The Social Implications of Enjoyment of Different Types of Music, Movies, and Television Programming

Abstract

This study investigated how information about an individual's enjoyment of various genres of music, film, and TV programming could influence an observer's expectations of that individual. An online survey of young adults found that the influence of information about another person's genre preferences varied across genres. Enjoyment of some genres, including jazz music, film comedies, and television comedies, tended to raise expectations of the individual, whereas enjoyment of others, including heavy metal music, anime films, and television soap operas, tended to lower them. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to uses and gratifications perspectives as well as to previous qualitative research on audience reception.

Keywords:

• Media Genres
• Sign Value
• Uses and Gratifications

Notes

Note: Scales ranged from 1 to 5 with a marked, neutral midpoint of 3.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Scales ranged from 1 to 5 with a marked, neutral midpoint of 3.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Scales ranged from 1 to 5 with a marked, neutral midpoint of 3.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note: Scales ranged from 1 to 5 with a marked, neutral midpoint of 3.

^a means differ at p < .05 level.

^b means differ at p < .01.

^c means differ p < .001.