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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
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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.
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