Open AccessThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly: The Media in Prison Films
Author(s) -
BENNETT JAMIE
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the howard journal of criminal justice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1468-2311
pISSN - 0265-5527
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2311.2006.00408.x
Subject(s) - depiction , prison , punishment (psychology) , narrative , imprisonment , politics , criminology , sociology , media studies , political science , psychology , social psychology , law , art , literature
Generally, people have low levels of exposure to prisons through personal experience and therefore the media plays an important role in informing beliefs and actions. In particular prison films are an important and extensive form of media depiction. However, media depiction of crime and imprisonment has been criticised on ethical, political and social grounds. This article explores how prison films have depicted the relationship between the media, crime and punishment. It argues that this is a significant and integrated part of the prison film genre. It also argues that these representations are important both as a narrative device and in making the media a focus of pressure for reform.