Why do audiences enjoy watching crime dramas?
People watch crime dramas for various reasons, simply because they find them entertaining, and relaxing way to spend there evenings. But there are other reasons such as; some people like to have thrills in there life, and that is what their lives are focused on, but also there are people who dont have enough thrills in their life, so they watch crime dramas for vicarious thrills. So that they dont have to live their life like that but get a thrill of watching someone else doing it. Or simply just because they would like a quiet night in watching tv, but dont want to be watching something boring but want to be kept on the edge of their seats.
People may use crime dramas as a escape from their own lives. Going into their own little world trying to solve the mystery of the unknown events and in that hour or so can forget about anything on their minds, problems and their daily routines.
Also some of the audience could watch crime dramas for personal relationship, for example elderly people who do not have the strong relationships they used to have, therefore their lives have been focused around the crime dramas, interacting with the characters through the story going on. Because they are lonely and dont see their family as much or even at all. The crime dramas could be a way of having a relationships, feeling that watching the drama weekly could make them feel as if they know the characters and are part of their lives. And then not feel as lonely.
Personal identity could be formed by the audience, they may watch the crime dramas to see what is right and what is wrong. Finding out the conciquences of crime these days. They may also be doing crimes themself, and see what they are doing wrong and dont want to end up like the people in the crime dramas. They reflect their own personal life into the crime dramas and learn their moral behaviour and values. Seeing what is important in life.
Some people may watch crime dramas to show the difference in crime from what crime used to be to todays e.g.
Inspector George set in the 1960's is a more of a comedy friendly banter, between the police officers. They are dressed very smart and organised.
However in more modern crime drama Good Cop, it is set around 2011. I found that it has a more rural approach to it with starting with a dull, dark setting with police sirens going off in the background showing the todays crime close up with inspectors have lack of respect for eachother. Looking down on people lower down in the job with no friendship bond. They are all casual and not very responsible. Where as in Inspector George the two inspectors had a close family, father and son bond, having respect to on another no matter how high up they are in the police industry.
This shows that people may watch crime dramas to compare the difference in crime through out the UK in the last 50 years. Some people may prefer to watch more of a sutal crime drama e.g. like elderly people so therefore they may prefer to watch older crime dramas like Inspector George. But they also may watch newer dramas to show what is going on in the world these days as they may not be fully aware. It can help people to be more street wise, aware what actually could happen.
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Uses and Gratifications Theory
Uses and Gratifications Theory
During the 1960's were the first generation to experience and grow up with television. Then media theorist realized that audiences made the decisions on what they have watched on television. Although we are all do this subconsciously, as we are all individuals, we all consume texts in different ways and for different reasons.
In 1948 Lasswell suggested that media texts had the following functions for individuals and society:
Uses and Gratification
During the 1960's were the first generation to experience and grow up with television. Then media theorist realized that audiences made the decisions on what they have watched on television. Although we are all do this subconsciously, as we are all individuals, we all consume texts in different ways and for different reasons.
In 1948 Lasswell suggested that media texts had the following functions for individuals and society:
- Surveillance
- Correlation
- Entertainment
- Cultural transmission
Uses and Gratification
- Diversion- Getting away for day to day life problems and routines.
- Personal relationships- Using media for emotional and other interactions. E.g. substituting soap operas for family life.
- Personal Identity- Finding something that relates to you in the texts, learning behaviour and values from texts.
- Surveillance- Information which can be helpful and useful for day to day use in life. E.g. Weather reports.
T.V Scheduling
Dramas series are very popular in UK and any where else in the world. Dramas have formed a very important part in the schedule. As many top-rated programmes are from the genre drama. So a wide proportion of the TV guides are scheduled to drama soaps, series etc. As dramas can be a good family entertainment as well as addictive company in people day to day lives.
