Effects of Editing Style on the Perceived Meaning: A Comparative Study Between Old and Young Egyptian Television Audiences

Abstract

Since 1980s, classic editing conventions have been modifying into new forms characterized mostly by quickly changing images. Within the Egyptian context, this study has examined the effects of those newer video editing styles on audiences' perception of television. Six short videos edited following the conventions of those newer editing styles were presented to two sample groups of Egyptian audiences, these two groups of participants represented two generational audiences: elderly television audience (aged between 50 and 60 years old), and young television audience (aged between 18 and 22 years old). Data regarding the nature of the meanings constructed by different audiences were collected and compared. The results confirmed that those newer editing styles have produced a new generation of Egyptian spectators who interact with the television medium in a different way than previous generations.