Lecture 1: Introduction into Crime, Power & Media
The development of Criminology
1700s → criminology began with the classical school
The classical school focused on the idea of free will. People were seen as
rational individuals who make conscious choices, including to commit crime. The
main assumption was that crime results from individual decision-making, so
punishment should deter people from offending.
19th century → positivism
Instead of asking ‘why do people choose crime?’, positivism asked: ‘what is
wrong with the individual?’. The approach focused on: biology, psychology,
pathology and determinism. Crime was increasingly seen as something caused
by internal defects or abnormal characteristics.
20th century → sociological positivism
In the 20th century attention moved from the individual to society. The question
became: ‘what is wrong with society that leads people to commit crime?’.
The perspective looks at: poverty, inequality, urbanisation, social breakdown and
class conflict.
After WW2 → critical criminology
Argues that crime cannot be understood without looking at power. Central idea:
‘those with power create law’. Crime is not neutral or objective, but shaped
by those who hold political, economic and institutional power.
Later → Cultural criminology
This approach sees crime as a cultural effect. It focuses on: how crime is
represented, how crime is consumed through media and how crime becomes part
of everyday life. Crime is not only something that happens, but also something
we watch, interpret and consume.
Three core concepts
Crime → crime is not a fixed concept. Instead, it depends on: legal systems,
social norms, historical context and power relation.
Power → power is described as: symbolic, material, embodied and unequal. This
includes the power of: states, institutions, corporations and law enforcement.
These actors help define what counts as crime and how society responds to it.
Media → media concerns how crime is represented. This includes: news,
television, film, digital media and social media. Media does not simply reflect
reality, it helps construct reality.
What is crime
Crime is not an objective truth. 4 approaches:
1. Legal approach → crime is defined as behavior that violates the law. This is
the most traditional definition. If an act is illegal, it is considered as crime.
2. Sociological approach → crime is behaviour that violates social norms
and values. Something may be socially condemned even if it is not legal.
3. Social constructivist approach → based on Howard Becker. Deviance is
socially created, people become deviant because society labels them as such.
Crime is produces through: rule-making, rule enforcement and labelling.
4. Zemiological (harm) approach → it asks: what causes harm? Even if
something is legal, it may still produce serious harm. Examples: environmental
destruction, exploitation, state violence and corporate misconduct.
, Crime as a social construct
Traditional criminology often sees crime as caused by: pathology, anti-social traits
and determinism. However, critical criminology argues the law itself is also a
social construct. What counts as crime changes over time. For example,
behaviours once criminalised may later become normalised.
Crime and Media
Mass society theory → this theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th
century. It assumes media has a strong influence on passive audiences.
Hypodermic syringe model → this model suggest that media messages are
directly injected in the audience. People are seen as passive receivers. This
means crime news and violent imagery may directly influence: fear, anxiety,
imitation and moral judgments.
Moral panic → this occurs when media exaggerates a threat and creates public
fear. Examples include: youth crime scares, drug scares and violent media
debates.
Anomie and strain theory
Anomie (Durkheim) → anomie means normlessness. This happens when society
undergoes major change and shared norms break down.
Strain (Merton) → society creates cultural goals such as: success, wealth and
status. But not everyone has equal access to legitimate means. This mismatch
creates strain, which may push individuals toward crime.
Dominant ideology approach
Marx → society is structured around class inequality. The ruling class controls
institutions and exploits lower classes.
Hegemony (Gramsci) → Gramsci argues control is maintained through
consent, not only force. People internalise dominant norms as “common sense”.
Media plays a crucial role in spreading these values. This means media can
reinforce: stereotypes, class inequality and dominant ideologies.
Pluralism
Pluralism is presented as a response to dominant ideology theories. It argues that
modern media offers many perspectives because of: market competition,
multiple channels and different voices. However, the lecture also critiques this by
mentioning: sensationalism, soundbite journalism, infotainment and profit-driven
reporting. Crime “sells”, making it highly attractive for media production.
Cultural criminology and postmodernity
This approach focuses on: symbols, emotion, representation and audience
agency. People actively interpret media rather than passively absorb it.
The distinction between reality and representation becomes blurred. Crime
becomes both: a social reality and a cultural product.
