Uses and Gratification Theory- Blumler and Katz

Uses and Gratifications (Blumler & Katz)

People may choose to watch our film for the thrill and excitement. Our chosen genre is psychological thriller thereupon requires the audiences full attention in order for them to think about what is or is going to happen. Our story line is based on mental health. People suffering from mental health disorders may be able to identify with the main character, Sarah who is the victim of mental illness. Our film allows people to escape from daily life and indulge in fantasy. A film similar to ours is The Secret Window (2004).

I would argue that Uses and Gratifications Theory doesn't provide enough information in order to analyse films within our genre. It is Difficult to go anywhere with it, as it relies on what an individual person says to a researcher. Some people, therefore, see it as a research tool rather than a media theory.It sometimes can go too far in empowering the audience and taking power away from the media producer. It ignores the creative process, the meanings in a text and the position of media in society, as it only focuses on the text and the individual and assumes an active audience, but much of the time we are not.

My group and I could create questions based on the Uses and Gratifications theory. Examples could be:

• When watching a psychological thriller, do you enjoy to be able to identify with the character?
• When watching a film do you find that become indulged and escape daily life?
• When watching a psychological thriller do you find that you learn something from it?

This research and the results from questions like the ones above will allow us to included uses and gratifications that majority of the audience enjoy. This gives an idea of what our audience wants from a film within this particular genre.