SOC 2760 Chapter Notes - Chapter N/A: Nypd Blue, Serial Killer
11 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
Prime-time television has historically devoted at least one-third of its time to crime. The fact that both news and entertainment television have focused on crime means that, for many of us, our exposure to crime and violence may be obtained largely through the media. Television exerts a powerful influence as a source of information about contemporary culture in today"s society, and thus, may be a primary force in shaping viewer understanding of crime. This study compares portrayals of crime on television with official crime statistics and appropriate research literature. Violent crime is a common feature of entertainment programming that has been found to be significantly overrepresented by multiple research studies, whether on fictional crime shows or reality-based police shows. Explanations for crime/criminality offered by tv tends to be overwhelmingly individualistic (e. g. , people commit crimes because of greed, jealousy, mental pathology, etc. ) Criminality is viewed as the failure of an individual who is morally weak or mentally deficient.
