that one part that gets me. And to help satisfy the release of sadness I’m feeling, a sad movie will help me get there.

The idea of uses and gratification theory can be applied to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which suggests the fundamental motivation for human beings, beginning  with physiological drives (Sullivan p. 115). The hierarchy suggests that certain needs must be fulfilled before one can move onto the next level. The hierarchy is as followed physiological needs, safety needs, the need to belong, self-esteem and self-actualization. Media plays a large role in the middle level of the need to belong. Since often media users use it as a way of contacting people, either from around the world or even in their own neighbourhood. It allows them to fill their social needs by allowing them to socialize with people on their own time. Facebooks posts, and tweets can be viewed at any time and countless people see them, the action of someone liking or “re-tweeting” a post can show the user that others agree with their opinion or point and shows that other think like them and that they belong to a group. It also shows that different types of media can be used to satisfy different needs. A person will use a specific form of media that they believe will meet their expectations (Sundar, S & Limperos p. 506), Facebook can be for socialization, Twitter can be used for news and gathering information, Television can be used to pass the time. According to Sundar and Limepros the dominant belief appears to be that needs drive the gratifications obtained from different types of media (p 506). I find that when it comes to different forms of media, snapchat and Instagram are used as a way to show off one’s life. People are always posting what they are doing, a few months ago my mom and I went to the movies and the child in the row in front of was snapchatting the movie as he was watching it. People use those types of media platforms as a way to showcase their life which falls under the social networking gratifications ( Sundar & Limperos p. 508). This could also be considered a type of modality based gratification by definition refers to the different methods of presentation of the actual media content, which appeals to different aspects of our perceptual system such as audio and visual (Sundar & Limperos p. 512). An example of Agency-based gratification would be posting on social media about a new piece of information you found out either about a friend or even through a celebrity if you happen to be around them at a certain point in time. As agency-based gratification is the idea that all media users can be agents or sources of information (Sundar & Limperos p. 513). Finally there is interactivity-based gratifications which be definition means that the audience is activity and allows users to interact with a through a medium (Sundar & Limperos p. 514). An example of this is watching a celebrity that you admire while they are doing a live stream and you are able to send them messages in real time and they can see them and potentially respond to them. I was watching Connor Franta, who is a youtuber, while he was doing a livestream and fans could interact with him while he was live and answer our questions, I asked one about one of the decorations in the room he was filming and he answered.

Finally we have the idea of interpreting and decoding mass media texts, often where the theory of semiotics is used. Semiotics is the study of signs and their significance to society (Sullivan p. 136). While Saussure believed that the process of human communication depends on the sign – words, images, objects (Sullivan p. 136). A sign can be simple based on appearance but based on two parts the signifier, the form of the sign, and the referent, which is the concept the signifier represents (Sullivan p. 137) it can have several different meanings. For example, watching a YouTube video in high school geography about how different countries react to different hand gestures, for a country like Canada, the hand symbol for ‘okay’ means just that, but in some countries such as Greece and Turkey, it considered a vulgar term and should not be used abroad. In the idea of decoding texts brings us to the idea of screen theory which states ideological messages are embedded within the film texts structures (Sullivan p. 139). Often in some commercial there is an odd shown for a fraction of a second that it too small for our conscious mind to notice but on a subconscious level our brains retains the information. In high school marketing we watched a video of commercials at the normal rate of speed and then again slowed down to reveal the hidden message. Similar to Petts’s idea of studying how views react to Asia media, through the dominant, negotiated and oppositional readings for the media (p. 38) we will apply this to the Western world’s ideology about horror  films and the different types of readings a person can take on the subject. The dominant position is where a person would accept the media message exactly in the code it was produced (Sullivan p. 142). This would be someone seeing a trailer for a horror movie that advertises that it is based on a true story and believe that everything that happens in the trailer and the entire movie was exactly what happened to the person in real life. Whereas someone with the negotiated stand point would take the code provided and apply their own knowledge and apply it to the information they have been given (Sullivan p. 142) in this case they would be aware that the story is loosely based on a true story, meaning some parts might have actually happened and others are pure fiction to make the movie a true horror story. Finally, the oppositional position would refuse to believe or accept any and all information given (Sullivan p. 142). In the case of the horror movie, they would refuse to believe that what they saw could be based on a true story. For example, my friend and I went to see a horror movie called The Haunting in Connecticut when it came out. Once the film started playing and stated that this was based a true story, my friend held the dominant position and believe that everything that was going to happen in the movie had actually happened to the person the story was about. I however, took the negotiated position, believing that some of it could be true or similar to what happened and other parts were played up to make the movie more interesting. Some things I couldn’t believe would actually happen. At the end of the movie there closing scene was bit of information about the real story, about how the house was haunted and the boy suffering from a terminal illness miraculously was cured; all signs of the illness gone from his body. The movie gave the negotiated position by telling you at the end what had actually happened to the boy.

