Subject: Re: 18,000
Yes, that is the "liberal media" interpretation. How was it interpreted, by small town, west Michigan, bigots?

It can be two things. Most good art is.

The Sopranos was a groundbreaking examination of the corrosive and corrupting nature of pervasive violence, self-deception, the limits of therapy and one's capacity for change, and the complex relationships that family member experience. It was also a show that some people watched because they enjoyed seeing the mob whack other mobsters.

Plenty of people came away from that show thinking Tony Soprano was the hero. Or Walter White, in Breaking Bad. That often happens when shows center around a deeply flawed (or outright evil) protagonist.

It doesn't mean that the art isn't also important with significant meaning to most other audiences.