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This year, I chose to live in a new house with new roommates, and one of whom I had never met before move in day *cue Jaws theme*. So on the second evening of our new living arrangements, I'm lounging in the living room half-watching TV as the clock strikes 9. I quickly switch to Slice as my favorite series begins it's intro. The Real Housewives of Atlanta/New York/Miami/Beverly Hills/Orange County/New Jersey etc. have been a guilty pleasure of mine for years now; ever since I watched the first episode, I was hooked. I understand how ridiculous the majority of the content is, but I can't help but let their lavish lives and strong personalities draw me in. A few minutes into the most amazing 60 minute program, in walks new roommate Maggie*. Just as housewife Heather begins to address Vicki on the possibility of Brooks faking cancer, Maggie's face twists into a contorted expression of disgust "Such trash" she announces. Wait, what did she say? WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY?? Maggie continues in her authoritative, ever judging tone that the content is 'garbage' and all of the women are 'uneducated and overly sensitive'. But how much further away from the truth could she be?
Our drastically different interpretation of media content is an exemplary truth of the media industry we live within. The the unprecedented levels of control audiences possess has allowed for the diversification of media content to appeal to very fragmented groups, and the immersion into specialized genres and programmes. Immediate interactive audience programming, such as America's got Talent, is an exceptional illustration of transmedia production. Individual agents have the ability to control the outcome of a show during its live broadcast, and subsequently, to some extent, control the content and characters.
Our drastically different interpretation of media content is an exemplary truth of the media industry we live within. The the unprecedented levels of control audiences possess has allowed for the diversification of media content to appeal to very fragmented groups, and the immersion into specialized genres and programmes. Immediate interactive audience programming, such as America's got Talent, is an exceptional illustration of transmedia production. Individual agents have the ability to control the outcome of a show during its live broadcast, and subsequently, to some extent, control the content and characters.
This control that audiences maintain has in turn encouraged the further immersion in the media itself. Audiences are now engaging more than ever in the paratexts of media programming. The rereading of spoiler blogs in an attempt to gain insight into a show is something that many admit to doing on some level, and even more actually do.
The role of an audience has evolved greatly through the introduction of more capable technologies, but what has remained the same is the consistent interaction of agency and structure. The interactivity of audiences with media content producers ultimately proves the audience power throughout the never-ending renegotiations between the texts produced and audiences. What remains to be seen is the level to which audience interactivity can reach, and if it will lead to problems in the development and maintenance of physical social interactions and relationships.
The role of an audience has evolved greatly through the introduction of more capable technologies, but what has remained the same is the consistent interaction of agency and structure. The interactivity of audiences with media content producers ultimately proves the audience power throughout the never-ending renegotiations between the texts produced and audiences. What remains to be seen is the level to which audience interactivity can reach, and if it will lead to problems in the development and maintenance of physical social interactions and relationships.
*Names have been changed.