One-off dramas are usually quite rare now, but producers a one off drama when they feel it is appropriate E.g. 'Dirty War' after the terrorist attacks in London. They are usually scheduled on TV during the anniversary of important things that have happened in the past, e.g. 9/11. Also they are usually on at late evenings, from 7-10pm. Purely because they are usually on more important situations that have accured. Therefore they have more of a adult viewing.
Drama series are a regular genre found on Television at the moment, purely because they are a weekly set of episodes. They are usually scheduled through out the day, however most likely to be found early afternoon and on wards. This is because once every one has come home from a days work, school, college etc, they can sit back and relax watching weekly/daily entertainment. However more rural programmes, these are usually scripted to be set in early afternoon, for more elderly adults because that would be the time they would be sat down watching TV. Dramas series have an audience which varies very widely. Usually from early teens right up to 80's. Mainly people who don't have as much on as someone who has a work filled lifestyle and are very busy. It can be quite a family audience. I think teenagers from 13 right up to 19 years of age, might be a big percentage of the viewings because it is part of the daily life to have dramas and ciaos, so they can relate to the episodes on.
Dramas series are very popular in UK and any where else in the world. Dramas have formed a very important part in the schedule. As many top-rated programmes are from the genre drama. So a wide proportion of the TV guides are scheduled to drama soaps, series etc. As dramas can be a good family entertainment as well as addictive company in people day to day lives.
One-off dramas are usually quite rare now, but producers a one off drama when they feel it is appropriate E.g. 'Dirty War' after the terrorist attacks in London. They are usually scheduled on TV during the anniversary of important things that have happened in the past, e.g. 9/11. Also they are usually on at late evenings, from 7-10pm. Purely because they are usually on more important situations that have accured. Therefore they have more of a adult viewing.
Drama series are a regular genre found on Television at the moment, purely because they are a weekly set of episodes. They are usually scheduled through out the day, however most likely to be found early afternoon and on wards. This is because once every one has come home from a days work, school, college etc, they can sit back and relax watching weekly/daily entertainment. However more rural programmes, these are usually scripted to be set in early afternoon, for more elderly adults because that would be the time they would be sat down watching TV. Dramas series have an audience which varies very widely. Usually from early teens right up to 80's. Mainly people who don't have as much on as someone who has a work filled lifestyle and are very busy. It can be quite a family audience. I think teenagers from 13 right up to 19 years of age, might be a big percentage of the viewings because it is part of the daily life to have dramas and ciaos, so they can relate to the episodes on.
Thursday 20 September 2012
Examples T.V drama
- Soap opera- A soap opera is a T.V or radio drama series of typically day to day events of characters living in the same place.
- Costume/period drama- A costume/period drama is a T.V or film production which is set in a particular time period, where characters dress up and use props to fit the time period.
E.g. Downton Abbey, Robin Hood, Emma. - medical/emergency-
A medical/emergency dramas is a T.V programme which is sent purely around helping and saving the lives of people in and out of hospitals.
Casualty, Doctors, Holby city. - Literary adaptions-
Literary adaptions dramas are an adaption of a novel to a drama.
The only way is Essex, To kill a mocking bird, Sin city. - Crime drama-
Crime dramas are dramas which focus on the lives of criminals, what happens in court rooms, and police stations. Based on crime scenes.
The bill, Heartbeat, Sherlock. - Contemporary melodrama-
Contemporary melodramas are T.V programmes which have exaggerated stories, characters and situations.
E.g. Lemon la vida loca, Glee, 90210. - Comedy drama-
A comedy drama combines the elements of comedy and drama. So that the programme has both humorous and sometimes serious content in it.
E.g. Misfits, Shameless, Beaver Falls. - Sci-fi /fantasy-
Sci-fi/fantasy dramas are a genre which focus on the supernatural world, dealing with imaginary and futuristic stories.
E.g. Doctor Who, Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
E.g. EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street.
- Spy drama-
Spy dramas are a mixture of action and thriller genres. Deals with a fictional stories but putting them in a realistic situations.
E.g. Spooks, Hunted, Spy kids.
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