Discuss the audience appeal of your three main texts - Madmen

The audience of Madmen is very limited in that it is shown purely on a subscribed channel (Sky Atlantic) so therefore this restricts the amount of negotiated and oppositional readers of the text as they would not have paid for such a channel. 'The Other Women' is the The Guardian critics choice for a 'knockout' episode as it clearly appeals to it's audience through the controversial issues put forth and when the patriarchal society of the time was taking a change. The representations of the ensemble cast show different perspectives of the time but all share the typical smart, suited office stereotype. Through the uses and gratifications theory this gives information on the style of the time and also creates personal identity as through the use of an ensemble cast, each viewer can more than likely relate to one of the characters. The Other Women challenges the male dominated society of the 60s. It firstly appeals to it's audience through the use of editing. The lack of non-diegetic music enables the viewer to create their own feelings upon a situation or a character and therefore is intended for a much more active audience. Also in this particular episode a non-linear flashback is constructed when Don Draper confronts Joan at her apartment, which adds shock value to the program, but also suggests it's appeal is towards a more educated and perhaps older demographic: 30 years and over.