1. In Chapter 3, Surette explains the link between the media and criminal behavior. According to Surette, there have been several difficulties in examining the relationship between the media and criminal behavior. (Surette, 2011) Surette explains that they are several ways in which media influences crime. The media could be increasing the number of criminals by turning previously law-abiding people into criminals. It could also be helping active criminals become more successful in their offenses. There are so many ways that the media could be influencing crime but the research is too unstable because an aggregate, society-wide media criminogenic effect is likely to be small and intermixed with many other crime-generating factors. (Surette, 2011) At the beginning of the nineteenth century came the emergence of the copycat crime and resurgence of concern that the media influences crime. For a crime to be a copycat crime, it must have been inspired by an earlier, media-publicized or generator crime. (Surette, 2011)
By this time,
…show more content…
According to Rafter, Hollywood films give us ideas about heroes and the nature of heroism. (Rafter, 2006) As a society, we admire the powerful and look down upon the weak. We love to watch characters that stand against oppression and bring freedom to all. No matter what method they use to administer justice, because they are doing it for society, it is acceptable. Traits glorified by films and other media constitute a kind of ideology of heroism, a set of assumptions about what admirable means. (Rafter, 2006) To fully understand why society reveres heroes, Rafter explains the eight kinds of narratives that contain the different types of crime heroes. The eight types of narratives are: the mystery or detective story, the thriller, the caper or heist, the tale of justice violated/justice restored, the disguised Western, tales of revenge and vigilantism, chronicles of criminal careers, and the episodic plots of action stories. (Rafter,
In “The Thematic Paradigm,” University of Florida professor of film studies, Robert Ray, defines two types of heroes pervading American films, the outlaw hero and the official hero. Often the two types are merged in a reconciliatory pattern, he argues. In fact, this
Complex Masculinities: The Superhero in Modern American Movies attempts to encapsulate the essential elements that make masculinities complex by means of mass media. The question of where and why superheroes have held such a salient position in the last decade is aroused when it is media who is the deciding factor in institutionalizing masculinity. When looking at the surface of a superhero movie, dominant hegemonic characteristics are the epitome of the superhero and reflect the roles and values society holds of a “real man”. But, further insight as to why superheroes are constructed as they are, reflect society’s insecurities of real issues the public deals with; the post 9/11 world is relieved when faced with an unrealistic masculine superhero that repeatedly does good. The underlying idea is that media constructs and deconstructs masculinity to fit the needs of society who imbeds these ideas into the norms and roles of what it means to be a man. This article proves to accurately argue this position yet, leaves out that fact that this only points to one side of masculinity and others have their own ideas and interpretations of superhero movies. A greater emphasis on a conflict theorist perspective could aid this article in providing how superhero movies reflect the ideologies of the dominant class and how their interests are being promoted within the superhero figure.
Most people use second hand information as their core source of information about crime, this source of information usually being the media. When carrying out sample research in Birmingham, Susan Smith (1984) discovered that 52% of people obtained most of their information about crime from the media, 36% obtained it from hearsay or alleged experiences of friends and neighbours, 3% from their own experiences, and 1% from the police service themselves (cited in Jones, 2001; 8). However the media tend to exaggerate upon areas of criminal activity causing a moral panic. ‘A moral panic is a semi- spontaneous or media generated mass movement based on the perception that some individual or group, frequently a minority group or subculture, is dangerously deviant and poses menace to society. These panics are generally fuelled by the media, although not always caused by, media coverage of social issues… These panics can sometimes lead to mob violence… (newsfilter.co.uk).
In the essay “The Thematic Paradigm, “Robert B. Ray discusses how American films have traditionally reflected fundamental patterns and contradictions in the myths and values of society. Americans are drawn to characters that possess two traits within in one character: the official hero and the outlaw hero. While the characters and story lines differ in movies or television shows, there are three types of characteristics that define the outlaw and official hero type.
In the article “The Thematic Paradigm” exerted from his book, A Certain Tendency of the Hollywood Cinema, Robert Ray provides a description of the two types of heroes depicted in American film: the outlaw hero and the official hero. Although the outlaw hero is more risky and lonely, he cherishes liberty and sovereignty. The official hero on the other hand, generally poses the role of an average ordinary person, claiming an image of a “civilized person.” While the outlaw hero creates an image of a rough-cut person likely to commit a crime, the official hero has a legend perception. In this essay, I will reflect on Ray’s work, along with demonstrating where I observe ideologies and themes.
