Unit 1: Uses and Gratifications (Audience Theory)

XFactor Uses and Gratifications

Uses and Gratifications	Example	Relationship to the Audience
Escapism	An inspiring audition with a story that has an emotional response from the audience before.	These auditions distract the audience from their personal problems and worries in real life and allows them to focus all their attention on what’s on screen. In doing this, the audience member is escapes from the outside world.
Surveillance	Dermit is the presenter who enlightens the audience with information such as who is leaving the XFactor and who wins.	The audience learns about an event which will be talked about for months into the future. The winner of the XFactor is well known and the viewer learns about this from the presenter.
Personal Relationships	Dreadful auditions where the person makes a fool of themselves causes people to laugh and talk about the audition afterwards.	Viewers pay talk about the funny or cringe worthy audition afterwards on social media or in real life to friends or family and, in doing so, will build their own personal relationships.
Personal Identity	A Talk Talk advert plays just before the audition.	Influences audience to switch mobile network company as they respect and enjoy the television show. This shapes the audiences’ personal identity as they are persuaded to change an aspect of their life and therefore, identity.