uses and gratification theory - horror genre

This uses and gratification triangle is the basis for every human being and its all about our needs in every day life to survive. I think this is a good template however I don't completely agree with it. I think some of the things we obviously need to survive but some of the things we can survive without.

This uses and gratification theory is about how people use media for the gratification of their needs. It propounds the fact that people chose what they want to see or read and the different media compete to satisfy each individuals needs.
My genre for my film is going to be horror therefore there will be different gratifications for why people enjoy it.

Surveillance - An audience gets pleasure from the knowledge that the text is offering to the audience as they feel more secure watching a disturbing text knowing the story isn't 'real'. I think this also can test the audience, for example if the text said 'based on true events../real life story..' the audience see it as a text and in particularly males, it may make them feel strong and masculine, while in females they may be cuddled up and scared and expect the man to look after them. 

Personal identity - this is all about the audience connecting and relating with a character. In horror the killer might go on a killing spree and kill loads of people, or vice versa the 'good guy' might go and kill the killer. We then as the audience opt for them to do this, and almost adopt them traits of bravery, putting ourselves in that position, making it realistic to us. This is another reason why people enjoy horror, the sense of the build up of what the outcome is going to be.


Personal relationships - this is another gratification as to why people watch horror films. This gives them a chance to discuss and share the experiences they had with the film. It may be a social thing, where a group of friends all went to see a horror film, and after spoke about how someone jumped, or someone couldn't watch. This links another reason why people get the thrill out of it, and it makes it into a social thing.

Escapism - is another gratification as it allows the audience to escape there normal lives and put themselves in a world of fantasy. I think this is really common in horror as there may be a lot of killing or unnerving characters, the audience imagines themselves in the place the character is. I think with horror its such an intense genre that they want that person to die and believe people should die, I think it takes them out of reality and lets them use their imagination.