Literary Term - Audience

 

Literary Term

Audience 

Definition of Audience

In literary terms, an audience refers to the group of people for whom a piece of writing or communication is intended. It is the target readership or viewership that the author or creator has in mind when crafting their work. The concept of the audience is essential in shaping the content, tone, style, and overall message of a literary or artistic work.

Authors and creators consider their audience's characteristics, preferences, knowledge, and expectations in order to effectively communicate their ideas and engage with their readers or viewers. The audience can vary widely based on factors such as age, cultural background, interests, education level, and more. By understanding their audience, writers can tailor their language and content to best resonate with their intended readers, thus creating a more impactful and meaningful connection.

The concept of audience is not limited to literature; it extends to various forms of communication, including speeches, films, advertisements, and other artistic or persuasive works. In essence, the audience plays a crucial role in influencing the choices made by creators in terms of how they present their ideas and narratives.

Examples of Audience in Literature

Here are a few examples of how the concept of audience is manifested in literature:

Children's Literature: Children's books are crafted with a specific audience in mind – young readers. The language, themes, and content are tailored to be appropriate for the developmental stage and interests of children. For example, Dr. Seuss books are designed to engage and entertain young readers with whimsical language and imaginative characters.

Academic Writing: In academic writing, the audience often consists of scholars, researchers, and experts in a particular field. Authors use specialized terminology and assume a certain level of knowledge among their audience. They aim to contribute to existing knowledge and engage in scholarly discourse.

Young Adult Fiction: Young adult (YA) fiction is written for teenagers and young adults. Authors address themes and issues that resonate with this age group, dealing with topics like identity, relationships, and coming-of-age experiences. Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games" series, for instance, targets a YA audience with its dystopian setting and themes of rebellion.

Poetry: Poets often consider their audience when choosing the form, style, and tone of their poems. A poem written for a general audience might use accessible language and themes, while a poem for a literary magazine might take more artistic liberties and assume a certain level of poetic knowledge.

Satire: Satirical works, like Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal," use humor and exaggeration to criticize societal issues. The audience in such cases needs to understand the satirical intent behind the work to fully appreciate the commentary being made.

Historical Fiction: Authors of historical fiction need to consider the historical context and knowledge of their readers. They aim to transport the audience to a different time period while making the setting and characters relatable and understandable.

Cultural and Regional Literature: Some works are created with a specific cultural or regional audience in mind. These works may incorporate local customs, dialects, and traditions that resonate with people from that specific culture or region.

Graphic Novels and Comics: In graphic novels and comics, the visual component is as important as the written narrative. Creators consider how the artwork and text work together to engage the audience. For example, Art Spiegelman's "Maus" uses the graphic novel format to explore the Holocaust and its impact on generations.

These examples highlight how the concept of audience shapes the content, style, and approach of literary works, ensuring that the message and impact of the work align with the intended readership.

Examples in Literature

Example #1: Fahrenheit 451 (by Ray Bradbury)

Ray Bradbury wrote a book called Fahrenheit 451 that is meant for both grown-ups and young adults. The story is interesting for everyone because it talks about big things like nuclear destruction and the fight between nature and technology. The book shows how technology is taking the place of being curious, thinking smart, and reading books. It's even taking the place of having good friends, family, and real talks. In the story, the world is all about technology, and the government treats people in a strange way.

Example #2: To Kill a Mockingbird (by Harper Lee)

Harper Lee tells a story called To Kill a Mockingbird from the point of view of a girl named Scout when she's all grown up. She looks back and remembers things that happened when she was a kid. She talks about the time when her brother got hurt and how everything led up to that. Then, she goes back to when she was in first grade and talks about growing up to her eighth birthday. Scout is not just telling the story – she's also part of it. The story is special because it's like looking at things through a kid's eyes and also from someone who's older. This is why both kids and grown-ups like it.

Example #3: Animal Farm (by George Orwell)

George Orwell wrote a book called Animal Farm for everyone to read, especially people who used to live in the Soviet Union. He wanted to tell his readers about the dangers of Communism and what happened during World War II. Orwell also wanted the next generation to know about Communism and how it made life hard for people. He used different ways of writing to make it easy for regular people to understand what he meant. He used funny and hidden meanings, making some characters look silly that were really important in Russian history. This was meant for Russian people to understand.

Example #4: The Declaration of Independence (by Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin)

The Declaration of Independence was made for three groups of people: Americans living in the colonies, the British government, and people everywhere. For the Americans, it explained why they wanted to start a new country and why their leaders needed help. They shared it all over the place to get as many people to see it as possible.

The second group was the British government. By saying the king was doing wrong things and talking about freedom and democracy, they wanted the British to support them. Some British leaders, like Edmund Burke, did agree.

The third group was people from around the world, especially countries in Europe who didn't like the British. They wanted those countries to help with the revolution. The Declaration of Independence did actually get the support of countries like Spain, France, and the Dutch Republic.

Function

Since the term audience refers to the readers, many writers prefer to adopt different styles of voice – mixed, formal, or casual – depending upon their intended audience. Knowing his audience helps the writer to determine what level of details he should provide, and what type of word choices he may make, because the word choice and tone should match the expectations of the audience.

The role of the audience in dramas and stage plays is unique, as the audience members transmit their energy and emotion to the players and actors through their responses during the performance. In this example, the function of the audience is to respond to the performance of the work.

Purpose

Because the word "audience" means the people who read or experience something, many writers like to use different ways of talking – like mixing, being formal, or being relaxed – depending on who they want to reach. When a writer knows who will read their stuff, they can decide how much detail to share and what kinds of words to use. This is important because the words and the way things sound should match what the readers expect.

In plays and dramas, the audience has a special role. They send their feelings and energy to the actors on stage by how they react during the show. In this situation, the audience's job is to react to the performance they're watching.