The Sopranos
Audience Analysis

Herrmann states that people have naturally learnt “to interpret the conventions of television in order to put a meaning to the images shown”. This may be true but everyone’s interpretations are different to some extent because they are based on people’s own individual experience and knowledge (Rose). Social and economic factors also effect this interpretation (Herrmann). With this being said, we cannot merely assume Herrmann and Rose’s theories without empirical evidence, which can only be acquired through audience analysis. Through specific questioning and subsequent analysis, I shall attempt to truly ascertain whether or not an audience is reading or thinking about the text presented to them. The text that I shall examine in this case is The Sopranos.
Ten people were randomly selected to fill out the survey or questionnaire. Eight were male and two were female. The first part of the questionnaire prompted participants to describe themselves in terms of age, gender and television viewing behaviour. The second part dealt with the The Sopranos specifically and was aimed at finding out how the viewer interpreted this text.
To view the results of the survey click here.
Most of the participants in this survey were males. I found it harder to find female participants. This could reflect the fact that more males watch the show possibly because of its content. We could also infer that there is a possibility that the violence and language deters more females than males from watching even though both women in my survey felt that it was quite a necessary element in the show. Despite this, the female participants showed no differences to the males in answering the questions. All of the viewing behaviours were very similar. Four participants watch television alone and the age of the participants varied but these differences in demographics did not seem to correlate with any differences in interpretation. We could interpret this to mean that even though the people who watch the show are varied, they all still seem to "read" and think about the text quite similarly.
Herrmann’s stated that “we know that television is ‘lying’, making up stories, often driven by sensationalism due to a growing competition.” The main finding that led me to believe that the audience is “reading” this text is contrary to this statement but also reiterates it. Most participants liked the show because of its realism and felt that elements such as violence and swearing were necessary in order to enhance this realism. In this case then, we don’t necessarily think that television is ‘lying to us’ and people seem to be learning something from the show within a realistic context. This authenticity and realism seems to allow people to better relate and interpret the show. Most participants believed that this is a main reason for its success and that this is what sets The Sopranos apart from most other shows. I say that this realism element also reiterates Herrmann’s statement because the fact that people notice and appreciate this realism shows that they are indeed aware of the fictitious nature of television. This appreciation or realization proves that people are thinking about the text.
Most participants were also attracted to the show because essentially it is a human drama. It explores the lives of real people with real problems and this depth is a unique quality in the show. It stimulates the viewer to think and not merely be “passively receptive and mindless” (Livingston as quoted in Herrmann). People chose their favourite characters because of their multidimensional personalities and unique traits. The general summary of the show according to the people questioned seems to be an exploration into human nature within the context of a family. These are all points that have to be inferred from the show and reveal its strong appeal beyond pure entertainment. People also spent quite some time answering the survey questions. Their fairly detailed answers reflect their efforts in thinking about the show and the interpretative qualities this show provides.
As we can see from the responses of the participants, The Sopranos is a show that is full of depth and meaning that prompts the viewer to be an active participant in the viewing process. While it is interesting and enjoyable, it is not simply mindless entertainment. Through its realism and originality, the text communicates with the audience in a unique way and people come away from the show with something more than just an hour of entertainment.

Bibliography:

Herrmann, Stefan, Do we learn to ‘read’ television like a kind of ‘language’ ,
Rose, G. Visual Methodology, Sage, 2001.

Grossberg, Lawrence et al., The Interpretation of Meaning

Done by

Paul Yates