Media Audiences

• To whom is the text addressed? What is the target audience?
• What assumptions about the audience’s characteristics are implicit within the text?
• What assumptions about the audience are implicit in the text’s scheduling or positioning?
• In what conditions is the audience likely to receive the text? Does this impact upon the formal characteristics of the text?
• What do you know or can you assume about the likely size and constituency of the audience?
• What are the probable and possible audience readings of the text?
• How do you, as an audience member, read and evaluate the text? To what extent is your reading and evaluation influenced by your age, gender, background etc?

The film is addressed to a wide audience. The film “Tangled” is rated PG. This means that it is suitable for children only with parental guidance. The primary target audience would be a female audience, aged 7-14. This is due to the story within the film. For example the protagonist is a female and this would attract a female audience. Also the fact that it is based on a fairy tales connotes the audience are most likely to be females as they are more into fairy tales and magic than boys. However the film will also attract a male audience of the same age rate. This is done through the second main character which is a male and through the action and adventure within the film. The film was normally shown throughout the day till the afternoon. This connotes that the audience would be young children as that is most likely when they would be out with parents. As the film is a mixture of genres such as romance, comedy and fantasy this connotes to us that it was a family film for parents to take their children to see.  As younger audience-children, would view this film in a different way to an older audience. For example a child would only view the film as what’s happening on the screen and when something is going wrong and when something is going right through characters voice tones and dark or light lighting. However a older audience member will view the text in greater depth. For example the jokes made within the film by Flynn Ryder would amuse them, where as a child would not understand the full content of the joke. The secondary target audience would be teenagers 15-18 years. However this is a very limited audience. Some of the audience who would be in this age group would most likely go see the film just because they wouldn’t have a choice. For example taking a younger sibling to watch it. However some of the audience in the age range may go for their own amusement. As the storyline is based in a old child’s fairy tale, this could be something that the audience have grown up on and therefore want to go see it. Also the institution itself has a big part to play in viewing of the film. This is because it is one of the most famous industries in the world and is so well known audiences may just go to see the film because of it.  As an audience member I see the text as a childhood favourite and therefore wanted to watch the film. Also Walt Disney is a personal favourite therefore I was further encouraged to go see the film. As a seventeen year old media student I however have a different view on the film altogether. I analyse the film and question why certain objects and colours are there. Also because of my childhood which was brought up on Walt Disney films I see the film as a “classic” to what my generation would define as “Classic”. Examples would be The Lion King, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and so forth.