GCSE MediaGCSE MediaKey Concept: AUDIENCEKey Concept: AUDIENCE(Music Promo examples)(Music Promo examples)

Mr. BurrowesMr. BurrowesWho can guess my nationality?Who can guess my nationality?NationalityNationality is is oneone audience factor; add this audience factor; add this to your list on the handout! to your list on the handout! [‘[‘Other factorsOther factors’]’]

Our Individual Background

Matters How you respond as an audience member will

be influenced by your background What elements of my background compared

to yours might make my response different to yours? [2+ factors]

Add ‘age’ to your GAPS list of audience features – we will shortly split this in two

Stereotypes are useful for wide, mass appeal and recognition, but can damage a text’s appeal to those stereotyped – add this to your list

In this lesson we will…In this lesson we will…

1)1) Start learning how to analyse a media Start learning how to analyse a media texttext’’s likely target audience(s)s likely target audience(s)

2)2) Learn some terms to help with thisLearn some terms to help with this

3)3) Consider a range of examples, Consider a range of examples, individually and in groups (using individually and in groups (using ‘‘music music promopromo’’ texts) texts)

Please feel free to ask questions at Please feel free to ask questions at anyany stage of the lesson!stage of the lesson!

You should make notes on the handoutsYou should make notes on the handouts

Is This Part of the GCSE? Yes: You will have three production tasks

for Unit 2: Understanding the Media For some of these you don’t have to

produce the full text, just plan out the idea For every production you must show

evidence of researching how such texts work

As part of this, you will learn a range of terminology for the main ‘Key Concepts’: Media Language: Forms and

Conventions Institutions Audience Representation

We will focus on Audience today, but may mention some of the others

KEY FACTORS: Filling in the

GAPS… Big budgets create pressure to appeal to a WIDE,

mass, mainstream market (not a ‘niche’ market) Media producers and exhibitors always consider

TWO key audience factors, each of which are also split into two

Can you guess what the ‘G’ and ‘A’ factors are?

Fill in the gaps in your handout with GENDER: male, female; & AGE: youth, older.

Note: we will look further at gender & age in future lessons

Main and minor audiences

We’ll look again at the ‘mash-up’ video which uses 1980s heavy metal music videos and 1980s video games

Consider how we’d describe the main audience for this, but also if it might have appeal beyond this…

If my age and personal tastes make me part of the core or primary audience, the humour and viral style of this video might help it appeal to a younger secondary audience too

Add these to your list of audience terms!

Main and minor audiences: Genre

How do ‘rom-com’ (romantic comedy) films demonstrate this technique of including features which can widen the audience beyond the ‘primary’ target audience? (HINT: use gender stereotypes!)

Add ‘genre (fans)’ to your list You could also note the term ‘hybrid’, which is

when two+ genres are combined in one media text, a common technique for widening audience appeal

Shaun of the Dead, for example, was a ‘zom-rom-com’, adding horror (zombies) into the mix!

Breaking Down the AudienceSo far we have noted

these ways to break down an audience: age (youth, older), gender (male, female), nationality, primary v secondary, genre (fans)

What other elements can we consider?

Why might this film appeal to school children?

Add ‘identification’ to your list

Breaking Down the Audience Ignoring genre, why

might The Switch appeal to (a) men or (b) women?

And why shouldn’t you be familiar with Shaun of the Dead?

Add ‘sex appeal’, stars and age ratings to your list

Analysing Audience from CD Covers Your next challenge is to see if you can

pick out details from CD covers which suggest a certain audience

You will try this individually, then discuss your findings in pairs (making changes or additions if you wish to) before presenting your findings to the class

You can use a print-off to draw arrows and list your points – and a blog post to get a sharper look at the images (there is also an example of how you might do this)

Enter the URL: yr9media.blogspot.co.uk

Presenting, Discussing Presenting, Discussing FindingsFindings

Each pair will present their main findingsEach pair will present their main findingsThis includes noting any differences This includes noting any differences

between their two examplesbetween their two examplesGive precise reasons to back up your Give precise reasons to back up your

analysisanalysisEveryone else can ask questions and Everyone else can ask questions and

offer views – be constructive, and back offer views – be constructive, and back up your views with evidence from the up your views with evidence from the texttext

Consolidation: Sum Up What You’ve Learned Today

Either as homework or (if there is time) in the lesson, write up one paragraph: How can I analyse the likely audience just by looking at a media text? Use some of the terminology and examples from the lesson.

NEXT STEPS: We will look closer at some examples, terminology, and begin to learn ‘media language’ for describing the details of a media text…