Audience Theory: Uses and Gratifications

Uses and Gratifications refers to the why we do things. This could be why we watch a certain TV show or why we are draw to a particular music artist(s).

A media text has to fulfil one of the following to attract an audience:

• Identity - recognising the product/person in a text. This could be a role model(s) that reflect similar values
• Educate - aquire information, knowledge + understanding of a media text
• Entertain - what you are consuming should give you enjoyment
• Social Interaction - media products produce a topic of conversation/debate