Both, CSI and X Factor have been huge successes in their own respective genres. This essay will examine the similarities and differences in the ways and techniques that X Factor and CSI use to attract their audiences. Both texts attract a worldwide audience with over 30 countries having their own version of ‘X Factor’, and in 2006, CSI was named the most popular show in the world in a study of ratings in over 20 countries. These stats connote a measure of the popularity and dominance of these shows within their genres, and generally within the TV industry.
The Uses and Gratifications theory can be applied to both these texts to show how they attract audience using the 4 stages. Firstly, personal identity, as X Factor is a contestant based show, and the people start the show as average everyday people, and this is connoted in their interview before their audition where they talk about their current life, and have very casual dress codes in a public and busy mise-en-scene. As the show progresses some of these contestants start to turn into ‘celebrities’ by gaining publicity, and this is connoted due to their change in dress codes, which is now smart and classy compared to casual before. Also connoted through their confidence, as at the start they are very nervous and modest, and as the competition progresses, depending on good results a person will gain self-confidence and gain more and more fans. An example of contestants that used the X Factor as a way to gain fame is One Direction who have toured the UK and America and succeeded heavily in both. This way of gaining fame could relate to the ‘American Dream’ ideology and the idea that normal people (the contestants) can be rich and famous because of the X Factor. Similarly, the CSI franchise can appeal to its audience through personal identity due to the way it uses realism in crime scene investigation. The heavy focus on the forensics of the show, and the science related details are very realistic, and there are people that genuinely do that sort of work for a living. Also, the narrative is often seen as realistic and some circumstances that an audience may be able to relate to. However, this has been put into question recently with a narrative that involved the world having to be saved in the last 10 minutes of the show, which of course it was saved due to the show’s seemingly closed narrative, as there is always a positive ending, with the ‘good guys’ victorious. Also, CSI has a close relation to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as Mac Taylor has to deal with the death of his wife. This attracted a larger audience, as many people who lost people in 9/11, or generally suffered grief would have been in the same position as Taylor, and shared his sorrow.
Social Integration is the next stage of the uses and gratifications theory that can be applied to these two texts. X Factor fans can instantly socially integrate with their programme through the voting system, so as they can have a say on the outcome of the show. The X Factor also tours around Britain, going to places such as Dublin, Cardiff and London so these tours can get more audience involved make the audience feel more part of the show. Also, TalkTalk (sponsors) website allows people to send videos of them singing to feature in the advert before X Factor. If your video appears on it, or simply just the prospect of being picked to go on the advert would be enough to make an audience interested and excited, and therefore keep their attention. CSI uses social networking sites such as Facebook to integrate many of their fans into their franchise. There is a CSI Miami online game on Facebook which lets an audience play as a character, and this would give a fan an insight into the programme and the mechanics behind the genre and narrative of programme. Finally, information is a large factor associated with both these texts. CSI is made to look and feel very realistic, and it gives people knowledge as to how forensics work and how to solve a crime. A preferred reading of this would be to enhance knowledge further and take a profound interest in it. For example, coincidence or not, since the release of CSI in 2001, more the popularity of forensic scientific courses has risen. However, an oppositional reading would be for criminals to have enhanced knowledge of how to cover up their crimes and successfully get away with it.
One factor of production that is shared between the texts ‘X Factor’ and ‘CSI’ would be their high production values. Both boast special effects, lights, extravagant camera angles, and most recognisably of all, celebrities. This high production value adds a luxurious viewing for the audience, and the use of celebrities in the X Factor such as Gary Barlow and Tulisa can act as opinion leaders (Two Step Flow theory), as their judgement may be trusted easily by an audience, and a certain celebrity may have a fan base of their own, and attract more audience simply for their imagine rather than the show itself. Richard Dyers Star theory can be applied to this because the use of celebrities to appeal to a wider audience, and effectively a more mass one. CSI uses the same team of characters every episode and all the actors are only really known for their CSI work. However it could be argued that they have become stars and celebrities for the fans of CSI. For example, there was outrage and appeal from the CSI faithful when rumours arouse about actress Jorja Fox leaving the programme. Furthermore, CSI has been known to have the occasional celebrity in some of their programmes, for example Zac Efron and Justin Beiber have appeared in episodes, and this would attract a wider range of audience for people just following these celebrities. Interestingly, these celebrities that come in for just a single episode are normally the villain, or the victim. This connotes that the actors in CSI are of higher status within the franchise than these more widely recognised Actors and stars such as Justin Beiber (who gets shot and killed in his episode).
The structure of narrative of either show is another important audience factor. The X Factor has an extended narrative for weeks and weeks until the audience discover the winner of the show. This can attract an audience to watch it every week, as nobody knows the answer of the show until the final episode, and making judgements and predictions on the show is enjoyable for an audience. In comparison, CSI has a much more closed narrative. Each episode has a different crime, and each episode ends by the crime being solved and everything going back to normal. Many polysemic readings can be taken out of this closed narrative. A positive reading of would be that it is short and fast so as an audience does not lose interest of get bored. However, an oppositional reading would be that one episode does not relate (entirely) to the next, so there is not roll over in narrative that an audience can look forward to every week, because all the audience questions from the previous episode have all been answered. However, CSI interestingly uses a non-linear narrative, with the vast use of flashbacks. The flashbacks are used to give the audience an idea of what happened prior to the crime, but sometimes the flashbacks can give false impressions and this is an effective method, as it gives audience a chance to make their own judgement on it, and to see if they’re correct. Also, there is a multi-layered narrative present in most episodes. On all 3 of the CSI’s there is usually a forensic team in the lab trying to solve the crime scientifically and then there is an action team who are out on the streets investigating the crime. This is interesting for an audience, as there are 2 stories that they have to keep up with, and they always eventually come together in the end to form one again.
In conclusion, there are similarities and differences in the ways that these two texts attract their respective audiences. It is vital to mention that these two texts attract very different audiences, so the techniques used to lure this audience are understandably different. The X Factor is more flashy and glamorous, and has a more simplistic and cheesy narrative, so would attract a younger audience, with possibly lower demographics. In comparison, CSI has a different, sometimes complicated narrative every episode so would attract possibly a more intelligent higher demographic audience to enjoy and understand a more complex and scientific narrative. However the use of celebrities to attract audience is one method that both these programmes share, as the celebrities alone have a fan base and following, and they will most likely watch certain episodes of X Factor or CSI to witness their favourite celebrity in action.