Criminology Major (Level 3)
Criminology Minor (Level 3)
Law Single Honours (Level 3)
This module examines the possible relationships between popular culture and crime. It looks at the extent to which representations of crime have formed a key component of popular culture
throughout modernity. It goes on to examine the extent to which popular cultural representations of crime, and the 'popular' cultural practices of some sections of society, have themselves been
linked to crime and criminality. Late modernity has seen the rise of 'law and order' as an electoral issue, the emergence of 'true crime' as one of the fastest growing popular literary genres, a
significant increase in the number of films and television programming devoted to crime related issues and themes, increased interest in police procedure, forensic science, criminal psychology and related areas, and rapidly increasing demand for criminology as an undergraduate subject. This module concludes by considering what contemporary society's apparent preoccupation
with crime and criminality can tell us about the nature of identity formation and maintenance in late modernity.
To examine examples of cultural representations of crime and criminality.
To examine examples of the criminalisation of cultural practices.
To encourage an appreciation of the ways in which perspectives drawn from Cultural and Social theory can develop and augment more 'traditional' examinations of crime and deviance in their social context.
To offer an understanding of the different theoretical debates which inform the examination of the relationship between cultural representations of crime and wider social practices and concerns.
accurately deploy established techniques of cultural and social enquiry and analysis to a range of crime texts and manifestations of crime related and criminalised practices.
will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
demonstrate an awareness of the uncertainties and ambiguities of knowledge, and adapt existing social and cultural theories to the analysis of new or non-standard forms of social and cultural practice will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
demonstrate a critical understanding of possible relationships and interactions between cultural representations of crime and wider social concerns and practices. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
10 x 2 hours of session specific preparation in advance of each session.
110 Hours of Personal study (including work for summative assessments)
An extended illustrated essay drawn from a list provided by the module leader. Essay should include appropriate illustrations, images and/or links
In consultation with the module leader students can choose an example of a criminal or deviant act, a cultural practice, a text (broadly defined to include film and TV, novels, media stories, music, web content etc) or a cultural artifact, and review this example using theoretical and analytical perspectives drawn from the module.
This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.