Thursday, April 3, 2008
Uses and Gratification Theory: Sex and the City
These clips from an episode of Sex and the City provide a good example of The Uses and Gratification theory. This theory discusses what people do with media and why. It states that people choose media to satisfy their needs and are aware of why they use the media. In this episode Miranda’s use of her TiVO and favorite TV show demonstrates the Uses and Gratification theory in action.
Miranda’s desire to watch her favorite TV show Jules and Mimi shows that she is an active audience and is goal oriented in her media use. It’s clear that after a long day at work she wants to sit down with a big bowl of ice cream and use the TV show as a diversion to escape from her daily routine as a busy lawyer and single mother of a young son. This is one reason she gets so upset when she realizes her son’s babysitter has accidently deleted the show from her TiVO.
Miranda is also using the TV show as a personal relationship, which is when people substitute the media for companionship. Earlier in the episode, she jokingly refers to the TiVO as her “boyfriend”. Instead of going out with a guy she prefers to just stay home watching TV. In addition, after the TiVO breaks she talks to a repairman as if she’s trying to fix a broken relationship rather than a just a machine.
Miranda also uses her choice of the specific TV show Jules and Mimi to satisfy her own personal needs. Watching the show gratifies a few need types. One is affective needs. Jules and Mimi provide Miranda with emotional and pleasant experiences each time she watches. The show is a British drama about a man and woman from different classes who are in love. The program is similar to a soap opera. Miranda seems to follow the show religiously and really enjoys watching it. It appears that Miranda is using the show to fill a void in her own life. In the past she had many problems finding love so instead of going out and looking for it she finds it easier to watch the show and experience life through the lives of others. Miranda seems to be using her TiVO recordings as a tension release as well. It provides an escape from her every day schedule. At the end of a long day she just wants to sit back and be entertained.
From these clips, it is clear that Miranda has a dependency on this show. When she realizes that her TiVO was tampered with and her show is no longer recorded she becomes very upset. She even seems angry. It is clear that she misses her favorite show. In the end, when the TiVO is finally fixed, Miranda shows excitement and happiness. She knows she will be able to use Jules and Mimi as a form of gratification.
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5 comments:
I think that this clip displays the Uses and Gratification Theory very well. Miranda depends on the her TiVo to tape her favorite show on a daily basis. She uses her TiVo for a personal relationship as well. This is seen when she states that it would be another perfect night with her perfect boyfriend. Therefore, gratifying hersel. Finally, she uses this for her own personal affective needs. I think this clip was a great example of this theory!
I also think that this is a great example of the Uses and Gratifications Theory. I especially find it interesting how when on the phone with the repair people she states, "I got used to coming home to something." This definitely shows that she is relying on TIVO for companionship. Usually people are used to coming home to a roomate or significant other, not a television show. She uses Jules and Mimi as a replacement for companionship.
This illustration describes the experience which most people have. In their busy lives, people make watching TV their way of the relaxing. I also have experienced the one like Miranda had. After a busy day, people hope to relax and escape from the real world, otherwise they hold their stress in all the time. Especially, watching TV is an easy way, because it does not require anything, we just need to sit down and watch. Personally, I would say one of the positive aspects of TV is that we can do other things at the same time. Miranda was looking forward to watching TV with ice-cream, and a lot of people think like to do that.
I am not ashamed to admit that I love Sex and the City! Great post, especially since it shows the uses and gratifications that apply to modern media users. TiVo is essential to miranda's life, so when it fails she becomes flustered. Of course, the end of the episode ends with Miranda coming to her senses about socializing with real people (and the uses and gratifications of it), but it is obvious that Miranda is dependent on TiVo.
-Kevin Wong
Great clip! I almost used this one too! It definitely exemplifies the Uses and Gratifications theory. Miranda depends on TiVo to fulfill her needs. Carrie even mentions that Miranda has "replaced Steve-o with TiVo". Miranda realizes that she is going through a dry spell in terms of relationships, so she escapes into the world of Jules and Mimi to both escape her single life and also to live vicariously through the two characters' affair. The theory is also shown when Miranda engages in a relationship of her own that is very reminiscent of Jules and Mimi's relationship. Once this relationship commences, and her affective needs are met in other ways, Miranda no longer depends on TiVo.
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