- Uses and Gratification is the idea that individuals use the media to get specific gratifications.
- This is in opposition to the Hypodermic Needle Model - this model claims that consumers have no say in how the media influences them.
- The main idea of the Uses and Gratification model is that individuals are in fact not victims of the influences of the media, but use media to fulfil their various needs.
- These needs serve as motivation for using media.
- The Uses and Gratifications theory can be applied to Horror through how the audience would feel safe and secure on the basis of them not being the ones in danger, opposed to the characters actually within the film.
- Escape - some media texts allow the user to escape from reality
- Social Interaction - people create personal relationships with the characters - potentially this could become dangerous is people do not question the reality of the texts
- Identify - individuals often identify an aspect of themselves within a media text - through character or circumstance
- Inform and Educate - the audience gain an understanding of the world around them by consuming a media text
- Entertain - consumed purely for entertainment purposes - no need for other gratifications
Uses and Gratifications of Horror Films
Why do people 'enjoy' horror films?
Horror films are a genre that most individuals would perceive it to be odd to enjoy or like a genre that focuses on the worst aspects of humanity. Although, many individuals really enjoy and love horrors, which has amounted to the genre having such a large cult following.
Audiences enjoy the feeling of fear, suspense and danger without actually having to partake in the scene themselves. Along with this, horror provides a large rush of adrenaline for the audience which makes the genre addictive. Furthermore, by horror focusing on the worst aspects of humanity, audiences can leave feeling better about their own lives.
Horror films are a genre that most individuals would perceive it to be odd to enjoy or like a genre that focuses on the worst aspects of humanity. Although, many individuals really enjoy and love horrors, which has amounted to the genre having such a large cult following.
Audiences enjoy the feeling of fear, suspense and danger without actually having to partake in the scene themselves. Along with this, horror provides a large rush of adrenaline for the audience which makes the genre addictive. Furthermore, by horror focusing on the worst aspects of humanity, audiences can leave feeling better about their own lives.
