Stuart HallAudience Theory: Sacrilege

Sacrilege The video I am analysing in terms of reception theory is Sacrilege by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. There is a dominant, negotiated and oppositional reading of all media texts therefore I am going to look at the potential readings of the video. Generally comment sections on YouTube presents the idea that most viewers see the dominant reading and enjoy the video however there is oppositional and negotiated responses.

DominantThe messages that the video could be trying to present as a preferred reading is the hypocritical views of those that

judge her for her sins although behind closed doors (whether their desires or real actions) they also sin and would commit the same sin she did. It can also show the

inequality in men and women, as if the role’s were reversed and male was seen sleeping with multiple people

the reaction would be different. Most people will accept the message of how all the towns people condemned yet didn’t all recognize the unfairness and hypocritical views

they had.

NegotiatedA negotiated view of the video could be that they like the video although because of its complex and multiple readings some people may not understand what happened in the story. Building on this people could accept the idea that the people were hypocritical

however feel confusion over whether she really did sleep with all of the towns people or if it was showing the people desiring her. Others could accept the story but feel it is unrealistic

as in a modern society, (like the location its set, America) the punishment for adultery is not death. Others could understand the video and then take a negative view of women and ‘slut-shame’ her instead of looking at the other people’s mistakes. Some people could

accept the message however disagree with the way it was shown. They may feel that there is too much explicit content shown. Some people may also be confused at the order it is

shown in.

OppositionalSome people may completely reject the idea as they simply may not understand what the story is trying to tell. Feminists could reject it

under the grounds that it shows women as promiscuous and negatively. It also shows the main woman to be looked at like a

sexual object and people may not be happy with how she is shown this way. Others could argue that not all women act this way and it is a generalisation. They also may not like the patriarchy society which is shown and how the males seem to have control over justice and

decisions. I believe people could reject the video because they could argue a whole society would not come together and punish someone for

adultery therefore do not accept the consequence or idea. Religious people might reject the idea which religion has to play in the video. They may be offended by the priests behaviour and how it is shown. People who believe strongly in marriage could be annoyed at how marriage is shown and not agree with the cheating being shown. The content in the video does show half-nudity and sexual scenes therefore some people may not like the explicit content and find it

uncomfortable to watch.