Lo3-Task 1 & 2

The Hypodermic Needle Theory Suggest the Mass media could influence a
large group of people. They do this by Injecting the mass amount of people with
certain massagers that would trigger a desired response. For example, in 1938,
the science fiction novel war of the worlds by HG Wells was performed on the
radio in a dramatic way and heightened realism to make people believe in what
they heard. The broadcast occurred every 40 minutes and people thought it was
an invasion from mars and took defensive actions in order to protect them. The
main positive from the hypodermic needle is that statistics are seen as an
effective way of seeing trends and also large amounts of people are involved
over a long period of time. However the main downside in todays world is the
fact that people are aware of the media industry and how messages are
constructed therefore not so many people are affected.
Uses and Gratifications
This theory has a larger focus on its consumer rather than messages that are
broadcasted to the audience, which in other words is the opposite to the
hypodermic needle theory. Therefore the audience uses the media to meet their
needs and reach those gratifications, whether it would be for the use of
relaxation, socializing or entertainment. This is still used today however it was
originated by Bulmer and Katz in the 1940s. The fact that its still being
continued today means the theory has had been successful.
Reception theory is the way in which a text is read and understood by
audiences. The people who analyse these texts are focused on investigating how
these media texts influence the experience which a viewer has when interacting
with the medium, and what message is delivered to them.
An important ideal in this theory is that the text itself has no meaning but that
the meaning comes from the interaction between the media and the viewer.
Therefore, contextual factors play more of an important role in the spectators
viewing, and thus each individual viewer may receive a different message from
the same programme. These factors include an individuals personal social,
historical and political status.
Thus, overall, reception theory accounts for the viewers viewing circumstances,
which have a big influence over how the viewer will perceive meaning from the
text.
Active consumption is when the audience will engage with messages which
they hear, via the media. They may agree with such messages, or sometimes
question the information which they are faced with. For example, TV shows such
as Question Time invite foreign leaders onto the show to discuss worldly issues,
and audiences have the opportunity to question leaders, in a close proximity,
which they wouldnt be able to do at home.
Contrastingly, passive consumption is when an audience does not engage or
question the media regarding the messages which they communicate. Instead,
they just accept the messages which they are delivered, and are passive
followers of societys norms.
 Do Violent Games brainwash
18 rated games are seen Another you?
to contain violence, gun
crime, blood and sexual
content. People who play
these games are said to be
okay to play them if they
are bought with an adult,
however, if a kid wanted to
play a game, the age
rating will not stop them. It
almost does the opposite
and makes it more
tempting for the kid to
play. This is why young
teens that play video
games have been
influenced to do the
certain things that you get
away with in a computer
game.
Evan Ramsey played a first
person shooter game
called Doom where in the
game you can shoot
someone and they will get
back up fine. Therefore,
with the loose gun Laws in
America, he was able to
get his hands on a shotgun
and brought it to school.
After sneaking the weapon
into school he put his
knowledge from the game
to the test and shot a
student. He said
afterwards I did not
understand that if I pull out
a gun and shoot you ...
youre not getting back
up ... you have to shoot
the things eight or nine
times before it dies. He
claims that the video game
Doom, distorted his
version of reality.
report mentioned There are
how a 14-year old boy
killed his Father and
brother inspired by
violent character Trevor in
the game GTA 5. GTA 5 is
an 18 Rated video game
and includes extreme
violence with all sorts of
weapons. The fact the
game appears realistic, like
the real world, the kid took
the violent actions
mirroring the character
Trevor. During the crime,
and after he had shot his
dad, he called 911, and
then stabbed his brother.
His supposed motive
behind the crime was the
abuse he had often
received from his brother.
The 14 year old boy has
been charged on two
counts of adult first-degree
murder in the deaths of his
farther and younger
brother.
However, The Telegraph
has found no evidence that
violent video games make
children aggressive.
Instead, it is the length of
time which these young
people spend playing such
games. Therefore, it is a
somewhat limited
some theories
that have been discussed
along with these events
and theories. For example,
The Hypodermic Needle
Theory Suggest the Mass
media could influence a
large group of people. They
do this by Injecting the
mass amount of people
with certain massagers
that would trigger a
desired response. Thus,
this would account of the
multiple accounts of young
people whom offer their
exposure to video games
as the reasoning behind
their vicious and violent
actions.
Moreover, the Reception
theory is the way in which
a text is read and
understood by audiences.
As stated in the theory,
everyone understands and
interprets media in
different ways. A fully
functioning normal
member of society would
not fall victim to being
influenced to mimic and
copy such violent actions,
however, young people are
not fully developed and
therefore can sometimes
act in ways they wouldnt if
they were older.
The worldwide response to
these games is therefore
varied: it depends solely
on personal preference. For
some, the idea of a game
enabling mass murder is
disgusting, but for others it
References
http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-Road-
Movies/Reception-Theory.html
https://mediafort.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/passive-or-active-
consumption/comment-page-1/
https://www.learning-theories.com/uses-and-gratification-theory.html
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/gta-5-14-year-old-boy-kills-father-brother-inspired-by-
violent-character-trevor-1442418
http://www.charismanews.com/culture/52651-14-mass-murders-linked-to-violent-
video-games
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/03/12/study-finds-no-evidence-violent-
video-games-make-children-aggres/