BATES MOTEL Audience Theories BY DARREN HARKIN Bates

BATES MOTEL & Audience Theories BY DARREN HARKIN

Bates Motel is a drama thriller TV series. Which is a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 film Psycho but in contemporary fashion in the modern day world. The story revolves around the relationship of Norman Bates and his mother Norma Bates, and how it develops and changes, and the trouble and corruption occurring in their town. The Location of the town is in a different fictional town White Pine Bay, Oregon as opposed to the film Psycho’s location of Fairyale, California in a modern setting.

Characterisation- Norma Bates Story revolves around Norman Bates, a young man living a motel with his mother Norma Bates. Norma is a headstrong at times controlling, overprotective mother who cares deeply for her family and wants to keep them safe particularly Norman, Norma behaves this way because she has a troubled past with her family when she was very young which causes her problems socially other people.

Characterisation- Norman Bates is a troubled and mentally disturbed young boy who seems to have things occurring in his life every so often, particularly of a dramatic and murderous nature but he know idea these things are happening. He blacks out and he has no idea he is a danger. The young boy has his mothers disapproval in his head which makes him believe in his black outs he is his mother as is taking drastic action as her. He is young man trying to get on with his life trying to meet girls and go to school but his condition stands in the way of his life.

Origins- PSYCHO Bates Motel is a modern day prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, so in a way its an origin story to Norman Bates. Psycho was known for its dramatic feel and suspense with Anthony Perkins in the role as Norman Bates. The show has stayed true to the original in ways despite its soap opera style and modern day feel to it. So Alfred Hitchcock started a film in 1960 which has now started a legacy.

Merchandising NBCUniversal has partnered with Hot Topic, an American retailer of pop culture merchandise, to introduce a collection of clothing and accessories inspired by Bates Motel. The merchandise, including items such as bathrobes and bloody shower curtains, became available at Hot Topic's website and select stores on March 18, 2014. Also included would be the Box sets of DVD And Blu-ray of the series.

Audiences From my research I’ve interviewed people, from within my class, college and Facebook with a survey created. From this research method I found out that the show is mostly watched by an audience from aged 19 -30. But the general target audience for Bates Motel. Would be audiences interested in programmes of films, about the human mind why a person do. Learning why the serial killer origin begins. The programme also has a high school aspect to it. So that younger audiences can relate to it.

Audience Theories The Effects Model is about giving audiences ideas to go out and do things or imitate things they see in games, films or television. For e. g Nazi, Proganda. Or if audiences play games like Grand Theft Auto they will go out and behave like that on the streets and commit gun violence. 1 Uses and Gratifications This method of audience theory is about choosing to watch a programme or film for their own need. The programme could be to escape the stress of life, and step into another world for a while, entertainment purpose or documentary to inform or educate themselves on a certain topic. E. g. Planet Earth to learn about nature of the earth. 1. Do Violent Games Boost Aggression? Study Adds Fire to Debate http: //www. livescience. com/44325 -video-games-aggression-debate. html

Audience Theories The Active Audience The Active audience is about actively becoming involved with the meaning of media. This type of audience agrees with the encoded meanings. They accept and refine parts of the text’s meanings and are aware of the dominant meaning of the text but do not pay attention for cultural, political or ideological reasons. Mode of Address Mode of address involves different generations of people who might disagree with a new product being made from an older product which had big impact. It might provoke a good response or bad one. Like fans of the classic Star Wars or Mad Max might not like there's going to be a new stars being made and some might love the idea.

Bates Motel’s category within audience Theory? Uses and Gratifications I would be this method because audiences are watching this programme to escape from reality. Just to sit down in front of the television or whatever platform the programme is being viewed upon and observe. Not to act upon or imitate just watch the character we know so well from Psycho Norman Bates’ life unfold so we as an audience can follow the serial killer’s younger years. Mode of Address Mode of address would also be relevant because there is some fans of the 1960 film Psycho which programme is based upon that would be happy with the adaption and some would not. So this would be to do with new generation which is Bates Motel who then watch the classic film Psycho, and the same with the audience that watched film first vice versa, they may like it and they may not.

Marketing The programme is marketed well through its use of exciting new trailers appearing every week to show us, as an audience we are in for a good watch.

Controversies There has been some controversy with the show as it does look at a lot of modern day issues like rape which Norma Bates, Normans Mother has to deal with, particularly within the first episode of the first season. Magazine Radar Online states that the programme ‘is a despicable attempt at TV ratings, because of the rape, incest storylines and stabbing within the first season.