Sociology coursework?

Question

Hi :)

im doing my sociology coursework...

the hypothesis is "How has the mass media affected teenage crime"

I need to write a background for the aims & introduction section - what would i include?

Also, is there any perspectives except marxist that see it as negative so i could include some teenage killings that have been blamed on movies?

thanks in advance :)

Answer 1

Feminist theory, gender and crime is where you need to also position yourself.

Be very clear who you are discussing in this context.

Who are the teenagers responsible for this crime?

What gender are they?

In the UK at the moment, public outcry about youth knife crime..but 'youth' does not mean female, or, in this context, white...so issues of class and race are also pertinent.

Google criminologists/sociologists such as Frances Heidensohn and Elizabeth Stanko they are authorities on crime and gender issues.

Good luck!

Answer 2

More help for you!

I follow current events pretty closley and i remember a few years ago a kid was arrested for sniping cars on a highway. when questioned, he said he was just acting out his favorite part of "Grand Theft Auto". He really thought it was a cool thing to do.

Also, I recently heard of a teenage girl who helped her boyfriend beat her 7yr old sister to death because they were re-enacting part of Mortal Combat, really it's true.

Because of the way the media has de-sensitized us with violence these people actually don't grasp the difference between real life and a vidieo game.

You should really bring up the question of who's is responsible, the media or the individual. The media glorifies violence and criminality in games like this, which is wrong if you ask me, but should they really have to have a disclaimer in their game telling you not to beat your kid sister to death?

Where does the medias responsibility end and personal responsibility begin. Is it the medias fault for selling us this c**p or our fault for buying it. Where do you draw the line?

I think that question would give you a really strong basis for your report.

Hope this helps you out!