NCJ Number
13547
Journal
Public Opinion Quarterly Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1973) Pages: 241-250
Date Published
1973
Length
10 pages
Annotation
CONTENT ANALYSIS IS USED AS A MEANS OF DESCRIBING THE WAY IN WHICH TELEVISION ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS PORTRAY CRIME, CRIMINALS, VICTIMS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abstract
IN LOOKING UPON TV ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS AS AN EDUCATIONAL SOURCE, THE AUTHOR FOUND SEVERAL DISTORTIONS AND OMISSIONS. IN SUMMARY, IT APPEARS THAT THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE OF TV CRIME RESEMBLES ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF TV VIOLENCE OUTLINED BY GEORGE GERBNER, A RESEARCHER IN THIS FIELD. BOTH TV CRIME AND TV VIOLENCE ARE PRESENTED IN WAYS THAT SEEM TO MINIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL THREAT TO SOCIETY. TO DO THIS, HOWEVER, EACH USES ITS OWN PARTICULAR TECHNIQUES. VIOLENCE IS TYPICALLY SET IN THE PAST OR FUTURE, IN RELATIVELY UNFAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS, AND INVOLVES PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CLOSELY ACQUAINTED. WHILE TV CRIME USUALLY OCCURS IN THE PRESENT AND IN MORE FAMILIAR URBAN-SUBURBAN SETTINGS, IT HAS BEEN PUSHED INDOORS AND IS PORTRAYED AS PRIVATE, HIDDEN, AND UNSUCCESSFUL. IT IS PERFORMED BY ONE-DIMENSIONAL CARICATURES WHO ARE MOTIVATED BY PERSONAL FAILINGS, NOT BY INADEQUACIES EXISTING IN SOCIETY. THE GOAL OF PORTRAYING TV CRIME IN THIS FASHION SEEMS TO BE THE MINIMIZATION OF THE REAL DANGERS AND PROBLEMS THAT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES POSE TO SOCIETY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)