This module introduces students to the complex interrelationships between the media and crime. Mediated forms of representation are crucial to constructions and contestations of a range of criminal activities, formulated along the axes of class, gender and race. The module offers students an introduction to academic theories and concepts of representation; an introduction to the histories of dominant regimes of representation of criminal activity and the relationships to contemporary forms of representation of crime and social inequalities.

The module also offers case studies of crime representations generated across a range of media sites, including television, film, literature, advertising, newspapers, magazines, music videos and websites. Students are given the opportunity to analyse visual representations from historical and contemporary media sources. The module also encourages students in the development of key study skills commensurate with Level 4, such as critical skills, independent research skills and academic writing skills.

The module aims to:

Introduce the complex interrelationships between media, representation, crime and society;
Explain academic theories, concepts and contemporary debates related to media, crime, representation and society;
Enable an understanding and appropriate employment of specialist academic terminology;
Facilitate independent analysis of specific representations of crime;
Develop awareness of how specific representations are located within frameworks of power and social inequality.

The 2,000-word essay worth 100% of the total module mark assesses students in their achievement of all the Learning Outcomes. The question for the assessment includes an element of choice on the part of students, allowing them to focus on a particular aspect (or aspects) of the module in order to develop an argument with wider resonance in relation to the module in its entirety.

Formative Assessment/ Feedback:
On-line activities providing formative feedback via Blackboard

200 hours, of which 26 will be class contact and 174 hours will be guided independent study. Whole group contact will consist of lectures and workshops.

1. Describe the links between media representations and crime, victimisation, and social inequalities.

Knowledge & Understanding; learning; enquiry

2. Evidence knowledge of a range of academic sources related to theories of gender, race and ethnicity, disability or sexuality.

Knowledge & Understanding; learning; enquiry

3.Apply academic theory to debates about media representations and crime, victimisation, and social inequalities.

Knowledge & Understanding; analysis; reflection; application

4.Critically discuss the relationship between media, representation and society in a good style of written English.

Communication; analysis

The library
PCs with standard suite of University software providing access to e-mail, the internet, word processing, etc
Lecture rooms with access for disabled students, and suitable for group work
The Blackboard virtual learning environment

Greer, C (2010) Crime and Media (eds). Abingdon: Routledge.
Hayward, K & Yar, M (2006) The "Chav" Phenomenon: Consumption, Media and the Construction of a New Underclass. Crime, Media, Culture. 2(1): 9-28.
Jewkes, Y (2015) Media and Crime. 3rd edition. London: Sage.
Jewkes, Y & Linnemann, T (2017) Media and Crime in the US. California: SAGE Publications.
Linnemann, T (2016) Meth Wars: Police, Media, Power. New York: NYU Press.
Surette, R (2014) Media, Crime and Criminal Justice. USA: Wadsworth Publishing.
Yar, M (2015) Crime and the Imaginary of Disaster. London: Palgrave Macmillan.