2. Harley’s 7 Subjective and Socio-Economic
Needs
Hartley’s Seven Subjectives: The average age group for soap operas is between 16-80 year
olds as many people enjoy and relate to soap operas and the dramatic aspects they have. It is a
way for elders and teen to relate and come together to enjoy evening television. Soap operas
have many different aspects and events that may interest a wide variety of ages. You’ve
repeated yourself 3 times. The main gender for soap operas is women as they relate most to it
This links to the idea of women being housewives and staying at home therefore being able to
watch soap operas when they are there as it is a way to spend their free time. Stereotypically.
People of middleclass as well as lower class tend to watch soap operas more than other
classes. This is because the characters in most soap operas are classified as those classes be
specific on which class therefore relating more to the audience. Soap operas have a mixture of
different ethnicities making audiences from all different ethnicities are able to watch and enjoy it
due to them relating to different characters. You are making assumptions and not backing up
with real examples/facts.
Socio-economic needs: The typical class for a soap opera is C1-E as this is usually students
and working class. This links to the settings of a soap operas as they are usually places such as
a café or a pub. Also the issues addressed in soap operas link to this group as they are most
likely to go through similar issues. Therefore the viewers are able to relate better to the lives of
the characters. With the realism and struggle that occurs with everyday life, this class will
understand it the most. Examples of this is crime such as shooting. *rework, look at examples
on the blog
3. Katz’s Uses and Gratification Theory and
Psychographics
Introduce theory: (‘personally identify’ (Katz)) Firstly there is the personal identification. This is
where the audience can relate to the characters with the situations they are going through. The
will engage the audience to try make decisions for the characters as if they are a part of the
situation therefore feeling as if they are a part of it. Secondly there is the personal relationship
with the characters. This is where the characters feel as if they have gained a relationship with
the character as if they are their own family or friends. An example of this is if the character is
going through a hard time the audience will empathies for them feeling as if they are there with
them. This then creates a connection between character and audience. Finally there is the
aspect to inform and educate the audience. This is where the audience can take in valuable
information of certain thing the characters do such as reporting bullying as it is and important
situation and people can learn how to handle it.
This needs lots of work. Look on the blog of examples of how Psychographics should be
answered. The audience will either be at school or some sort of education with a normal life
style. However as the watch soap operas they may feel pressured to copy the life the
characters live and copy their different actions. They will be influenced by this as the on screen
characters are a role model to these audience as they watch it daily as most soap operas are
played daily. And example of this is when there is a gang some people may feel influenced to
join a gang or even start one.
4. Maslow’s Hierarchy Of Needs
Introduce what the theory is and then go into what the audience is. If you are using
one of the needs it needs to be like this: ‘caregivers’ (Maslow). There are the social
climbers. These are the people who are driven by improving the status of the
characters. This means they are engaged to the soap opera as they initially want
what's best for the characters. However the main one of Maslow's hierarchy will be
the caregivers. This is due to the fact that the audience may sympathize with what
is happening with the characters as they may have been is similar situations
themselves. However the portrayal of the characters may give the audience false
hope of real life as soap operas are mostly exaggerated. Soap operas also tend to
find their audience becoming survivors from Maslow's hierarchy as these
audiences watch wanting a secure routine of knowing that the characters will be
okay and safe. They emotionally invest themselves to the plot which may turn into
their daily routine due to this. There are also the exploresr that are looking for ways
for the characters to improve and have better lives. They desire change. Always
write in PEA format
