Abstract

Audience modes, located at the intersection of audience and multimodal studies, refer to how audiences engage with, co-create, and interpret messages that utilize various modes of communication, including visual, verbal, spatial, gestural, and more. Part III of the Companion takes a granular approach to theory-building, breaking down complex concepts or phenomena into smaller, more manageable components or granules. This approach involves examining the individual elements, variables, and factors that contribute to a larger theoretical framework. In this context, the studies presented here focus on detailed and specific instances of audience experiences, especially outside of the Anglo-Saxon domain, bringing to the fore audience practices experienced in countries such as Brazil, Japan, and South Korea. The collection of chapters goes against the grain of what is expected when discussing media audience topics related to modes of communication. The chapters highlight the relevance of multiple and combined modes (text, image, audio, motion) being offered, used, and produced by distinctive audiences across diversified platforms to reflect the complexities of contemporary media audiences.