A recent social change has redefined our concept of what an audience should look like and when looking back through history the term audience was referred to as a more collective group of people coming together to watch something of interest particularly when I was younger, at 7pm every night I’d sit down with my family for dinner and watch ‘Home and away’ something that I still find myself occasionally doing. However, the way we view audiences today has changed dramatically over the last decade, and what was once something that invited family gathering and friend catchups now attracts a more individual view such as streaming your favourite TV show on your smartphone or even sharing a photo to all your followers online.
During Carpentier, Schrøder and Hallett 2019 research they argued that ‘audiences control the media, not media industries controlling the audience’. Through their research they were able to discover that the audience have a lot more power in terms of what, where, why and how they watch media and the connection between modern audience offline and online. This got me thinking about my past experiences as an audience member and how an audience can differ depending on the physical environment and the social impact.
My most memorable moment being a part of a crowd was the ‘Sticky Fingers’ concert in Sydney late last year. Despite the recent controversial surrounding the psychedelic rock/indie Australian group, their performance still remains one of the best audiences experiences I’ve had.
When the stage lights dimmed signalling the start of the performance silence swept through the arena as hundreds of eyes focused towards the front. The whole event was something I’d never practiced as a music enthusiast somehow the atmosphere of the crowd was inexplainable as a sense of tranquillity continued to run through the mass crowd from ‘Bootleg rascal’ to ‘How to fly’, The security even turning a blind eye to the lines of blunt smoke clouding the air.
The only negative thing about being in the audience is you see how consumed some are to relive the moment through our phone. This correlates with Carpentier, Schrøder and Hallett 2019 discussion on an increase in online audience presence and how we continue to interchange between both traditional and modern forms of media.
Unlike school assembly or movie screening audiences, there aren’t many unspoken rules that come with being in a mosh pit only ‘survival of the fittest’ incredibly the mosh pits which are usually recipes for push and shove disasters, weren’t at Sticky Fingers as everyone was awaiting the eccentric performance the boys were known for. The majority of the crowd floated in the back enjoying the music whilst the ones eager for a more up close and personal look stacked themselves up against the fence this was particularly noted during Chillinit pre performance.
References
Carpentier, N., Schrøder, K. C. and Hallett, L.
Audience Transformations
In-text: (Carpentier, Schrøder and Hallett, 2020)
Your Bibliography: Carpentier, N., Schrøder, K. and Hallett, L., 2020. Audience Transformations. [online] Google Books. Available at: <https://books.google.com.au/books?id=EZ83AAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=mSo0YXxuWv&dq=how%20audience%20is%20changing%20&lr&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=how%20audience%20is%20changing&f=falsehttps://books.google.com.au/books?id=EZ83AAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&ots=mSo0YXxuWv&dq=how%20audience%20is%20changing%20&lr&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q=how%20audience%20is%20changing&f=false> [Accessed 7 March 2020].
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