Today the media has become one of the most influential communications vice in the society. Majority of individuals tend to believe and support the media reports. Moreover, even when the media focuses on criticizing people and their actions the community people follow them. This has been the case when it comes to reporting the decisions of the criminal justice systems. In most cases, the law enforcement has been found to be influenced by social factors such as ethnicity and race in the decision making (Jewkes, 2015).
...it is the advent of television media that have sparked debate over the integrity of reliable news making. Print media was factual, although sometimes sensational, while electronic media made use of the technologies, such as videotapes and live footage to enhance and exaggerate the drama of the event even further. Many research studies have been conducted to show the effects of the media coverage on crime and how it influences the publics of fear of crime. Mass media has perpetuated a notion that crime is on the increase by portraying events and tragedies in the headlines that are sensational. The public buys into that idea, despite statistical accounts that reflect stable or low crime rates. The more stories people read and watch about crime, the more likely they are to think that crime is out of control. Politicians may then enact legal reforms to sooth the public’s outcry for crime control and prevention. As easy as it may be to hold the media accountable for barraging us with images and ideas that affect our views and beliefs, it important that the public take responsibility for the information that we consume. After all, there is always the “off” button on the remote control.
The possible yet likely and lasting effects of crime and violence related mass media are impacts that can be prevented, and are advised to keep away from our children, the future of this generation. The research presented clearly shows evidence for crime and violence related media being an issue of concern in regards to our children. Other factors do influence the paths a child is placed on from birth, but these factors do not necessarily dictate a child’s destiny. And while the same factors may not be the sole reasons behind a child’s fate, they do play quite a part, especially when paired with the negative effects of crime and violence filled mass media. The effects can be avoided or at least minimized, and this will increase the chances of a better character and lifestyle. While it may be hard to escape, the effects of crime and violence related media should be made known to the public and for the sake of our children and the future of our societies, safety, supervision, and caution should be taken to the benefit of the brains of the tender and
As television media is a modern way of society being up to date and gaining information on local, national and worldwide crimes, there
In many American films we put emphasis on a type of “hero”. This hero can come in many forms in Robert B. Ray’s article “The Thematic Paradigm”, Ray categorizes the heroes of the movie as being either the “official hero” or the “outlawed hero”. According to Ray these heroes’ can be differentiated in categories such as age, society, women, politics, and the law. One character who is a hero, but differentiates from Rays categories of official and outlaw hero is Leonardo DiCaprio’s role of Billy Costigan in the movie The Departed who is a mix of the official hero and the outlaw hero.
Movies have evolved a great deal since the days when a couple fighting scenes and a small love story satisfied audiences. Today movie plots are much more complicated and have much more action, thanks to modern day technologies. Although these new technologies seem to make movies increasingly complicated, some crucial roles in movies will never change. One thing that has remained constant in the film industry is the role of the hero. No matter what the genera of the film and or when the film was made the hero’s always share similar characteristics and are put through similar series of tests to prove their heroism. When these tests are completed it seems to pull everything together in their films. Although the hero Shane in the movie Shane and the hero Ripley in the movie Aliens are from two separate generas and are also from separate time periods, the hero’s in each movie share characteristics and are put through similar tests that make them, in theory, one in the same. Heroic characteristics start to become evident right from the start of each of the movies.
People are using the media to obtain the news or information from television, radio and video. Television is a source of media that sustains strong influence on society today. People mostly spend their time on television and internet for getting news and for amusement. Is the nature of crime in our society accurately presented in the media?
Therefore, the purpose of this essay is to look at the crime content in the media and consider with use of examples the extent to which the media has in shaping
The correlation between media and fear of crime has been study and there has both been positive and negative correlations. Most studies do conclude that media can have an impact on one’s perception of fear of crime and even the potential of feeling victimization through the media. Media can leave the impression that violent crimes can be random and inexplicable (Kohm et al., 2012). The only form of media that has been found not to have a significant impact is the newspaper. Whereas the news channel provides the most impact.
a hefty price. If only we could change the old cliché to, "no news is