Television Drama as a Vehicle of Social Communication

Abstract

This article is based on quasi-experimental studies of social communication through television drama of high artistic quality. It examines how viewers perceive the overall message of Tom Stoppard's Separate Peace, screened on Polish Television. Two groups of respondents — with contrasting levels of education — were chosen: college-educated individuals and workers with no more than a secondary vocational schooling. The study shows that while lower literary competence, measured by educational attainment, does in a sense impoverish the reception of artistic messages, it mainly results in a form of `naïve' reception that is as valid as, but different from, reception typical for individuals of higher literary competence. The characteristic traits of both types of reception are considered in detail.