I made mistakes in drama. I thought drama was when actors cried. But drama is when the audience cries.
Frank Capra
What comes to mind when you hear the word audience? Many people tend to think of performances and of being entertained by musicians and singers. Or they may picture sitting in front of a stage or movie screen while actors act out storylines to keep them on the edge of their seats. Some might even imagine large convention centres, conference halls, or board rooms where they sit amongst the masses listening to others give lectures or presentations. These are all valid connotations of the word audience, but the term is actually more encompassing than this.
Defining “Audience”
As established in previous units, understanding context (conditions / environment) is critical to achieving successful communication. Let us therefore consider the context and origin of the term audience. Audience originates from the Latin word “audentia”. Audentia is composed of the morphemes “audire”, meaning to hear, and “au-du”, meaning to perceive / physically grasp. This originating context is important. Audience does not describe a passive state of hearing. Rather, it characterizes the active, engaged practice of listening, of searching for opportunities to make sense of what is being heard for the purpose of relatability.
The term audience is a trifecta; meaning there are three significant aspects to it:
- Hearing / listening
- Perceiving / assessing
- Engagement / action
Audience
Know yourself - and know your audience.
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Unlock full access by logging in. Registered users can explore the entire lesson and more.