Link to What's New This Week CRMJ 490-01: Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice.

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    Media Preparations - Spring 2004

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    California State University, Dominguez Hills
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    Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
    Created: July 27, 2003
    Latest Update: February 5, 2004
    E-Mail Icon jeannecurran@habermas.org
    takata@uwp.edu

    Site Teaching Modules CRMJ 490-01: Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice
    You will be held accountable for purposes of grading for the readings and exercises 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.

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    Week 3: Week of February 1, 2004 and Week 4: Week of February 8, 2004

      Topic: Media and the Social Construction of Crime and Justice

      Preparatory Readings:

      • Merlo and Benekos. What's Wrong with the Criminal Justice System?: Ideology, Politics and the Media. - Chapter 1.

      • Surette. Media, Crime and Criminal Justice. - Chapter 1.

      • Potter and Kappeler. Constructing Crime -- Chapters 1-5, 6-11.

      Lecture related links:


        --- Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.

        --- new - Check out this link Ray Surette found by Bettie Poole during Fall 2003.


      Concepts to be covered:

      • definition of the situation
      • the social construction of reality
      • presentation of self
      • labeling/stereotyping
      • difference
      • identity politics
      • the Other

      Discussion Questions:

      1. In "Crime Waves as Ideology," why does Mark Fishman state: "Crime waves are prime candidates for ideology," (p. 54)? What are some recent examples of crime waves? Why.

      2. Relating to Berger and Luckmann's concept, "the social construction of reality," how real is "reality TV"? Why. Be sure to incorporate the readings in your answer.

      3. In Part 2 (Constructing Crime Problems) of the Potter and Kappeler book, which author best explains the social construction of a crime problem? Why.

      Suggested Activities:


      • Select one demographic characteristic. Trace historically how this characteristic has been portrayed in the media. Explain why these media images have 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:


      • Gaye Tuchman. The TV Establishment.
      • Herbert Schiller. Mind Managers.
      • Herbert Schiller. Information Inequality.
      • Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann. The Social Construction of Reality.
      • Erving Goffman. Presentation of Self in Everyday Life.
      • Charles Silberman. Criminal Violence, Criminal Justice.

      Media Sources:

        Left/Right Perspectives - Cursor - New York Times
        Arts and Letters Daily - The Economist - The Guardian
        Wall Street Journal -The Weekly Standard - The Nation
        Los Angeles Times - Chicago Tribune - The Washington Post
        Cursor's Al Jazeera Archive - Ha'aretz - Palestine Monitor

        Indymedia - BBC News - New Profile - Progressive Sociologists Network




        E-Mail Icon takata@uwp.edu

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