Modes of reception: A consolidated analytical framework

Abstract

Drawing on a synthesis of existing models of reception and findings from audience research, this article outlines a conceptual framework for the (meta)analysis of existing and new reception data which delineates four primary modes of viewer interpretation and response: transparent, referential, mediated, and discursive. I argue that the adoption of this consolidated analytical framework may facilitate a more systematic investigation into how viewers' interpretations are shaped by social group memberships, cultural competencies, and discursive affiliations.