For viewers who share the same social beliefs as Archie, authors Baran and Davis define it as part of Reception Studies: “audience-centered theory that focuses on how various audience members make sense of specific forms of content” (218). Two opposing views derive from this theory, the preferred reading and the oppositional reading. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Baran and Davis describe preferred reading as “the producer's intended meaning of a piece of content; assumed to reinforce the status quo” (218). Lear thought that by using satire to address difficult topics the audience would have the opportunity to see that Archie's thought process had no basis in truth. Bunker's ideas were shaped more by what he did not know to be true than by what he could prove. It can be assumed that the message behind Lear's All in the Family was simply that bigotry is not only unjust but senseless. This message has reached and resonated with millions of people; makes you think and wonder if today's news on an angry demonstration has the same impact? You may also be interestedHow to read when you hate reading: tips + explore reading In contrast to the previous century, the accelerated pace of life and the mass transition to e-learning, lead people to quick and easy solutions...Then there is is the oppositional reading, Baran and Davis state that this occurs “when an audience member develops interpretations of content that are in direct opposition to a dominant reading” (219 ). In the show you can see an oppositional reading in the viewer praising Bunker for standing up for his beliefs and “telling it like it is.” You might think that mocking bigotry on a big stage like television would open the door to further bigotry, but that wasn't the case. Each time Bunker's ignorance was exposed, we learned that not knowing has always generated more prejudice than knowledge. Baran and Davis further analyze this theory with selective perception and exposure theory. This theory suggests “that people alter the meaning of messages, so that they become consistent with pre-existing attitudes and beliefs” (107). This theory suggests that if people don't relate to and identify with a character, they would be less likely to watch the show. show why they would 'selectively' avoid it. For example, a prejudiced person is more likely to admire Archie's character, to see his points of view as more valid than Mike's, and therefore to consider him a well-rounded individual. (Vidmar and Rokeach). Lear hoped that All in the Family would help change taboo conversations from being angry and defensive to making bigots the laughing stock of their communities. This was an image that some critics of the sitcom believed many white males took offense to after being seen as clowns in the eyes of the nation. Lear thought that laughter was a universal concept that would help unite society with a plot that highlighted some of humanity's flaws. While some viewers applaud Archie for his racist views, others praise the show for making fun of bigotry. Researchers found that All in the Family had three groups to thank for its success. These groups were: 1) the bigoted fan club who laughed at Archie and his mistaken views of the world, 2) the revolutionaries who laughed at him, and, 3) the viewers ready to change the world and learn from racial satire. While..