Scenarios of Information Confrontation: Results of Mathematical Modeling

The article provides an overview of the first stage study results the purpose of which is to master new opportunities in the study of a complex structure of mass media. Using the methods of the dynamic systems theory, we described the stage of information dissemination through media aimed at promoting a new system of views into society, and the informational confrontation accompanying this process. For this purpose, a number of parameters have been identified that makes it possible to assess the audience reaction to the news appearance. Depending on these parameters’ ratio, we presented the scenarios for the further information dissemination as well as conclusions about the society’s readiness to the changes of existing concepts.

Живописные реминисценции в фильме Владимира Мотыля «Белое солнце пустыни»

References to Fine Arts in Vladimir Motil’s Feature Film “White Sun of the Desert”. The Soviet feature film “White Sun of the Desert” (1970) by Vladimir Motil is considered a landmark in many ways. The circumstances of filming, screening, release, audience reaction, and the genre and formal language of the film itself all are significant. The article focuses on the filming process in the experimental studio ETO, the specificities of the genre called eastern and some features of the movie’s formal language, namely, the reminiscences of paintings by artists such as Korovin, Kuznetsov, Kustodiev, Larionov, Malevich, Sarian, Jakulov from the beginning of the 20th century.

COVID-19 NEWS AND AUDIENCE AGGRESSIVENESS: ANALYSIS OF NEWS CONTENT AND AUDIENCE REACTION DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IN LATVIA (2020–2021)

This research focuses on the interrelation between news content on COVID-19 of three largest online news sites in Latvia (delfi.lv, apollo.lv, tvnet.lv) and the audience reaction to the news in the Latvian and Russian channels during the state of emergency. By using a tool for audience behaviour analysis, the Index of the Internet Aggressiveness (IIA), for analysis of audience comments, the study aims to uncover how and whether news about COVID-19 affect the level of audience aggressiveness. The study employs two data collection methods: news content analysis and IIA data analysis, in which ten index peaks are selected in each of the two emergency periods (spring 2020, fall and winter 2020/21). The study data consists of content analysis of 400 news items and analysis of ~80,000 comments, identifying the level of aggressiveness, the number and structure of comment keywords. The results show that the level of public aggressiveness is only partially formed by the attitude towards COVID-19 news: less than half of the most aggressively commented news is devoted to information about COVID-19. An increase in the level of aggressiveness of the audience of online news sites can be observed at the end of 2020 and at the beginning of 2021 when it is higher than over the course of 2020.IIA is an online comment analysis platform, which analyses user-generated comments on news on online news sites according to pre-selected keywords, allowing to grasp the dynamics of commenters’ verbal aggressiveness. In addition, IIA exploits a machine learned classifier to recognize not only potentially aggressive keywords but also to analyse the entire comments. In January 2021, the IIA data set consists of ~24.89 million comments (~611.97 million words) added to ~1.34 million news articles.

AUDIENCE FEEDBACK AS AN ELEMENT OF PARASOCIAL COMMUNICATION WITH SCREEN MEDIA-PERSONS

Parasocial communication is defined as an illusory and one-sided interaction between the viewer and the media person, which is analogous to interpersonal communication. Among the classic media, television has the greatest potential for such interaction through a combination of audio and visual series and a wide range of television content – from newscasts to talent shows. Viewers’ reaction to this product can be seen as a defining element of parasociality and directly affect the popularity of a media person and the ratings of the TV channel. In this article we will consider feedback as part of parasocial communication and describe ways to express it in times of media transformations. The psychological interaction «media person – viewer» had been the focus of research by both psychologists and media experts for over 60 years. During the study, scientists described the predictors, functions, manifestations and possible consequences of paracommunication. One of the key elements of the formed parasocial connections is the real audience reaction. Our goal is to conceptualize the concept of feedback in the paradigm of parasocial communication and describe the main types of reactions to the media person in long-term parasocial relationships. The research focuses on the ways in which the viewer’s feedback on the television media person is expressed, bypassing the issue of classifying the audience’s feedback as «positive» and «negative». For this purpose, more than 20 interdisciplinary scientific works on the issue of parasocial interaction were analyzed and their generalization was carried out. Based on pre­vious research, the types and methods of feedback in the television context are separated. With successful parasocial interaction, the viewer can react in different ways to the media person. The type of feedback will directly depend on the strength of the already established communication with the media person. We distinguish seven types of feedback and divide them into those that occur during or after a television show; those that are spontaneous or planned; aimed directly at the media person or third parties. We offer the following types of feedback from TV viewers: «talking to the TV»; telling about the experience of parasocial communication to others; following on social networks; likes and comments; imitation of behavior and appearance; purchase of recommended brands; fanart.

