Stuart Hall’s Reception Theory
Hall’s Reception Theory
Stuart Hall’s reception theory is all about how people understand media in their own unique way. He believed that the meaning of a film or show isn’t just decided by the creators—it also depends on how the audience interprets it, based on their own life experiences, beliefs, and background.
Hall identified three main types of audience reactions:
How We Used It
When we showed our opening scene to a small group of viewers, their reactions were surprisingly varied. Everyone watched the same clip, but their interpretations didn’t always match ours:
A few people had a preferred reading. They totally got the vibe we were going for—how peer pressure and fear of the unknown were central themes. They understood that the haunted room wasn’t just creepy but symbolized deeper emotional tension.
Others gave us a negotiated reading. They liked the concept but didn’t take the ghost literally. Some thought it represented Jay’s own mental state, like anxiety or imagination, rather than something supernatural.
And then there were some oppositional readings. One person didn’t find the dare scary at all, and someone else even found it funny. That obviously wasn’t our intention—but it was interesting to see how differently people responded.
A few people had a preferred reading. They totally got the vibe we were going for—how peer pressure and fear of the unknown were central themes. They understood that the haunted room wasn’t just creepy but symbolized deeper emotional tension.
Others gave us a negotiated reading. They liked the concept but didn’t take the ghost literally. Some thought it represented Jay’s own mental state, like anxiety or imagination, rather than something supernatural.
And then there were some oppositional readings. One person didn’t find the dare scary at all, and someone else even found it funny. That obviously wasn’t our intention—but it was interesting to see how differently people responded.
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