Detailed Course Information |
Fall 2019
May 09,2025 |
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| SOCI 248 - CRIME AND MEDIA |
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Sociologists conceptualize culture in myriad ways, but are particularly interested in how institutions shape cultural norms. Media are ubiquitous in modern life, and a primary conduit for the communication of culture. This course uses sociological theory, both classic and contemporary, to examine how media shape such norms with respect to how we understand crime and the criminal justice system in the context of the American cultural landscape. Particular attention is paid to how media reinforce harmful stereotypes, inequality, and marginality. Students will examine both historical and current cultural artifacts (films, TV shows, comic books, news stories, songs, etc...) and learn to analyze the artifacts through the lens of communication and criminological theories. We will examine how media representations construct social reality, and the effect of this on perceptions of crime, and criminal justice policies. Special attention is paid to cultural constructions of the “newsworthiness” of crime stories, and how journalistic practice contributes to inaccurate public information about crime and criminals. Finally, we review approaches used by social scientists to systematically study media representations and culture.
0.000 TO 4.000 Credit hours 0.000 TO 4.000 Lecture hours Levels: Undergraduate Schedule Types: Hybrid, Lecture, Online Course Sociology Department Course Attributes: Gen Ed 18-Culture & Creativity, OLD GE TOPICS SOCIAL SCIENCE Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Undergraduate Prerequisites: FOR SOCI 248 General Requirements: ( Course or Test: SOSC 110 Minimum Grade of D May not be taken concurrently. ) or ( Course or Test: HNRS 110 Minimum Grade of D May not be taken concurrently. ) |
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