LIVING... for the SUSPENSE

A show with die hard fans and ones who can't bear to watch, through 23 years and about to be 24 seasons, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" has accomplished a successful sociological design for the uses and gratifications of their viewers. While putting excessive energy into overtly discussing hot topics in the news, it can become nearly unwatchable due to the lack nuance (Dana Burke). In others words, while a heavily emotional program, it keeps a large audience engaged with the need for answers and clarity in a state of anxiety. While it could put a bad taste in your mouth, one might yearn to find out/know the conclusion to the complication that isn't solved until the end of the episode and with that, love the thrill through play out of the crisis. 

Oh, and if you never seen the show before or heard of its whats abouts, essentially there is a group of detectives and law enforcement authorities apart of the Special Victims Unit in the 16th Precinct of the New York City Police Department who are the characters and cast of the show with a journey/ storyline to follow throughout the series. However, the main plot line of each episode is different in terms of the crime that occurs and individuals involved. With that said, the SVU focuses on sexual based crimes and non-sexual cases that require specialist handling as with children, elderly, and/or the handicapped

 Of course it is argued that this continuous series is overwhelming, heart pacing, and to say it in simple, dark, certainly a challenge to be able to watch through. While it's true to some where they can't sit through an episode, others, like me love the scandals and the events on the rise, at the climax, during the downfall, and leading to the conclusion; with the uncertainty of these real-life scenarios, this progression is not always that straightforward. However, to put it short, typically every hour long episode starts with a crime committed, leading to a bunch of chaos, and in the middle there is fleeing, hiding, shock, tension, violence, aggression, interference, research, counseling, problem solving, and eventually the suspect is held responsible, found guilty, or in the most gruesome terms and cases dies from inability to face the truth of their actions or there was no other choice for the safety of others. In addition, the original victim or a victim of the suspect is then safe, or in worst cases didn't survive early on in the incident.       

"Law & Order: SVU" most importantly asserts people's media wants and needs through diversion, surveillance, and personal identity/relationship. Audience members, seen as active agents with control over their media consumption, are made culturally aware on the basis of the feelings that arise and information that is gained with each story told. In regards to diversion, these crime driven episodes allow an audience member to use these scripted gut wrenching narrations, experiences, and just plain horrible unfathomable instances, as an escape from the reality of problems and similar occurrences in our world/society today, in the past, and ones that are sure to continue in the future. People would rather sympathize with actors playing roles than those who have traumas as such amongst their lifetime currently and prior. 

Furthermore, with surveillance, a viewer like myself thrives off this: the information provided to us each episode. This show, similar to my feelings towards "Grey's Anatomy," I find I've learned more about mine and others health, mentality, and the world I live amongst watching these shows than in school or from the news. 

Lastly, with personal identity and relationships, viewers certainly have emotions elicited with these unbearable scenarios and one will feel for the victims praying for a happy ending and justice that relives the victim and penalizes the evil and inhumane being. People may also have trauma ties and triggers to the incidents that occur whether they experienced a case themselves or that it be a close friend or family member that shared their story and emotions with them.                                              

In all, the successes of this show come from how the audience is addressed sociologically. And so what, some may hate it, but clearly with over two decades of production, they seem to be doing just fine in attracting viewers. 

Nowhere Else but Here! Advertising at its BEST

This week I will be talking about advertising and the ads we see everyday whether that is through social media, on television or out in public on some billboard or poster. The ad I want to discuss with you is found on the social media platform Instagram. It comes from a dance studio's account in which I work at right here in New Jersey, Dance World Academy. This type advertisement is posted on every dance studio's page when the new dance season is about to start, you might see this with sports teams or clubs as well. Ads like this are created and presented in order to convince a parent to sign their child up for this activity that keeps their kid occupied and entertained after 7 grueling hours of sitting in a classroom. 

      Therefore, through this ads platform being electronically posted for followers or searchers to see, the information is brief and convincing. The words that are chosen on the ad in bold make claims for the viewer to say "oh, my child needs to go here because of their accolades!" The target audience is certainly parents with the desire to put their child in an after school activity that might lead into a full childhood to adulthood commitment and passion.

    In terms of psychoanalytics, a theory proposed by Freud arises that contains three phenomena of mental processing known as the id, ego, and superego. The id is one's initial reactions, impulses, and dependencies. The ego is the mediator, representing sense of self and comes to terms with reality. Then, there's the superego which is one's morals and subconsciously interjects. Therefore, with this ad and advertisements of such, I believe the id of our subconcious to kick in immediately, as it does, to make the  quick decision of signing up. However, I do see the ego also coming in and thinking about logistics of the commitment about to be made for the possible benefit of their child, or the fear they'll hate it; AND of course the financial burden that follows. 

    This text doesn't emit any sexual or aggressive drives being that is family oriented, directed at, and found by the parents of toddlers to adolescents; allowing them to make a decision for their child in search of something they'll love and enjoy.

    Furthermore, this text appeals to the elements our unconscious as one analyzes the words and graphics presented in front of them and immediately thoughts, memories, or feelings are elicited depending on the person and their personal life, past, present, or future. Maybe a viewer of this photo has a past experience with the dance community where it ended in drama and chaos, so seeing this immediately makes them roll their eyes and keep scrolling, it is different for everyone!

    Importantly, the value of this ad is to attract and draw in new customers for the purpose of keeping a thriving business. Often when analyzing advertisements, especially in high school as you might remember, English classes constantly stressed ethos, logos, and pathos and how at least one of these motives is embedded in all ads. So fun right! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. At this point it's engraved in my mind! ANYWAYS, along with the value of this text having a focus of desired admiration from its viewers with a convincing attitude, ethos is prominent here. The reason I say that is because the words on the ad establish personal credentials of the dance studio while allowing the audience to formulate trust and marvel. 

So, enough of my blabbering on, you get the point. Advertising in any text, whether print or media, plays with our mind functionality, understanding, and reactions whether we are conscious of it or not. The viewing of an advertisement involves criticism and a process that is experienced and dealt with differently in every individuals head, plus reacted through one's way of mental processing.