Unit 1 AC1.4 Media representations of crime Flashcards
NEWSPAPERS
A vast amount of newspaper space is devoted to crime stories such as stabbings, shootings, murder and terrorist attacks. On a typical day, articles throughout a range of newspapers are related to reporting current crimes or concerned with the impact of crime. This relates to both local and national newspapers.
When a major incident occurs, the front pages of all newspapers and many sections inside contain the latest pictures and reports from the event. While terrorist attacks are atrocities and must never be condoned, it is interesting to note that often the media will sensationalise crime or over-exaggerate the event. Reporting often takes place in dramatic terms with a focus on the negative aspects, as if to scaremonger.
TELEVISION
Television plays a major role in the portrayal of crime by the media. Television is used to portray both fictional and factual representations of crime. Crimewatch and Police Camera Action are examples of factual programmes.There have been many dramas based on high-profile crimes such as Little Boy Blue, based on the murder of Rhys Jones in 2007, and The Moorside, based on the kidnap of Shannon Matthews in 2008. There are also many fictional crime shows on television such as The Bill, Law and Order, Sherlock and Midsomer Murders. According to Tim Newburn (2007) 1/10th of prime-time television is concerned with crime and law enforcement from the 1950s. This has since increased to a quarter of all output being devoted to crime.
FILM
Films have a huge impact on the way people see crimes and the facts and fictions surrounding them. Films such as Suicide Squad, Die Hard, Human Centipede and The Wolf of Wall Street are all films that have a main focus on crime and corruption.
GAMING
A form of media that is used to represent the fictional side of crime is gaming. The majority of crime games are aimed at over 18s. However, games can often trivialise crime, suggesting that violence is acceptable or that crime is appropriate. Grand Theft Auto is an example of a crime game, it encourages the players to steal cars, meet with prostitutes and kill people for game points.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The reporting of crime often appears on social media. Members of the public can raise awareness of crimes through posts. Police-force areas have Facebook and Twitter pages that allow increasing public awareness of particular crimes. They can also be used to enable the public to see what criminals are doing in their area or to make pleas for information from potential witnesses.
MUSIC
Many songs throughout the decades have been devoted to crime or criminals. Examples include ‘I fought the law’ by The Clash, and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ by Georgie Fame. Eminem has made several songs that allude to crime, sex and drugs, and Nirvana’s ‘Polly’ is also based on crime. This happens worldwide, for example, B.A.P, a Korean boyband regularly use the concept of murder, theft and kidnapping in their music videos to show gang culture.
TABLOID
Tabloid - a newspaper having pages half the size of those of the average broadsheet, typically popular in style and dominated by sensational stories.
BROADSHEET
Broadsheet - a newspaper with a large format, regarded as more serious and less sensationalist than tabloids.
SCAREMONGERING
Scaremongering - the spreading of frightening or ominous reports or rumours.
MORAL PANIC
Moral Panic - an instance of public anxiety or alarm in response to a problem regarded as threatening the moral standards of society.
GLAMOURISING
Glamourising - make (something) seem glamorous or desirable, especially spuriously so.
GLORIFYING
Glorifying - describe or represent as admirable, especially unjustifiably.
REPRESENTATION
Representation - the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.
DESCRIBE
Describe - give a detailed account in words of.
SENSATIONALISE
Sensationalise - (especially of a newspaper) present information about (something) in a sensational way.