NIGERIAN TELEVISION DRAMA SERIES AND AUDIENCE REACTIONS: A SEISMOLOGY EVALUATION

The objective of this study is to find answers to evaluate reactions of the audience to the Nigerian television drama series in Nigeria, giving attention to how the programmes are making waves and the extent to which the audience has invested their knowledge, time and interest in them. Seismology is the study of effects or waves created by a dramatic piece, the entire theatrical event or radio or television programme. This discourse assumes that the Nigerian television drama series may not be evoking the desired reactions from their audience. The problem of this study is the uncertainty surrounding the impact or waves made by the Nigerian television drama series on their audience. To achieve the objectives of this study adopted quantitative and qualitative research methods to elicit audience reaction. The study employed the survey method using questionnaire and online interview designs to elicit responses on audience responses to Nigerian television drama series. Findings revealed that more than 80% of Nigerians watch at least one or more Nigerian television drama series out of interest. Audience reactions to the programmes are in form their expressions of knowledge about the drama series in terms of best actors, producers and television drama series in Nigeria. The audience also reacted that the Nigerian television drama series is more entertaining than educational and informational, even though some combine all those qualities. The audience also agreed that the Nigerian television drama series reflect life in Nigeria by promoting good morals and criticizing anti-social behaviours like raping, drug abuse and kidnaping. The paper recommends multinational companies' continuous sponsorship of television drama series that is targeted at making the Nigerian society a better place.

Resonant Waves: Immersed in Geometry

This article introduces Resonant Waves, a work of interactive new media art that incorporates cymatic patterns into an immersive installation. The authors describe their research and design process in creating Resonant Waves, and they discuss technical details about the installation, highlighting innovative aspects of the project and contextualizing the project in terms of previous cymatics research and related artistic explorations of complex phenomena. Finally, the authors discuss audience reaction to different installations of the project and identify directions for future research in immersive cymatics.

Staging Sancho

In this chapter Paterson Joseph describes the genesis and evolution of Sancho—An Act of Remembrance, a play he wrote and performed about the life of Charles Ignatius Sancho. Sancho fulfilled the author’s desire to perform in a costume drama and bring awareness to black contributions to Britain. Developed as a monologue, the play conveys the extraordinariness of Sancho who was a musician, writer, actor, valet to the duke of Montagu, grocer, and was the first Afro-Briton to vote in a parliamentary election. Joseph recounts some of the challenges of bringing the play to the stage as well as the contributions of musicians, producers, choreographers, costumers, and lighting and set designers. He describes the audience reaction to the play revealed in post-show question and answer sessions which helped him see modern parallels with the political disenfranchisement of blacks in the US. Joseph positions Sancho as not only bringing awareness to the life of one remarkable black man, but helping break the monotone view of British historical drama and expanding our understanding of black lives of the past.

Laughing With Science: The Influence of Audience Approval on Engagement

While there is mounting evidence that humor can be an effective means of engaging publics, much remains to be learned about the contextual factors that shape how audiences receive and process humorous scientific content. Analyzing data from a controlled experiment ( N = 217), this study explores the differential impact of exposure to stand-up comedy featuring a scientist that generates considerable laughter from the audience versus stand-up comedy lacking audience reaction. Among the key findings, audience laughter served to heighten the affective response of viewers, and affective response was positively linked to two forms of audience engagement with science.

Spectators of Suffering: Witnessing Victims of Jungle Justices on Social Media

With the availability of the media, no one will deny both proximal and distance happenings across the globe especially when it is about suffering of others. The visibilities of these sufferings of others are much triggered with the emergence of new media. People of different socio-cultural and demographic background have adopted social media as means of letting the world know the happenings around them. In Nigeria through the medium, people have become witnesses to the suffering of victims of jungle justice as their images are constantly displayed on daily basis. Existing studies on audience reaction to suffering of others through mediated images shows that audience response to such images are dependent on their gender, socioeconomic, political and religious background, and some arguing that they have become numb and no longer care about suffering of others. Though these may be true, it cannot be generated to Nigeria audiences as a lot of factors determine how audience responded to mediated images. Little or no study of Nigeria background verified how Nigerians respond to suffering of others especially on the victims of disaster and attacks such as jungle justice. It is against these backdrops that this study through survey (focus group interview) determines Nigerian respond to images of victims of jungle justices in Nigeria. The finding reveals that Nigerians are not numbs when faced with such images and reaction is that of pity and ‘it could have been me’ with the sense of responsibility as to help avert the suffering.