Mirror Sites:
CSUDH - Habermas - UWP - Archives

California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: September 11, 2008
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ 385 Media, Crime, Criminal Justice

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

* * * * *

Week 3: Week of September 14, 2008

Email me your midterm visual project topic(s) for pre-approval.

Topic: Making News

Preparatory Readings:



• Potter and Kappeler. Constructing Crime. Preface, Introduction, Chapter 1-5 .
• Rafter . Shots in the Mirror. Chapter --.
• Surette . Media, Crime and Criminal Justice . Chapter --.
• Film: "Rashomon" (to be shown in class)
  
  
• Metaphor and Theory. Read the Blind Men and the Elephant fable. Think about how this fable relates to the course.
• "theory, policy, practice"
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  

Lecture related links:



• Sociology of Knowledge Files
• Ray Surette's website
• Internet Movie Database




Concepts to be covered:



• definition of the situation
• the social construction of reality
• crime waves
• moral panic
• "theory, policy, practice"



Discussion Questions:

Note: Incorporate "Rashomon" into your answers these discussion questions.



1. How does the movie, "Rashomon" relate to "social constructionism". Refer to the readings assigned in this course to date.
2. Read Theory, Policy Practice. How does "Rashomon" relate to "theory, policy, practice" ? Why do we insist that you consider the relationship also in the reverse direction: practice to policy to theory? Apply the Rafter, Surette and P&K readings.
3. Discuss which of Sasson's five frames you feel do the best in the media. [Surette, p. 54, Q.2] Relate your answer to Part 1 "Making News" in P&K.
4. What is a "moral panic"? Provide a recent example to illustrate this concept.
5. In "Crime Waves as Ideology," why does Mark Fishman state: "Crime waves are prime candidates for ideology," (P&K, p. 42)? What are some recent examples of crime waves? Why.



Suggested Creative Measures:




Note: Start thinking about ideas for your creative measures. Must relate to "media, crime, and the criminal justice system." Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your idea.



• Make an "explosion box/card" that focuses on this week's topic, "Making News" or on "Rashomon."
• View another Rashomon-like movie. Compare and contrast the two movies. Discuss how they relate to social constructionism and the "definition of the situation."
• Select one demographic characteristic (i.e., gender, race/ethnicity, age, social class). Trace historically how this characteristic has been portrayed/stereotyped in the media. Explain how and why this media image has changed over time.
• Watch one "reality television" program. Critique what is real with what is not real. Explain why. Relate your critique to some of the concepts discussed in class.



Recommended Readings:



• Gregg Barak. Media, Process, and the Social Construction of Crime.
• Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann. The Social Construction of Reality.
  
  
• Gaye Tuchman. The TV Establishment.
• Herbert Schiller. Mind Managers.
• Herbert Schiller. Information Inequality.
• Todd Gitlin. The Whole World is Watching.
• Todd Gitlin. Media Unlimited:How the Torrent of Images and Sounds Overwhelms Our Lives.