Ethnicity, National Cultures(s) and the Interpretation of Television

Abstract

Critically examines two studies on the relationship between the sociocultural contexts of a TV audience & the audience's interpretations of the program. To attribute different interpretations to ethnic differences without explanation is theoretically inadequate. A conceptual framework is needed to avoid correlating racial or ethnic difference with cultural differences. Cultural differences can be more distinct than ethnic or racial differences. Gadamer's hermeneutics is drawn on to demonstrate that our interpretations are due to our historicity. A. Lee