Media Theory

Media Theory 

Week 3, Blog 2

Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

Active Audience Theory 

"Active audience theory is a concept in media studies that suggests viewers are not passive recipients of information, but instead actively engage with and interpret media content based on their own experiences, beliefs, and social contexts. This theory emphasizes the role of the audience in making meaning from media, suggesting that individual interpretations can vary widely even when exposed to the same material."

Characteristics of my Opening Film that suggest individual interpretations 

Technology 

Although social media and technology are commonly perceived in the same way by an audience, we consider that they can also be profoundly analyzed and interpreted by the audience. During our film opening, we have considered including a variety of shots that show technology, such as phones, laptops, headphones, social media apps interaction, TV, etc. We consider that some individuals might have a connection to technology as a way of entertainment since the variety of content shown on social media and the multiple apps that include games that require problem-solving/ analyzing data will eventually lead to this percentage of people feeling identified towards our characters.

 Based on our brainstorming, we came to the conclusion that a large percentage of teenagers have a strong mental and physical dependence on technology, especially their phones. Throughout our film opening, we are going to show how our main character is in constant need of her phone in her hand therefore, the audience might identify with the constant use of technology by our main character since many of them might feel dependent and addicted to it. 

Social Pressure 

The interactions and experiences that are to be presented in our film opening are taking place at school. People could perceive the behavior of our main character based on their own experiences at school. For instance, people might identify with her because of social anxiety they might have experienced before. Others could identify with her being constantly bullied or pushed away from others. Sadly, but probably, some of our audience might identify with the people who bully and enhance the isolation of others. 

Family and Home 

Most of our shots will take place at our main character's home. She will be alone most of the time, and we consider that the audience might interpret her isolation based on their own experiences, such as teenagers who have a weak connection towards their family, young individuals who became independent from a very young age, and people who years earlier experienced isolation and lack of connection, resulting of being always home alone.  

Diaries and Journaling 

The main character's journal is one of the most important symbols in our film opening. People in our audience might identify and interpret journaling as a childish behavior of teenagers, while others, based on their proper experiences, might consider journaling as a waste of time, others might consider it as a supremely important coping mechanism, finally, others might be introduced to a way of entertainment and therapy. 

Sources 

Active audience theory - (Television Studies) - Vocab, Definition, Explanations | Fiveable. (2025). Fiveable.me. https://fiveable.me/key-terms/television-studies/active-audience-theory

Images 

• Active Audience. (2010, March 25). Stereotypes in the Media. https://stereotypebyinternet.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/active-audience/

• The Active Audience, Postmodernism and Pluralism. (2025). Emaze Presentations. https://www.emaze.com/@aiiowilf/The-Active-Audience%2C-Postmodernism-and-Pluralism

• Reception theory - Stuart Hall (audience theory #3). (2018). Tes.com. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/reception-theory-stuart-hall-audience-theory-3-11795806