ESSAY: Audience Theories- How do they apply to your trailer?

AUDIENCE THEORIES ESSAY 

There are numerous narrative theories relating to audience throughout media and film. These help determine a target audience, among other things for a film. They also help segregate horror films into different sub-categories, to show and exemplify the differences between them. The theories that I'm going to speak about today relate specifically to the audience and how they react to films. 

Firstly, and perhaps the most effective and empowering theory utilised in horror is the 'Catharsis' theory, penned by Greek philosopher Aristotle. Generally, the Catharsis theory involves the idea that people will watch depressing or horror-inducing media when they feel down because it stimulates a 'better' feeling in them. My trailer does very loosely make use of the catharsis theory. The constant fast cuts and worried facial expressions increase the intensity and looming danger of the film, making a viewing audience perhaps thankful that they are not in the protagonist's position in this trailer, and therefore they are purged of any negative feelings of emotions via the Catharsis theory.

Another theory strongly relating to a modern audience is the Copycat Theory. This term wasn't coined by anyone specifically, however it's very potent and relevant for a modern audience. The idea of this theory is that a naive and impressionable audience are going to watch a horror film or play an age-restricted video game, and become possessed to carry out the actions featured in whichever type of media product they consumed, but in real life. My trailer actually made use of this theory and subverted it for a positive community effect. Many young people will like to explore and look around in restricted places that are not for them. My trailer clearly shows the protagonist doing this and being punished for his actions by the use of a pursuing antagonist. This would hopefully discourage trespassing and actually have a positive effect on an audience. 

Moreover, psychologist Mary Cover Jones theorised the famous 'Desensitisation ' theory wherein a modern audience will slowly become desensitised to more and more graphic content as horror progresses. This is pretty obvious to most people, as horror that was considered 'pushing the boundaries' in the 1950s and 1960s, would be considered tame and almost suitable for family viewing in the modern world. A rare exception of a film considered 'too graphic' even in modern society is the 'Human Centipede' franchise. There is actually no graphic violence in my trailer, due to it being a slasher film. If I was to make the film graphically unnerving and uncomfortable to a modern audience, I would have to include use of blood and dismembered limbs, just to name a couple of features of modern splatter. In addition, to really faze a modern audience, I would have to include something taboo, like possible violence towards children or animals. 

Finally, the last theory that I will be talking about in this essay.is the idea/theory that uses & gratifications can be obtained from consuming media products, such as the thirst for knowledge and the idea of escapism. Uses and Gratifications are not present in my summer trailer, as it's very face-value and doesn't contain underlying messages. If I was to include something that would imply uses and gratifications, I would include heavy violence, so people enduring struggles and stress could use my film trailer as escapism, living vicariously through a murderous and violent antagonist.