War of the Worlds

 Read Media Factsheet #176: CSP Radio - War of the Worlds.

1) What is the history and narrative behind War of the Worlds?

It was originally a novel published in 1898 about an alien invasion and the conflict between mankind and a species from MARS.

2) When was it first broadcast and what is the popular myth regarding the reaction from the audience?

It was broadcasted in 1938 and audiences believed that the alien invasion was happening in real time during the broadcast causing them to react in numerous ways whilst spreading the 'news' that they truly believed was factual.

3) How did the New York Times report the reaction the next day?

With the headline, MANY FLEE HOMES TO ESCAPE ‘GAS RAID FROM MARS’ – PHONE CALLS SWAMP POLICE AT BROADCAST OF WELLES FANTASY.

4) How did author Brad Schwartz describe the the broadcast and its reaction?

Hysteria: Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds and the Art of Fake News’ suggests that hysteria it caused was not entirely a myth. “Instead it was something decades ahead of its time: history’s first viral-media phenomenon.”

5) Why did Orson Welles use hybrid genres and pastiche and what effect might it have had on the audience?

He used a Pastiche in order to present the original novel of War of the worlds and presented in an almost authentic way however it was a hybrid genre as it was a spoken radio version of H.G Wells' novel.

6) How did world events in 1938 affect the way audiences interpreted the show?

In 1938 high tensions lead to world war 2 in the same year which means audiences would have been worried and interested on the state of society therefore it would be more likely that they would listen to the radio. Due to this there was more listeners and interest on the radio. Orson Welles broadcasted as breaking news which caused an outbreak where audiences believed it was real. On top of this high anxiety and a large number of listeners led to mass discussions causing further coverage of the topic.

7) Which company broadcast War of the Worlds in 1938?

CBS radio network.

8) Why might the newspaper industry have deliberately exaggerated the response to the broadcast?

In order to get more coverage as well as it being around the same time as Halloween which allowed for the story to be more interesting. 

9) Does War of the Worlds provide evidence to support the Frankfurt School's Hypodermic Needle theory?

Yes as audiences all believed that it was real life events that were occurring which shows that they just took in what was fed to them and believed it.

10) How might Gerbner's cultivation theory be applied to the broadcast?

The audiences took a false novel and took it to be real life events believing it was existing events.

11) Applying Hall's Reception Theory, what could be the preferred and oppositional readings of the original broadcast?

The preferred reading would have been to understand the broadcast as a made up story but take it in as a horror theme due to the time of the broadcast and it being the day before Halloween. An oppositional reading would have been to believe it was real news.

12) Do media products still retain the ability to fool audiences as it is suggested War of the Worlds did in 1938? Has the digital media landscape changed this?

Products still have an ability to fool the audience but it is to an extent as audiences now have opportunities to do their own research and also have a voice.

Media Magazine article on War of the Worlds

Read this excellent article on War of the Worlds in Media Magazine. You can find it in our Media Magazine archive - issue 69, page 10. Answer the following questions:

1) What reasons are provided for why the audience may have been scared by the broadcast in 1938? 

Post the great depression, tensions to world war 2.

2) How did newspapers present the story? 

They spun the whole story very differently and presented it as a hoax.

3) How does the article describe the rise of radio? 

There was a lot of scepticism around it and many didn't trust it as a new source of media and may feared the idea of corruption.

4) What does the article say about regulation of radio in the 1930s? 

That there was large amounts of uncensored and unregulated radio content.

5) How does the article apply media theories to the WOTW? Give examples.

Stuart Hall reception theory.

6) Look at the box on page 13 of real newspaper headlines. Pick out two and write them here - you could use these in an exam answer.

‘Radio Fake Scares Nation’

‘Fake Radio War Stirs Terror’