An in-depth and well summarised exploration of War of the World's CSP AQA A-Level Media studies students. This contains all the theory and exploration of the designated theoretical framework (Audiences and Industries) to secure an excellent grade. It will save you a lot of time as everything is eff...
● The War of the World’s was an adaptation of H.G Wells sci-
novel
● Broadcasted in 1938 by an ambitious and reputable auteur,
Orson Welles
● The narrative described a Martian invasion of earth (US) as
an alleged form of ‘entertainment’
● Albeit, it caused mass hysteria and provoked widespread
national panic due to the variety of global events occurring
during that period - it was ‘oppositionally’ read
● Radio was a relatively recent invention - invented by
Gugliemo Marconi during the 1890s
● Therefore, it was inevitably perceived as a fascinating piece of technology for
many audiences - eliminating the ideas/concepts of their being hoaxes/fake news
● Audiences during this period were passive, thus they conformed to a variety of
‘effects’ models and theories (Hypodermic Syringe, Cultivation, Two-Step Flow)
● The broadcast was aired by CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) - 1 of 2
TRUSTED national broadcasts by millions of audiences as they delivered reliable
and impartial news
Historical Context
● 1938 marked a year before World War II
● There were global tensions between the West (US-UK-France)
as Hitler was hell-bent on his invasion of Europe
● Throughout this period/in the weeks leading up to the infamous broadcast, American
radio stations were frequently cutting into scheduled radio programmes to notify
audiences about recent updates and global tensions
● These events were establishing the bedrocks for the impact the broadcast was
going to have on the nation
● Orson Welles utilised this radio code/convention to his advantage as it called for a
greater and more authentic impact for audiences. In essence, he can catch them off-
guard
● In addition, a year before the War of the Worlds was broadcast (1937), the
Hindenburg Disaster occurred in New Jersey, United States. This substantiates
the plausibility of an event like a Martian invasion as audience's perception of
reality were becoming cultivated
Genre
● The 1938 War of the World’s broadcast incorporated a hybrid mixture of
science ction tropes, coupled with radio broadcast conventions to
create an entertaining narrative
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller NS2412. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
