Blog Post 3

Zachary Fortgang

CCS 313-1

Professor Smith-Casanueva

Due: 25 November 2014

The True Value of an Audience

            As the end of the semester nears, I have gained strong insight pertaining to televisual studies.  One major aspect we have discussed in class involves the understanding of televisual audiences.  It is interesting to see how different shows can impact an audience through political as well as social concepts. 

            Examples of specific shows include Glee, The New Normal, and Modern Family. The visibility of openly gay characters in these shows has had a direct impact on audience’s stances on the LGBT community (Huffington Post 1).  During the time of the 2012 election, statistics reported that twenty-seven percent of viewers who were surveyed said that gay television made them more in favor of gay marriage, leaving twelve percent more opposed (Huffington Post 1).  Also, there were indications that Obama voters were twice as likely to watch Modern Family as compared to Romney voters, twice as likely to watch Glee, and three times more likely to watch The New Normal (Huffington Post 1).    

Views on gay marriage have exponentially gone in its favor since 2002 (1).  In the past ten years, about three times as many voters have become more pro-gay marriage as have become more anti-gay marriage (1).  The percentage for pro-gay is thirty-one while the percentage for anti-gay is ten (1).

Caldwell brings up solid points when discussing the three persistent myths of communications studies.  First, he states how there is a single type of viewer that television affects (Caldwell 250).  Secondly, how television itself is a single or unified force that can wield these influences (250).  Lastly, he claims that the audience is a victim worked upon by this unified force (250).

Based on Caldwell’s research, their bolds truth when referring to specific audiences.  The viewer will establish his or her own opinion in regards to what he or she viewing.  It can influence a person to watch something that will give them a more valid understanding of a major issue.  With shows such as Glee and Modern Family, the audience is targeted by an underlying message to have a voice on a political issue such as gay marriage.  All in all, the televisual audience is a key element in televisual studies and will continue to change and adapt over time. 

Works Cited

Caldwell, J. "Televisual Audience: Interactive Pizza."Televisuality: Style,

Crisis, and Authority in American Television. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 1995. 249-83. Print.

Wong, Curtis M. "'Glee,' 'Modern Family' And Other LGBT-Themed TV Shows Drive Gay Marriage Support: Poll." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 05 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.