EXAM QUESTION : AUDIENCES Section B ( TV INDUSTRY)

B1. 'The aim of a media text is to appeal to a variety of audiences.' How true is this of your three main texts? [30] 


Audiences = Television industry .  Use a range of specific textual examples from specific episodes of your three case studies.


EXAM GUIDANCE 

This question is open and some candidates may argue that their main texts do not appeal to a variety of audiences. Others may suggest that “appealing to” audiences is not the purpose of their texts. These approaches are valid and should be marked on merit.

  The question is asking about the construction of the texts themselves – not only their marketing, although this may be considered.

 Points should be supported by specific textual examples - reward on relevance and level of detail.

Stronger candidates will engage with the “how far” and the “variety of audiences” elements of the question. Candidates may define different audiences by referring to demographic and psychographic models. These should be used appropriately (e.g. Young and Rubicam’s Four Cs model is used in advertising, Gauntlett’s concept of Pick and Mix applies to magazines).

 Candidates may refer to:
 Audience definitions (by age, gender, ethnicity, psychographic grouping, e.g. VALs, Young and Rubicam, interest etc.)
 Primary, secondary, tertiary, ironic audiences

 When considering construction, points covered may include:  purpose of text  content  mode of address and language  narrative (including positioning)  generic conventions and hybridity  layout and design  production values  interactivity and gameplay  use of star/celebrity and representation  pricing and freebies  fandom  industrial context and platforms