[bl0nd3-amb1t1on]

Blog Post #1

August 8th 2014, my best friend and I went to a concert in Toronto at the Virgin Mobile Mod Club, her having just turned 19 and me being three months away from turning 19 it was both of our first experiences in a club. Even though I suppose it only half counts as that night it was just a small concert venue with a bar on one side and small seating area on the other. The whole day was quite an adventure and it made the day and the experience that much better. Not being fully honest with my parents about where we were going and then spending the night at her house so we wouldn’t get caught. For our specific experience we went for the VIP experience where we got to meet MKTO before the show and even had the chance to listen to an acoustic set before they were to actually perform. Relating this to lecture, it would be audience-as-agents because it sees the audience not as objects that are affected by the media, but that people are allowed to choose what media we will consume, allowing us to bring in our own interpretive skills that allow us to create our own meaning (Sullivan p. 7). We arrived at the venue shortly before 4 o’clock as we had to be there earlier than everyone else for the perks of being a VIP. We signed in, showed ID to prove that we were the ones that bought the tickets, and we got our backstage pass, and a small poster of the group. As we lined up outside of the venue waiting for them to let us in, one of the opening acts came out to greet fans and offer us some candy and even take pictures with us if we wanted. Unfortunately at that time I had not heard of this particular artist known by the name of Tiffany Houghton. She came down the walk way introducing herself to everyone and chatting with them for a few minutes before moving on to the next person in line. When she arrived and my friend Marissa and I she talked for a brief moment before pausing and commenting on how long my eyelashes were, naturally I was in heaven having a famous person, even if not famous world-wide still famous enough, to compliment me. She continued on about how I was the third or fourth person she had seen in the line with long eyelashes and stated that it must be something in the Canadian water. She talked for a few more moments and asked if we would like some candy to which we respectfully declined before continuing on to the next person. Once she was done she went back inside but not before telling us how excited she was to play for all of us.

The line eventually started moving as they were letting us into the venue, the security guard at the top of the line was asking if anyone was of legal age and if they wanted to wrist band to allow them to purchase alcohol at the bar during the show. This unfortunately slowed the line down and we’re impatiently waiting to not only see the band play but to actually get to meet them. The line was moving fairly quickly but it still felt slow.  Once we had reached the threshold of the doors to the club and we knew it wouldn’t be long now. The director to help make sure things moved slowly was asking fans if they were with a group of people if they wanted their photo’s with the group or separately. I personally wanted to get separate photos but my friend wanted to get them done together so I agreed, ultimately it didn’t matter it just would have been nice. Our turn was quickly approaching and I could feel my heartbeat increase, I was sure that everyone around me could hear it but at that point I was so happy that my heart could have exploded out of chest and I wouldn’t have cared.

The director yelled “Next!” It was our turn, we climbed up stairs to the stage and were instantly greeted by them hugging us and asking for our names. I’m trying to get my brain to cooperate so I can actually form a proper sentence amongst my excitement. I tell them my name and Marissa does the same. They call us by our name and we have a short conversation before the photographer calls our attention to have our picture taken. The boys stand on either side of us and the picture is taken, the photographer informs us that in 24-48 hours the photographs will be available online for us to save a copy, and that they will only be up for a week and then taken down. He said “it’s a very small window so make sure you don’t miss your chance”. It came and passed so quickly and yet it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. The idea of a parasocial relationship where I invest time and energy into following them on social media, watching anything they are involved in, and know so much personal information about them but they have no idea I exist; until this moment. In that moment I exist to them, they know how much I love them and support their dreams, and while they continue their tour and see hundreds of fans faces and inevitably they forget my face, my name, but in that moment it doesn’t matter. And now the idea of you has been planted in their thoughts, maybe they will remember you, maybe they will not. But no one will know so I can create whatever ideas I want and maintain this parasocial relationship.

Once we had our meet and greet, we were able to claim a spot to watch the rest of the show from, there was no seats so you would just stand around the stage, and another benefit of being in the VIP was you were able to get extremely close to the stage. In this case there was only one row of people between us and the stage. Even being that close you could still perfectly see the entire stage. We waited and just talked amongst ourselves while the band finished the rest of the meet and greets and once they were finished they started the acoustic set. They played their more popular songs for this one ending off with their most popular song Classic. It was incredible to see them perform live; you get that feeling where it all of a sudden hits you that these people are real. If you have ever been to a concert you know the feeling I am talking about. Where you get a thrill and that excited feeling just being in the same room, to actually be able to see someone you admire in person, it is an indescribable feeling.