The development of Criminology
1700s → criminology began with the classical school
The classical school focused on the idea of free will. People were seen as
rational individuals who make conscious choices, including to commit crime. The
main assumption was that crime results from individual decision-making, so
punishment should deter people from offending.
19th century → positivism
Instead of asking ‘why do people choose crime?’, positivism asked: ‘what is
wrong with the individual?’. The approach focused on: biology, psychology,
pathology and determinism. Crime was increasingly seen as something caused
by internal defects or abnormal characteristics.
20th century → sociological positivism
In the 20th century attention moved from the individual to society. The question
became: ‘what is wrong with society that leads people to commit crime?’.
The perspective looks at: poverty, inequality, urbanisation, social breakdown and
class conflict.
After WW2 → critical criminology
Argues that crime cannot be understood without looking at power. Central idea:
‘those with power create law’. Crime is not neutral or objective, but shaped
by those who hold political, economic and institutional power.
Later → Cultural criminology
This approach sees crime as a cultural effect. It focuses on: how crime is
represented, how crime is consumed through media and how crime becomes part
of everyday life. Crime is not only something that happens, but also something
we watch, interpret and consume.
Three core concepts
Crime → crime is not a fixed concept. Instead, it depends on: legal systems,
social norms, historical context and power relation.
Power → power is described as: symbolic, material, embodied and unequal. This
includes the power of: states, institutions, corporations and law enforcement.
These actors help define what counts as crime and how society responds to it.
Media → media concerns how crime is represented. This includes: news,
television, film, digital media and social media. Media does not simply reflect
reality, it helps construct reality.
What is crime
Crime is not an objective truth. 4 approaches:
1. Legal approach → crime is defined as behavior that violates the law. This is
the most traditional definition. If an act is illegal, it is considered as crime.
2. Sociological approach → crime is behaviour that violates social norms
and values. Something may be socially condemned even if it is not legal.
3. Social constructivist approach → based on Howard Becker. Deviance is
socially created, people become deviant because society labels them as such.
Crime is produces through: rule-making, rule enforcement and labelling.
4. Zemiological (harm) approach → it asks: what causes harm? Even if
something is legal, it may still produce serious harm. Examples: environmental
destruction, exploitation, state violence and corporate misconduct.
, Crime as a social construct
Traditional criminology often sees crime as caused by: pathology, anti-social traits
and determinism. However, critical criminology argues the law itself is also a
social construct. What counts as crime changes over time. For example,
behaviours once criminalised may later become normalised.
Crime and Media
Mass society theory → this theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th
century. It assumes media has a strong influence on passive audiences.
Hypodermic syringe model → this model suggest that media messages are
directly injected in the audience. People are seen as passive receivers. This
means crime news and violent imagery may directly influence: fear, anxiety,
imitation and moral judgments.
Moral panic → this occurs when media exaggerates a threat and creates public
fear. Examples include: youth crime scares, drug scares and violent media
debates.
Anomie and strain theory
Anomie (Durkheim) → anomie means normlessness. This happens when society
undergoes major change and shared norms break down.
Strain (Merton) → society creates cultural goals such as: success, wealth and
status. But not everyone has equal access to legitimate means. This mismatch
creates strain, which may push individuals toward crime.
Dominant ideology approach
Marx → society is structured around class inequality. The ruling class controls
institutions and exploits lower classes.
Hegemony (Gramsci) → Gramsci argues control is maintained through
consent, not only force. People internalise dominant norms as “common sense”.
Media plays a crucial role in spreading these values. This means media can
reinforce: stereotypes, class inequality and dominant ideologies.
Pluralism
Pluralism is presented as a response to dominant ideology theories. It argues that
modern media offers many perspectives because of: market competition,
multiple channels and different voices. However, the lecture also critiques this by
mentioning: sensationalism, soundbite journalism, infotainment and profit-driven
reporting. Crime “sells”, making it highly attractive for media production.
Cultural criminology and postmodernity
This approach focuses on: symbols, emotion, representation and audience
agency. People actively interpret media rather than passively absorb it.
The distinction between reality and representation becomes blurred. Crime
becomes both: a social reality and a cultural product.
