U+G theory applied to a Big Six production

1. Uses and Gratification theory
applied
Looking at an example of a Big Six production
Jurassic World (2015)

2. Examples of U+G
Jurassic World (2015) - distributed by Universal
• Escapism
• The film takes place on a theme park island where humans have found a way to
genetically re-create dinosaurs – this fantasy plot is non-fictional and provides
elements of escapism
• The large budget for convincing CGI really helps with this element
• Personal identity
• Identification
• The plot follows 4 people – 2 older workers (a man and a woman), and 2 boys (high school aged and his younger brother)
• This allows audience identification form both younger and older audiences
• There are non-Caucasian side characters, although the main cast is exclusively Caucasian – this brings in wider ethnic audience
appeal, although does endorse in tokenism
• Aspiration
• Younger audience members may aspire to be like either the children or the adults
• Personal relationships
• The film features family conflict as the children's parents are going through a divorce – many children would be
able to identify with this
• There is a romantic relationship which occurs between the two adults which most people are able to identify with
• Information
• Although the film is fictional, it does have some 'fun facts' about dinosaurs which some audience members will
engage with

3. Escapism
• With a budget of $150m, this Big Six
production could make convincing CGI to
effectively allow for audience escapism
• This is also part of what makes it
entertaining

4. Personal identity
• To target a 4 quadrant audience the 4 main characters are crafted to
appeal to young and old men and women
• This is so the audience can identify with the characters, or maybe aspire to
be like them
• Men
• Chris Pratt's character – a very masculine older man (25+). Is quite rugged in his
appearance, with facial hair and durable clothes, but still well-groomed
• identification
• Has secondary female audience appeal through sex appeal
• Women
• Bryce Dallas Howard's character is a feminine older woman (25+), career focused
• identification
• Has secondary male audience through sex appeal
• Boys
• The 2 boys are high-school aged and about 10, allowing for identification from
both
• Girls
• There are no young female characters, as the film is aimed more towards men than
women this does make sense, but the teenage boys and the older man have a
secondary female audience through sex appeal
Chris Pratt's character
Bryce Dallas
Howard's character
The 2 brothers

5. Personal Relationships
• Many audiences would be able to connect and identify
with a lot of the relationships seen, making the film
appeal to more audiences
• Family
• The 2 brothers go from being very distant to overcoming their differences
• Their parents are going through a divorce
• At the start they hardly know their aunt, but as the film goes on they grow
closer
• Romantic
• A romantic relationship develops between the central man and woman of
the film
• Friendship
• Workplace

6. Information
• The film is fictional, so there isn’t a lot of information, but there are dinosaur
facts littered throughout the film
• 2 characters know how to fix bikes/cars, so there is some element of
surveillance there
• The focus for this film is more on escapism than surveillance