Stuart Hall’s Uses & Gratifications Theory

Diversion

There are four stages to Stuart Hall’s Uses & Gratifications Theory. These four stages are diversion, information, socialization and self-discovery. The first stage is called Diversion where Stuart Hall proposes that the main reason why people watch films is to escape to another world that is different compare to their. Hence why this stage is called Diversion since the more films a person watch the more diversity of different worlds that they can watch/experience as well. For example fantasy movies like Lord Of The Rings could be consider as diversion.

Information

Information is the second stage in the theory where the individual begin to gather information about the film that they are thinking that they may want to watch in cinemas or at home. The individual can gather information through numerous different types of ways such as watching the film trailer on YouTube, reading newspapers reviews e.g Daily Mail about the film or viewing the film’s website.

Socialization

Socialization is when the individual begin to discuss the film with their friends or classmates. Within these discussions the individuals start to hear negative or positive feedback about the film. By hearing about the film all of the times by their classmates/friends the individual will want to watch the film so that they can be include in these social discussions about the said film.

Self-Discovery

Self-discovery is the last stage where the individual watches the film and afterwards they begin to relate to the film. Therefore the individual start to understand themselves more since they watched the film and began to form emotional attachments to its.