Reception theory

Reception Theory

The text i am going to summarise is Friends. Friends is an American sitcom that is based on six friends who all live in the same apartment complex who face life and love. They like getting into each others business and often swap romantic partners. The target audience for this sitcom is targeted at the Mainstreamer because it is one of the biggest sitcoms ever made and is known internationally. It is aimed more towards teenagers and adults because it contains some jokes that not many children would understand.

Preferred: The target audience would most likely to agree and relate with this show as it shows six adults who dont have lots of money so many adults will relate to this and take the preferred reading. What the encoders want to achieve is that they want to show the target audience what life is like in New York and the complications that come with it. There are many ideologies encoded into this TV programmes. One ideology is that friends are essential for having a happy life. Another ideology is that men should be masculine as the men in friends are very masculine and love to go out and get with girls. This text celebrates friendship, love and life. The main message in this tv show is that friends come before anything. Friends are more important than money and anything else.

Oppositional: Some audiences may take an oppositional reading towards this text. Some audiences will agree what the text is doing and what the message they are trying to get across is but they might not agree with it. Some audiences might not agree with that friends is the most importnat thing in life. They might not agree that the script is well scripted and full of humour. Some audiences say that the Characters cant act and are not funny. Audiences that take an oppositional reading might think that the show is unrealistic and life in New York is completely different.

Cultural Experience: Somes cultural experience might change their view on the show.