Media Diary Week 2- Bates Motel

Name of the text:
Bates Motel

  Date/Time:
11/05/15

Where did you find it:
Netflix

Genre:
Drama-thriller television series

What is the purpose:
The purpose of a TV series is to fulfill the needs of the audience by providing them with entertainment that makes them think, feel, and connect, but always leaves the user wanting more. The audience should want to come back and watch all the episodes. This will also lead the viewer to express interest to family and friends, in turn, this causes further promotion of the show. In this case also, the TV series provides past viewers of Alfred Hitchcock's 1960s film Psycho, with answers and tells the origin story of Norman Bates in the modern day.

Institution producing the text:
Universal Television

Target Audience:
Bates Motel was promoted as a "Contemporary Prequel" to the film Psycho, this could imply the target audience would be past viewers of the film, searching for answers on what molded Norman to be the infamous murderer that we see in the film.
However I believe the target audience is in fact young adults. This dark and unsettling drama appeals to teenagers through shock and scare tactics. As well as this, most episodes have film accompanied with contemporary music, for example the first episode of season 3 opened with Arctic Monkeys.The hit rock groups song "R U Mine" played out as we see Dylan listen to the radio while driving, this immediately cause an attraction with young viewers and listeners of the band, forming a connection between them and the show. Furthermore, I believe that this aimed at young adults due to the time it airs, it airs fairly late meaning families wont be around and adults that are occupied with work may already be in bed, while teenagers are more likely to stay up. The show is also on Netflix, which is popular among teenagers, providing more evidence that Bates Motel is aimed at a young audience.

Your reaction to the text:
Bates Motel is a piece of media that I really enjoy but feel I shouldn't. The show uses suspense to shock the viewer, and touches on horrific subjects that most people wouldn't dare go. With Norman's and Norma's unnatural relationship becoming uncomfortable to watch and Norman very slowly becoming the twisted murderer he will grow to be, this messed up behavior is disturbing but equally fascinating to watch. You also find yourself connecting with the characters, through pity, as you see why they act the way they do making it even harder to watch as we know what inevitably will happen.

Why would people consume the text
People would consume the text because they know what will happen as it is a prequel. However with the first meeting of Norman, we see him as a shy and reserved boy, who actually seems very sensitive, this causes intrigue as the viewer knows the outcome but questions how possibly he could get this way; making the audience watch on.

Could some people react in different ways?
Some people might find the TV show thrilling and exciting to watch as we start to solve the mystery of how Norman becomes the person he will eventually be, the added shock of the situation entices viewers to come back for more.
However some situations, for example the murders, could put people off, as it is a dark situation to cover.
Others, fans of film the Psycho, may find it hard to watch as them seeing Norman in the modern day is maybe not the character being portrayed in the correct way, causing doubts of whether the writers keeping the link. The viewers may then choose not to watch it so they can stay true to the classic film.