BATES MOTEL

& Audience Theories

BY DARREN HARKIN

Bates Motel
Bates Motel is a drama thriller TV series. Which is a prequel to
Alfred Hitchcocks 1960 film Psycho but in contemporary fashion in
the modern day world.
story revolves around the relationship of Norman Bates and his
mother Norma Bates, and how it develops and changes, and the
trouble and corruption occurring in their town.
The

The Location of the town is in a different fictional town White Pine

Bay, Oregon as opposed to the film Psychos location of
Fairyale,California in a modern setting.

Characterisation- Norma Bates

Story revolves around Norman Bates, a young man living a motel

with his mother Norma Bates.

Norma is a headstrong at times controlling, overprotective

mother who cares deeply for her family and wants to keep them
safe particularly Norman, Norma behaves this way because she
has a troubled past with her family when she was very young
which causes her problems socially other people.

Characterisation- Norman Bates

Norman Bates is a troubled and mentally disturbed young boy

who seems to have things occurring in his life every so often,
particularly of a dramatic and murderous nature but he know
idea these things are happening. He blacks out and he has no
idea he is a danger. The young boy has his mothers disapproval
in his head which makes him believe in his black outs he is his
mother as is taking drastic action as her. He is young man trying
to get on with his life trying to meet girls and go to school but his
condition stands in the way of his life.

Origins- PSYCHO

Bates Motel is a modern day prequel to Alfred Hitchcocks

Psycho, so in a way its an origin story to Norman Bates. Psycho
was known for its dramatic feel and suspense with Anthony
Perkins in the role as Norman Bates. The show has stayed true to
the original in ways despite its soap opera style and modern day
feel to it. So Alfred Hitchcock started a film in 1960 which has
now started a legacy.

Merchandising

NBCUniversalhas partnered withHot Topic, an Americanretailer

of pop culture merchandise, to introduce a collection of clothing
and accessories inspired byBates Motel. The merchandise,
including items such as bathrobes and bloody shower curtains,
became available at Hot Topic's website and select stores on
March 18, 2014.

Also included would be the Box sets of DVD And Blu-ray of the
series.

Audiences

From my research Ive interviewed people, from within my class,

college and Facebook with a survey created. From this research
method I found out that the show is mostly watched by an
audience from aged 19-30. But the general target audience for
Bates Motel. Would be audiences interested in programmes of
films, about the human mind why a person do .Learning why the
serial killer origin begins. The programme also has a high school
aspect to it. So that younger audiences can relate to it.

Audience Theories

The Effects Model

The Effects Model is about giving audiences ideas to go out and do

things or imitate things they see in games, films or television. For e.g
Nazi, Proganda. Or if audiences play games like Grand Theft Auto they
will go out and behave like that on the streets and commit gun
violence. 1

Uses and Gratifications

This method of audience theory is about choosing to watch a

programme or film for their own need. The programme could be

to escape the stress of life, and step into another world for a while,
entertainment purpose or documentary to inform or educate themselves
on a certain topic. E.g. Planet Earth to learn about nature of the earth.
1. Do Violent Games Boost Aggression? Study Adds Fire to Debate
http://www.livescience.com/44325-video-games-aggression-debate.html

Audience Theories

The Active Audience

The Active audience is about actively becoming involved with the meaning of
media. This type of audience agrees with the encoded meanings. They accept
and refine parts of the texts meanings and are aware of the dominant
meaning of the text but do not pay attention for cultural, political or
ideological reasons.

Mode of Address

Mode of address involves different generations of people who might disagree

with a new product being made from an older product which had big impact. It
might provoke a good response or bad one. Like fans of the classic Star Wars or
Mad Max might not like there's going to be a new stars being made and some
might love the idea.

Bates Motels category within

audience Theory?

Uses and Gratifications

I would be this method because audiences are watching this programme to

escape from reality. Just to sit down in front of the television or whatever
platform the programme is being viewed upon and observe. Not to act
upon or imitate just watch the character we know so well from Psycho
Norman Bates life unfold so we as an audience can follow the serial killers
younger years.

Mode of Address

Mode of address would also be relevant because there is some fans of the
1960 film Psycho which programme is based upon that would be happy
with the adaption and some would not. So this would be to do with new
generation which is Bates Motel who then watch the classic film Psycho,
and the same with the audience that watched film first vice versa, they
may like it and they may not.

Marketing

The programme is marketed well through its use of exciting new

trailers appearing every week to show us, as an audience we are
in for a good watch.

Controversies

There has been some controversy with the show as it does look
at a lot of modern day issues like rape which Norma Bates,
Normans Mother has to deal with, particularly within the first
episode of the first season.

Magazine Radar Online states that the programme is a

despicable attempt at TV ratings, because of the rape, incest
storylines and stabbing within the first season.