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.