Portfolio Project: Media Theory

 Media Theory: Reception Theory

    Reception Theory, coined by Stuart Hall, states that audiences will perceive media texts in one of three ways. The first, dominant/preferred reading, is when audiences accept the intentions put forward by the creator. Opposition reading is the opposite, when audiences reject the author's intentions and make their own reading of the text. Negotiated reading is when audiences accept some intentions while rejecting others.

    The application of this theory is pretty straight forward when the intentions of the creator are clear. For example, The Batman (2022) shows a more realistic depiction of a vigilante who is more focused on vengeance, succumbing to very real human emotions. A dominant reading may see a viewer readily agreeing with this take on the Batman character as the realistic element provides a fresh view at the played out character. An opposition reading may reject this new character, seeing it as a poor departure from the justice-oriented character seen in previous adaptations of the comic. A negotiated reading may see a viewer agreeing with a new and realistic take on the character, but also criticizing its departure from the original character.

The Batman (2022, dir. Matt Reeves)

    However, it gets more interesting when the intention of the creator is not very clear, forcing the viewer make their own reading on the media text. To provide an example, I will refer to a director I have mentioned previously, as I have been making my way through his filmography.

    The highly controversial Sion Sono has produced many films tackling societal issues in Japan. One such film is Antiporno (2016), which is a criticism on the Japanese pink film industry, the oppression of females in it, and an expression of sexual freedom. However, Sion Sono's work often sees a female lead subjected to suffering, sexual misconduct, and blatant mistreatment by men. And although many of these stories end in triumph and freedom from the shackles of misogyny and the patriarchy, many debate whether he is truly feminist or not. Antiporno's message is especially vague, leading viewers to create their own reading of the text.

Antiporno (2016, dir. Sion Sono)

    In our film, I would like to keep the intentions and themes fairly vague so the viewer can develop their own interpretation of the text. For example, the intended burning of the village in the end of our film will focus on the burning of the church, which can be taken in multiple ways. One viewer may see it as an attack on Christianity while another may see it as Belle (the protagonist) leaving behind her past and developing a world view that abandons everything that was positive in her life. Forcing the viewer to make their own reading instead of being spoonfed the creator's intentions leads to a more thought-provoking experience. 

"Keepin it vague for the masses." - Jd