Section 1
1a) Identify the main targeted audience of Mad Men
Mad Men was the first television series produced by AMC, which expected viewers to subscribe to their channel to be able to watch the shows they broadcasted. This relates to the specific target audience suitable for Mad Men, as people have to pay to be able to watch this programme. This also eliminates a mass and mainstream audience, as it is not available for all viewers. A niche audience is the most suited to Mad Men, as the text is not completely publicised and broadcasted on a channel such as ITV1. Due to its historical context and the era it is representing, a more active audience is suited in order to successfully decode the text.
1b) Identify one way the text has been encoded to appeal to that type of audience.
The focus on historical context and how characters are represented in certain ways to make them more representative of that specific era e.g. Joan representing the Marilyn Monroe figure.
1c) Justify how that point/technique/convention would gratify your previously identified type of audience.
By the audience being more active they would appreciate and understand the influential figures of that time, which is the 1950 and 60s. Marilyn Monroe was seen as the most beautiful woman in the world and was an iconic figure in art and fashion. Her curves and flamboyant behaviour was seen as attractive whereas a passive and mainstream audience would not understand this convention as they are used to finding slim, tanned females attractive.
1d) Describe a narrative sequence where this point/technique/convention is present.
This is specifically shown with the female protagonist- Joan. While in her office, she is being made to sleep with a business partner in order for the company to succeed and gain more profits. Her body is being sold and used for the males gain, showing common narrative themes and issues of sexism. She is wearing a tight, navy dress showing off her curves and her hair is of a red head. Her voice is very light and flamboyant similarly to Marilyn Monroe.
Section 2
2) Does Lost target a passive audience? Justify answer
Lost does target a passive audience as the dialogue throughout includes a lot of exposition, which allows the audience to know whats going on throughout the episode. This meaning that they don't need to work anything out for themselves compared to an active audience which are more likely to decode a text more successfully.
3) Identify how Lost is encoded to gratify a passive audience
By the use of the score while creating an enigma, a passive audience are able to decode this information to know something is either going to happen or the audience is going to find something out. This will gratify a passive audience as it will keep them informed and intrigued within the text.
4) Justify one point/technique/convention that would force Mad Men's audience to decode the text actively in order to gain gratifications.
By the lack of the score convention, there is a lack of awareness as to when something is going to happen and the creation of an enigma. By a performance decoding the text actively they will be able to understand the narrative effectively.
5) Explain and justify how Peaky Blinders has been encoded to gratify both passive and active audience.
A passive audience would enjoy the use of soundtracks from the White Stripes, as using modernised music the audience are able to relate to the text more. An active audience would appreciate the professional use of cinematography, that the text has been complimented on frequently. Both of these conventions are used within the first 3 minutes of episode 2. A fight between the three Shelby boys and other men breaks out, the scene is filmed in slow motion and the soundtrack is reversed. This would gratify both a passive and an active audience as it is entertaining and interesting to both audiences.
6) Justify the statement 'Lost is encoded to be inclusive'.
7) Why does the use of a score appeal to a more passive audience?
The score appeals to more of a passive audience as it indicates them when an enigma is occurring and something is going to happen or told to the audience. This means they don't need to decode the text by themselves or work something out that isn't given to them directly, this is what an active audience is able to do.
1a) Identify the main targeted audience of Mad Men
Mad Men was the first television series produced by AMC, which expected viewers to subscribe to their channel to be able to watch the shows they broadcasted. This relates to the specific target audience suitable for Mad Men, as people have to pay to be able to watch this programme. This also eliminates a mass and mainstream audience, as it is not available for all viewers. A niche audience is the most suited to Mad Men, as the text is not completely publicised and broadcasted on a channel such as ITV1. Due to its historical context and the era it is representing, a more active audience is suited in order to successfully decode the text.
1b) Identify one way the text has been encoded to appeal to that type of audience.
The focus on historical context and how characters are represented in certain ways to make them more representative of that specific era e.g. Joan representing the Marilyn Monroe figure.
1c) Justify how that point/technique/convention would gratify your previously identified type of audience.
By the audience being more active they would appreciate and understand the influential figures of that time, which is the 1950 and 60s. Marilyn Monroe was seen as the most beautiful woman in the world and was an iconic figure in art and fashion. Her curves and flamboyant behaviour was seen as attractive whereas a passive and mainstream audience would not understand this convention as they are used to finding slim, tanned females attractive.
1d) Describe a narrative sequence where this point/technique/convention is present.
This is specifically shown with the female protagonist- Joan. While in her office, she is being made to sleep with a business partner in order for the company to succeed and gain more profits. Her body is being sold and used for the males gain, showing common narrative themes and issues of sexism. She is wearing a tight, navy dress showing off her curves and her hair is of a red head. Her voice is very light and flamboyant similarly to Marilyn Monroe.
Section 2
2) Does Lost target a passive audience? Justify answer
Lost does target a passive audience as the dialogue throughout includes a lot of exposition, which allows the audience to know whats going on throughout the episode. This meaning that they don't need to work anything out for themselves compared to an active audience which are more likely to decode a text more successfully.
3) Identify how Lost is encoded to gratify a passive audience
By the use of the score while creating an enigma, a passive audience are able to decode this information to know something is either going to happen or the audience is going to find something out. This will gratify a passive audience as it will keep them informed and intrigued within the text.
4) Justify one point/technique/convention that would force Mad Men's audience to decode the text actively in order to gain gratifications.
By the lack of the score convention, there is a lack of awareness as to when something is going to happen and the creation of an enigma. By a performance decoding the text actively they will be able to understand the narrative effectively.
5) Explain and justify how Peaky Blinders has been encoded to gratify both passive and active audience.
A passive audience would enjoy the use of soundtracks from the White Stripes, as using modernised music the audience are able to relate to the text more. An active audience would appreciate the professional use of cinematography, that the text has been complimented on frequently. Both of these conventions are used within the first 3 minutes of episode 2. A fight between the three Shelby boys and other men breaks out, the scene is filmed in slow motion and the soundtrack is reversed. This would gratify both a passive and an active audience as it is entertaining and interesting to both audiences.
6) Justify the statement 'Lost is encoded to be inclusive'.
7) Why does the use of a score appeal to a more passive audience?
The score appeals to more of a passive audience as it indicates them when an enigma is occurring and something is going to happen or told to the audience. This means they don't need to decode the text by themselves or work something out that isn't given to them directly, this is what an active audience is able to do.
