Audience Genre Expectations in the Age of Digital Media

This volume bridges the divide between film and media studies scholarship by exploring audience expectations of film and TV genre in the age of digital streaming, using qualitative thematic and quantitative data-driven analyses. Through four ground-breaking surveys of audience members and content creators, the authors have empirically determined what audiences expect of various genres, the extent to which these definitions match those of scholars and critics, and the overall variation and complexity of audience expectations in the age of media abundance. They also examine audience habits and preferences, drawing from both theory and original empirical analyses, with a view toward the implications for the moving image in a rapidly changing media environment. The book draws from the data to develop a number of new concepts, including genre repertoire, genre hybridity, audience interest maximization, and variety seeking, and a new stage of genre development, genre bending. It is an ideal resource for students and scholars interested in the symbiotic relationship between audiences and the moving image products they consume, as well as the way the current digital media environment has impacted our understanding of film and TV genres. This volume bridges the divide between film and media studies scholarship by exploring audience expectations of film and TV genre in the age of digital streaming, using qualitative thematic and quantitative data-driven analyses. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 List of Figures 12 List of Tables 13 Acknowledgments 17 1. Introduction 18 Genre: A Background 19 Four Stages of Genre Evolution 20 Industrial Process and the (Re)packaging of Television Genres 21 Identifying and Defining the Concept of Genre 23 The Audience Role in Defining Genres 24 The Media of Abundance 25 Four Studies Examining Audiences for the Moving Image 29 Study 1 (2015 Users Survey) 29 Study 2 (2021 Users Survey) 30 Study 3 (2021 Creators Survey) 32 Study 4 (2021–22 Young Creators Survey) 34 A Concluding Note 34 2. Audience Expectations for Film and Television Genres 36 Macro Factors Stimulating Genre Development 37 Defining Film and Television Genres 39 Profiles for 31 Film Genres 40 Musical 41 Western 41 Horror 42 Science Fiction 42 Detective 43 Comedy 43 Film Noir 43 Documentary 44 Action 44 Animated 45 Mystery 45 Dark Comedy 45 Biography 46 Parodies 46 Slasher 46 Mockumentary 47 Chick Flick 47 Slapstick 47 Drama Film 48 Fantasy 48 Adventure 49 Foreign 49 Romantic Drama 49 Romantic Comedy 49 Gangster 50 Samurai 50 Epic 50 Sports 51 Historical 51 Superhero 52 War 52 Evolution of Television Genres 53 Profiles for 11 Television Genres 55 TV Sitcoms 55 TV Dramas 56 TV Soaps 56 TV Detective 56 TV News Magazines 56 TV Musical Talent 56 TV Reality 57 TV Late-Night Talk 57 TV Children’s Programs 57 TV Animal/Nature 57 TV Sci-fi 57 Audience Expectations for Film and Television Genres—The 2015 Users Survey 57 A Concluding Note 63 3. Audience Viewing of the Moving Image—Film and Television Genres 74 The Diverse Roles of Audiences 75 Traditional Media Use Behaviors—Viewing the Moving Image and Using Mass Media 76 Uses and Gratifications Theory 77 Leisure-time Activities—the Moving Image and Other Options 78 Using Mass Media (2015 Users Survey) 79 Watching Genres of the Moving Image 82 Shaping Genre Preferences—One’s World View 89 Assessing the Moving Image—Quality and Representation 90 A Concluding Note 93 4. A Profile of Creators of Moving Images as Audience Roles Evolve 95 Producing Moving Images 96 Entrepreneurship—When Audiences Switch Roles 98 Focusing In On Creative Posting Activity 100 User-Generated Content (UGC): Video Genres 118 Typology of Online Video Genres 119 A Concluding Note 123 5. Audiences Coping with an Era of Content Abundance: Novelty Seeking and Interest Maximization 125 The New Media Environment—The Age of Media Abundance 125 Impact on Audience Choices 126 Audience Film and Television Genre Repertoires 128 Film and TV Genre Repertoires—and Novelty Seeking 132 Film and TV Genre Repertoires—and Interest Maximization 133 A Concluding Note 138 6. The New Viewing Environment—Matching Genres with Screens 139 A Short History of Screen Options 139 The Nature of the Screen 144 Screen Size 144 Screen Location 145 Access to the Content on the Screen 145 Adjuncts to the Screen, i.e., “Beyond the Screen” 146 A Note About Sound and Music 147 Audience Preferences for Viewing Film Genres—Theatrical, Home, and Mobile 147 Content Trumps Form 154 A Concluding Note 154 7. Developing Content Theory for Moving Images 155 Describing Creative Processes 156 A Case Example—Reality TV Genre 159 Uses and Gratifications 160 Genre Consensus and Clarity 163 Genre Reactions 164 Genre Development—Genre Hybridity 167 External and Other Influences 182 Beyond Parodic: Genre-Bending, Genre Hybridity, and Trope Appropriation 187 A Concluding Note 194 8. Responding to the Pandemic in a Streaming Environment 195 Responding to the Pandemic: How Did the Pandemic Affect Media Use Patterns? 196 Does Use of Services Relate to Genre Preferences? 200 Communication Roles and Orientations in the Pandemic Context 202 Audience Processes of the Moving Image in the Pandemic Context 206 A Concluding Note 211 9. Final Thoughts 213 References 219 Index 236 audience,expectations;,streaming;,audiences;,film,genre;,tv,genre;,emerging,media,and,program,formats;,binge-watching;,viewing,patterns;,audience,viewing,preferences;,digital,media,landscape;,content,creating;,social,media;,media,of,abundance;,new,viewing,environments;,video,on,demand;,subscription-based,video;,YouTube audience expectations,streaming,audiences,film genre,tv genre,emerging media and program formats,binge-watching,viewing patterns,audience viewing preferences,digital media landscape,content creating,social media,media of abundance,new viewing environments,video on demand,subscription-based video,YouTube "This volume bridges the divide between film and media studies scholarship by exploring audience expectations of film and TV genre in the age of digital streaming, using qualitative thematic and quantitative data-driven analyses. Through four ground-breaking surveys of audience members and content creators, the authors have empirically determined what audiences expect of various genres, the extent to which these definitions match those of scholars and critics, and the overall variation and complexity of audience expectations in the age of media abundance. They also examine audience habits and preferences, drawing from both theory and original empirical analyses, with a view toward the implications for the moving image in a rapidly changing media environment. The book draws from the data to develop a number of new concepts, including genre repertoire, genre hybridity, audience interest maximization and variety seeking, and a new stage of genre development, genre bending. An ideal resource for students and scholars interested in the symbiotic relationship between audiences and the moving image products they consume, as well as the way the current digital media environment has impacted our understanding of film and TV genres"-- Provided by publisher