After the acoustic set was over the next act was not coming on was not until 7PM so we had an hour and a half to just hang around. This is when most people went to go get drinks or some even went back to the seating area to sit down while others, myself included, stayed where we were as we did not want to lose our spots. Time seemed to move fairly slowly, it was odd just standing there waiting for the next thing to happen, there was no music playing from the speakers just to have some form of noise, the only thing happening was the stage hands setting up between acts. This relates to Social Learning Theory in the way that we looked and observed those around us to find out how to use the time in between acts. What people did to pass the time, how people behaved, to try to fit into the crowd (Sullivan p. 45). Now where social learning theory is often applied to child it can be used in all lie stages and people grow and have new experiences and we learn how to act because of these experiences and also how these experiences affect our learning. Although hundreds of people were at this particular concert, not everyone experienced it the same way.

When the time finally came the lights dimmed and Tiffany came on to the stage. She talked to the crowd a bit to get a feel of what we were into as far as music goes. She asked if we like boybands and followed it up with a cover of What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction, the audience went crazy. She admits her love for boybands and how that inspired the first song she was going to preform: Band Boys. She played 4 or 5 songs then thanked the crowd for being a wonderful audience and that she couldn’t wait to come back and play for us again. This was followed by another intermission of 30-45 minutes long; most of the crowd seemed unfazed by this large gap of time in between acts where Marissa and I were confused. It was the first time we had been to concert in such a small venue, no more than 200 people in the crowd. Is this how it always was? Even at large concert there is usually a break but it is no more than 15 minutes and even then they usually still play music to keep the audience entertained but there was nothing. As odd as we found it, it didn’t really matter because overall the experience was amazing, being so close to the stage and still excited over the fact that we got to meet them.

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Finally the next opening act came on, another odd thing, never had I been to a concert where they had more than one opening act. This band was called Action Item, they had a small splay list of 5 songs, none of which I knew but they were catchy songs and I wanted to learn more about this band. They interacted with the crowd getting them to sing the lyrics along with them or trying to get us to dance along with them. At the end of their set, they asked if it was okay if they took a picture of the crowd, it was a ritual they had for each of their shows.

Once they finished their set, there was a short intermission of 30 minutes before the main act came on. The lights dimmed one last time and the crowd went crazy as they walked on stage and their music started playing. They started off by doing what every artist does, asking how the crowd is doing, which is usually not followed by an answer but by a large amount of screaming. Of the 11 songs on their only album they played 10 songs, the one song they left out Marissa and I were disappointed as that was one of our favourites. During the performance, they included the crowd by reaching out to the crowd and holding hands with fans and at some points in the show hold the microphone out to the audience to allow the crowd to sing back to them. The idea of a concert follows along the lines of the three models of audiences, in this case it can fit into two categories: audience-as-mass in the sense that while you are aware of the people around you, but when the music starts playing you are now essentially in your own world, interpreting the music how you want, subject to your ideas and experiences. Everyone else around you simply just fades away while you focus on the band preforming (Sullivan p. 6). Or seen as audience-as-agents because the audience knowingly chose to come to this venue to hear them perform, they bought the tickets. We chose to listen to their music and support this group.

Once the concert was over, that was the time to buy any merchandise. The one opening act Action Item came out and was standing at a both that had their EP that they were selling to try to get their name out there and to grow their fan base. That was the time you got to talk to them and we even got to take a selfie with one of the band members. They were walking around talking to fans to build that relationship with them and they were able to share their social media with the audience to allow them to get updates on when new material came out by these artists. We went up to the table that Action Item had set up because we liked their music and wanted to hear more. Marissa and I got to talk to the band directly while they were selling their EP and even got a selfie with one of the members.

With all of the material that has been covered in lecture, I can now look back at this experience and think about how the audience reacts to the medium and why they act that way. This entire experience and it came to be can be shown through Sullivan’s idea of the power of the media, he states that power involves the ability of one party to alter the decisions made and experienced by another (Sullivan p. 19). My friend was introduced to the group because every time we were in the car I forced her to listen to one of their songs as I drove her home from school. Since then she also was interested in the group, so when I saw the opportunity to go and see them preform live there was no question, I bought the tickets. She was going regardless. Even when comparing the idea of the audience, and how it has changed through history much has stayed the same. Audience as a crowd which referred to the working class commoners which gathered at specific times and places to experience some form routinized behaviour (Sullivan p. 13). In this case, while it is not just for the working class anymore it is still very similar to this definition. Usually to maintain some fairness in the idea of a concert, there is a set list that does not change, so there is a certain level of predictability to a concert, there are still small changes made to make it appear like it is not the same show played over and over again. Essentially a crowd is gathering at a specific time and place for a show to be put on. Even during the concert there can be a modern form of media propaganda, in the sense of vendors trying to sell you merchandise with the groups, name or logo or even pictures on it, which are meant to be worn and act as walking billboard and essentially free advertisement While media propaganda typically refers to “disseminate or promote particular ideas” (Sullivan p. 36). It does work for concerts, the merchandise is a way to promote the band or group which ca help the popularity of the group grow.

 Works Cited

Sullivan, J. (2013). Media Audiences: Effects, users, institutions and power. Sage Publications Inc., New York, NY.