Reaction by Professor Gary Radford

It would seem the respondents do not find The Sopranos to be offensive. Is this surprising or unusual? Not really. Pre-meditated assassination, adultery, robbery, the settling of scores, and deception are themes that permeate popular culture in any police, mystery, or action genre whether presented in the form of a novel, a film, or a television show. From Sherlock Holmes, Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe, James Bond, and Don Corleone, danger, intrigue, suspense, and skullduggery of all kinds drive an audience's interest and fascination with other people's problems. The Sopranos is no different. To consider offensive the use of violence and sex as elements in The Sopranos would be akin to finding them offensive in the latest James Bond movie. They are part of the formula and part of what an audience would expect, indeed demands. The majority of respondents report that they can tell the difference between The Sopranos as story and as The Sopranos as telling the truth about the people and events it depicts. This is not a documentary and people know that.

see also:
Summary Analysis
Faculty Analysis (1)
Tabular Results
Survey Details

Comment by Fairleigh Dickinson University's Dr. Gary Radford.

Gary Radford (Ph.D. Rutgers University) is editor-in-chief of The New Jersey Journal of Communication and associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Radford can be reached at 973.267.7996.