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. 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 middle class as well as lower 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.
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.
3. Katz’s Uses and Gratification Theory and
Psychographics
personally identify (Katz) 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.
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
Social climbers (Maslow)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 explorers that
are looking for ways for the characters to improve and have better lives. They
desire change.
