Defining Audiences

I would define an audience as a group of people who come together either to a physical or virtual space, to view or listen to a presentation anywhere in the world. The presentation can include things such as a concert, sporting event, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, a play, an art show, etc. I chose to define audiences using this definition because it understands that audiences can use different mediums of media technology to come together and that they are part of a larger and more diverse group of individuals who happen to share certain interests. This definition works for me because I believe that audience dynamics have changed over time partially due to technological advancements, and that it is important to include this new type of virtual audience into the study of audiences. Also, with technology at people's finger tips, it opens a new realm of being a part of two audiences at one time.

Why I Care About Audiences

At this point, you may be wondering why I care about audiences. The answer is simple really; it’s because we are all a part of audiences in one capacity or another, and being part of an audience tends to come with certain roles and responsibilities depending on what the context that audience is in. Also, the fact that we as humans are social beings, makes sense as to why audiences and the media outlets they use to express themselves exist in the first place. In addition, I find the question of why people do things and engage in certain things fascinating and by looking at audiences, I can see general views and perspectives from varying types of audiences as to why they choose to participate. So, by studying audiences more in depth, I hope to gain a better understanding of why people choose to participate in certain audiences over others, to discuss whether individuals truly understand that they indeed belong to a much larger, potentially even global audience and what that even means to belong to such a large audience.

Audiences in the News

Although many of us identify as belonging to varying audiences based on our own likes and dislikes, we don't always realize that we are a part of a much larger collective group of individuals that partake in an event or social activity. Thus, many research analysts aim to study why people engage in certain audience behaviours and practices. In addition, the news media sometimes also discusses audiences and often uses the opposing views of audiences creating a supportive environment or how destructive audiences can be.

If you follow the link below, you will find a brief article pleasantly describing performers recognizing that they too are part of audience at the My Favorite Bands Festival and that often times the lines between the audience and the performers can be blurred. I find this article relevant when discussing audience studies because we often forget that even the most famous of people are part of the same audiences that we are. Also, that depending on the atmosphere, the performers can seem like part of the audience, making it a more intimate and personable experience for everyone. Hence, when performers such as musicians are more interactive with their audience, I believe that the viewers enjoy the presentation more and are able to perceive the artist on a more personal level. 

http://www.greeleytribune.com/entertainment/18202438-113/my-favorite-bands-festival-brings-seventh-year-of#

On the other hand, as previously mentioned, the news focuses also on how audiences can be intentionally or unintentionally destructive especially in large groups. For instance, in the article below, people who went to Boots and Hearts 2015 left large amounts of garbage behind that locals hope doesn't wreck the local wildlife.

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2015/08/10/concerns-and-complaints-after-festival

Audiences Then and Now

When I think of how audiences were back then, I think of how my grandparents used to watch musicians play music in the town square or local café. That audiences back then weren't always formally organized, but that it depended on where you were at the time and what your preferences were. Yes there were organized sporting events or plays put on in neighbouring villages, but many people couldn't always afford to travel or they had too many responsibilities at home and therefore had no time to attend. However when my parents were growing up, they experienced slightly more leisure time than my grandparents, which enabled them to spend more time with their friends going to movies and concerts. Also, my parents enjoyed playing sports and so not only were they part of audiences watching other sporting events, they were also at times the ones being watched by various audiences. This gives you a slightly different experience of the audience because you are viewing the audience as they are viewing you. So depending on the performer, some people feed off of the audiences' energy in order to perform better and they see the audience as a supportive fan base. Since being a performer myself whether as an athlete or as a singer, I have found that audiences enjoy being captivated by something and that if they become bored or disinterested they will leave a performance or dive into a different audience altogether. What I mean by this is that in today's society, we don't necessarily need to physically leave a place in order to become a part of a different audience, but that we can do this virtually through the technology that many people have at their fingertips. Whether you log onto Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, you then become part of that audience as well. Thus, being part of an audience doesn't always entail going to a physical venue, and instead those who may not otherwise be geographically connected, are now part of a collective virtual audience.