Audience Theory

The close up used in this shot makes the audience focus on her eyes, based on the rule of three, and so almost draws people into the album cover, and particularly her attractiveness. The power elite theory proposed by C Wright Mills can be applied here as many females, particularly young girls, will aspire to become as attractive as she is. The audience may also feel a sense of escapism in that they feel they can look like Katy Perry and that this is how they should look and diverts them away from how they feel they currently look.The typography used in the album cover would suggest it is aimed at young girls as it almost looks like a kind of sweet, which attracts younger audiences to the product. However, the font can also be ambiguous, as in this close up she is shown to be very seductive and she is looking directly into the camera, as if to capture the hearts of any men who view this album cover, and so the sweetness of the font could be seen as an emphasis of her attractiveness. This conforms to typical stereotypes of women in the genre of pop.Maslows hierarchy of needs can also be applied to this album cover as many young girls will likely feel as though they need to boost their self-esteem and so aspire to become like Katy Perry, and perhaps self-actualisation through doing so. It can also apply to the physiological need of sex as she appears very seductive and so men who view this album cover will find her sexually pleasing to look at. In light of this, Mulveys idea of the male gaze is also used here as we are made to view her from a male perspective. This also conforms to the conventions of many pop album covers.Richard Dyer spoke of the concept of a star as a construct and not as a real person, and so people tend to aspire to something which is not real and this is part of the reason why the audience become more materialistic and indulge in various products to become like her; in essence, people reconstruct themselves to become like the constructs they are aspiring to become. The wrist band for example and cosmetic products such as make up and eye liner are mere examples of how people may try to reconstruct themselves.