Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratification theory

In 1974, Blumler and Katz create a 'Uses and Gratification' theory that explore and suggested how the general public looked towards films and TV Dramas as media has to fit to people's specific needs. They called this 'Uses and Gratification' theory to be known as "The Four Needs Theory ".

In this theory, there is four main parts:

1. Escape and Diversion from everyday life 
2. Surveillance and Information 
3. Personal Relationships
4. Personal Identity 

(Taken from http://heworthmediastudies.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/popular-press-audience-and-blumler-and.html).

This theory is an audience centred approach as to understand mass communication between the media and people. As this question behind this theory "What does media does to people? ".


Modern Day Applications that uses this theory :

• Mobile Phone 
• Internet 
• Social Media 
• Instant Messaging 
• Online Gaming 
• Animated News 
• Entertainment Media 

Katz, Blumler and Gurevitch focused the theory on the social and psychological origins of need that give them  expectations of the mass media and other sources. As a result led them to many different paths/patterns of media exposure and the Gratification of the media and people.
According to their research, there was five compartments comprises the Uses and Gratification approach.

1. The audience is concerned as active. 
2. In the mass communication process, gratification and media choices lies with the audience member. 
3. The media compete with other sources of satisfaction.
4. Methodological speaking 
5. Value judgements about the cultural significance of mass communication.

Five uses according to the research, that the audience wants:

1. to be informed and educated.
2. identify with characters of the situation in the media environment. 
3. simple entertainment.
4. enhance social interaction. 
5. escape from the stresses of daily life. 

(http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uses_and_gratifications_theory#The_active_audience)

From this theory, I have learnt that the targeted audience and the mass majority has specific needs that needs to be involve in my thriller. The audience who will watch my thriller, needs to be entertained in order to enjoy the thriller, but also they need to be educated and informed about the main message behind the thriller. As after all, every film or TV Drama has a main message and purpose to them as they are created to tell the general public about the issue or problem they are informing them about. As this will educated the public about what to look out for,and what to do as the film or TV drama is rising to tell them. Finally, I will make sure  that the audience is entertained  when watching the thriller, but to rise the message behind the thriller  about the issue/problem that the thriller is making. As I will tell them and inform them how to help out in the world to reduce the problem and become better individuals and better world. As the message behind my thriller is how people can receive help when they had to deal with a life issue in their life.