Constructing crime and justice on film: meaning and message in cinema

Abstract

Films as a cultural medium both reflect dominant attitudes in society and also play a pivotal role in the shaping of our perceptions and ideas. Within popular culture, crime has long been a popular theme, particularly for contemporary film-makers. While a substantial and growing body of research exists on the portrayal of crimes and criminals in the literature, few efforts have been made to conduct a systematic analytical study of the construction of justice in film. As such, the general purpose of this article was to identify pervasive themes inherent in the portrayals of crime and justice across a wide spectrum of films. We examined the connections drawn between the narratives of justice that emerge in some films and the manners in which crime and criminality are constructed. Our analysis draws upon the social constructionist literature in deciphering the meanings and messages which are conveyed through films on the themes of justice.