Most media texts target a range of different audience. How true is this for your chosen texts?

Most media texts target a range of different audience. How true is this for your chosen texts?

When analysing the Series Lost especially S1E2 Pilot part 2. We can tell that this Series defiantly attracts different ranges of audience this is due to the way in which its produced by technical conventions and narrative structures , I will be discussing three techniques these are ; Use of enigma codes , Narrative Structure and it’s Hybrid genre.

 Firstly I will talk about the amount of enigma codes which are used through this episode to give a mainstream audience the enigma codes to question when the episode plays . Such as the scene with the Polar bear we are instantly given an enigma code as to why the animal is out of its natural habitat and in a completely binary opposition from one extreme to another. Another enigma code is given at the start of the series when we see a pair of handcuffs on the floor which is where we meet Michael where he picks up the handcuff’s and the shot type is changed to a close up with shallow focus signifying the item giving the audience enigma codes as to why its there? Who do they belong to ? Lost uses so many enigma codes throughout this series this is because they want to keep their audience interested at all times. Considering this Series was a T.V show they needed to included at least 4-5 enigma codes too keep there audience hanging and won’t be answered till the next episode if not later in the series. As this is a series we know that Enigma codes play a huge role for this Series and won’t give the answer to them this is so they keep there watches interested in the show and wait till the end to unravel this story of what they are introduced to.

Lost uses the Todorov narrative theory in this episode as we are given an equilibrium of landing safely and being alive sunbathing on the beech waiting for a rescuer to get them. Which is then followed by a Disequilibrium of finding a pair of handcuff’s which instantly drops the mood with an audience with accompanied with score music to add to the drama to tell the mainstream watches how they should feel when they are found. We are then given a new equilibrium of the group going on a quest finding a way to fix the transmitter to work so they can receive help. This episode doesn’t finish a  complete circle of Todorov’s theory due to being a series they need to keep the audience on a cliff hanger. Why ? The audience like this theory and likes to watch things in chronological order as we can understand and enjoy the episode.

Lost falls into the depth of a hybrid genre as what is shown is Post Modern as they are bringing different genre’s into the Series  to make one especially this episode because what we see is Action mixed with Fantasy genre stylistic genre conventions because by producing a new genre to capture an audiences attention by mixing the two together they can make something new for the audience to enjoy. We can see this in this episode as they show Action conventions such as special effects as we see the plane which is board with the cast. Where we are introduced to Charlie a drug addict who takes his belt of to go to the rest room to take illegal drugs as staff get irate (accompanied with score to build the audience tension levels) and ask Charlie to come out where the plain spits into two as we see the plane and passengers fly out into the air. We are given the Fantasy genre conventions through the group going on a quest and getting to the top of the mountain to receive signal for the transmitter to work to gain help as the two are mixed together we assume that due to the Fantasy conventions we just believe everything that’s going on without questioning it which gives the audience escapism.

To conclude I believe that the text Lost with reference to S1E2 The Plane part 2 that this media definitely attracts different audience this is by use of technical and narrative techniques used to produce a new Hybrid to attract ranges of audiences because this will attract different audiences with the use of mixing genre and using Todorov’s theory makes it easy for the audience to like , believe and understand.