Most media texts target a wide range of audiences, how rue is this to your chosen texts?

Madmen written by Matthew Wiener is a successful US drama, this is illustrated by the 5th series and 11th episode having over 3 million views for the episode 'The Other Woman". The programme highlights gender roles and relationships in the 60's presenting a historical gratification for a niche audience, including feminism and racism. The preferred audience being aged between 30 and 40 years of age are targeted through the use of several techniques such as a polysemic meanings.

The programme attracts its audience through the use of a aesthetically pleasing cast, the audience identify and base their models of behaviour around the roles included, this being another attraction that gratifies its niche audience.

This active preferred audience have to use their own initiative, as complex character relationships and roles are included. This gratifying the audience as an engagement has to be made and involves the audience to be active, in comparison to a mainstream programme.

The scheduling for the programme on Sky Atlantic is 10 o'clock in the UK. Again this is a typical as Sky Atlantic is independently a channel in which an audience has to pay a subscription fee. As the scheduling is later, this attracts a active niche audience as a mainstream programme would be scheduled earlier to attract a wider audience of the passive mainstream.

In summary following on from my analysis I believe the statement of "Most media texts target a wide range of audiences , how true is this of your chosen text?" is a correct statement as a mainstream audience  target the masses through the use of various codes in regards to Mad Men.

Discuss the audience appeal of your three main texts

In the specific text of ‘Madman’ season 5, episode 11 titled ‘The Other Women’, as the scene concludes Don Draper is viewed as weak and powerless as he holds Peggy’s hand as she resigns from her occupation role in the company.

 In the sequence Don Draper is sitting down kissing Peggy’s hand, being in a dominated position. Whereas, Peggy remains the figure with authority as she is standing suppressing Don Drapper, presenting her character with authority. In addition, this is a controversial issue that is identified, this being because the 1960’s are referred to as the decade of female equality progression and the gain for rights. This is a contrast to Don Draper’s role in the text, as he is perceived as the dominant protagonist. In addition, in reference to Don’s character, the scene where Peggy has money thrown directly at her face by Don, illustrates how power fluctuates in the text between females and males being relevant to this era.

In comparison to this episode and text, ‘Suits’ is a modern influence of the text, displaying how the cultivation theory has taken place and as a consequence has seen the increase in business-orientated dramas. This programme targets a mass mainstream audience including simplistic roles and relationships allowing for the audience to clearly understand the sequence, being a passive type of audience. Scenes include quicker paced framework and explosive elements to attract its audience. Techniques such as non-diegetic sound are used to build the tension, clearly identifying the atmosphere, ensuring the audience can understand key aspects of the text. On the other hand, the preferred audience of ‘Madmen’ are considered an active audience, as complex relationships and roles are incorporated. The text does not use any non-diegetic sound, this is because this technique is too obvious for an active audience. The idea behind this is that the audience of madmen are active, therefore the relationships and roles are not simplistic and in fact complex, requiring the audience to use their own initiative.