The hypodermic syringe theory could never apply to everyone equally because it would depend on what type of films you watch and what type of state and mind or what type of personality you are. You can’t generalize how a film would influence somebody. Urge to be angry after watching a hard-hitting and powerful film. This person may not know that the film is what influenced them to be angry. It also depends on how other characters in the film react to the violence and rage a character may show. I think somebody would be put-off violence if the film showed the consequences of that violent person actions for example prison or death.
I do think the hypodermic theory could work with example from the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. He allegedly killed 17 people in certain ways where the ‘inspiration’ came from films he watched before he went out to kill somebody. However, I do think that instead of always influencing somebody to recreate the bad things they have seen in films, films can influence somebody to something good for society. After I had watched the film ‘Blood Diamond’, it made me want learn more about the subject of blood diamonds and to research the situation of the people who are made to hunt for these diamonds in Africa which are sold to finance conflicts.
Another media which I am influenced by is music. A happy and upbeat song can make you feel just that, happy and upbeat. I also think it depends on how I listened to this music. If an angry song was played on a loud speaker, I wouldn’t be as influenced by it compared to if I was using ear phones. When you listen to music through ear phones, you become more shut off from the rest of the world and hear only the music.
The example of a media text which I have annotated notes about are newspapers and magazines. I have also noted how theirs type of media can influence an audience, and different type of audiences:
Magazines. They give us the latest news on celebrities, fashion, film reviews and occasionally, world issues. They influence a readers opinion of somebody greatly, the reader believes what they read. Magazines do make me wonder how they know so much about a celebrites' personal life as bearing in mind, they try and do anything to sell as many copies as possible. From this Heat magazines cover, they have made a interesting story about a paparazzi picture which was taken. Heat magazines tries to be sarcastic and 'funny', hooking in the audience of female women and housewives. It is an entertainment magazine, so the chance of true hard-hitting news which doesn't involve celebrity scandal is slim. The cover of this heat magazine has "CHERYL'S BIG SECRET" highlighted over the front, with isn't missable. There isn't much information on the 'secret' but as Cheryl is 'the nations sweetheart' a lot of people would be interested to read about her. The photos on the covers of most magazines are paparazzi photos with natural eye contact - drawing the buyer in. Bright colours, catchy slogans and 'juicey' scandalous stories can influence the possible buyer to actually buy it.
Magazines can link back to the hypodermic syringe theory by the reader acting badly towards a certain celebrity or story )possibly even ending in protests, hate mail etc). A celebrity may not be very liked throughout the nation, so the magazine takes this bad reaction of somebody to their advantage. Somebody who had got into a spot of trouble involving love, drugs, too much partying or a stressful divorce could mean the magazine has lots of 'stories' to write about - therefore selling a lot more magazines because people want to read about these 'stories'. From the example of this Heat magazine cover -> in this day and age we are obsessed with the way we look, and the way other people look especially celebrities. People are desperate to find out what the latest must-have-trend for spring is or to read about "how to lose 5 stone in 6 months" stories. The makers of magazines know this subject is what people like to read about so they have turned it into their advantage. Its a shallow yet smart way to sell magazines. Females tend to care more about appearance, so as these magazines focus more of targeting a female audience, they have to write about appearance to sell magazines.
Are these stories fully the truth? Does a journalist get into a lot of danger to find out the story behind Kerry's, Jordan's or Cheryl's meltdown? The audience doesn't know fully, but i don't think they care entirely either. However the audience stills believes what they are told!
If a magazine can get somebody who has had a couple of run ins with the law, gone in prison a few times and been filmed doing drugs, then its a bonus. Fabulous magazine is free with the 'News of the World' but somebody will still buy the newspaper, just for the free magazine inside - just to read about the celebrity on the cover. The word 'FREE' has influenced. People like free things.The husband would read the newspaper, while the wife would read the magazine. However, having a famous troublemaker on the front of the magazine can influence the younger generation if they were to pick it up and read it. They may like this celebrity for the films they have been in, so might look up to this person and think it is normal to behave in a way that is wrong.
Magazines tend to put emphasis on stories for entertainment value and newspapers generally contain everyday news.However, this doesn't stop newspapers from emphasising on stories also. Compared to magazines, newspapers would dare to print controversial news and do not have very many adverts. I would say that depending what is on the front on the newspaper (different stories can interest different types of readers), different people would want to read it. newspapers can be seen as an 'sdult' thing to read if you are a child, so they may not take much interest. Headlining a newspaper with a story about politics ,war or the way the country is run is risky business because everyone is effected. The audience may agree or not agree, possibly influencing protest and some very angry readers.
Newspapers and magazines are a strong way to influence a lot of readers at once. People believe what they are told and act upon what they are told. Magazines and newspapers want a reaction so the stories they right are shocking and interesting - whether they are true or not - then influencing a good or bad reaction from the reader.
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