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Cultural Criminology

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Length:: 2:29 Mins

YOU TELL ME... OR READ THIS BOOK!

An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers

`The quest to establish the causes of crime has been one of the most elusive searches confronting humankind,' observe Jeff Ferrell and Keith Hayward in this new book on a contemporary criminology thread, which, no doubt, will emerge as an important contribution to this field this century.

Criminology is, of course, one of the social sciences and thus employs scientifically based methods and mind-sets to seek out the answer -- or answers -- to the pivotal question around which it revolves: what causes crime? As the editors explain, `criminology's central focus is the systematic examination of the nature, extent and causes of crime.'

This volume usefully compiles and presents a collection of some 22 learned essays from well known academics, each an expert in this field. It's the latest in the series published by Ashgate entitled `The Library of Essays in Theoretical Criminology'.

This particular volume focuses on `cultural criminology' which represents and drives certain theoretical departures from what (for want of a better term) one might call "traditional", or "conventional" criminology. It consolidates some of the most important work within this relatively recent theoretical orientation and approach. We say recent because, apparently, `cultural criminology' has emerged as a distinct new aspect of criminology since the 1990s.

According to the book's introduction, `crime and crime control operate as cultural processes manifesting themselves in the form of various phenomena, from media representations of crime, to public displays of emotion by crime victims'.

To cite just one example, the editors refer to what they describe as the saturation of everyday life by multiple media forms and media technologies which, in their view, blur the distinction between `crime' and the `image of crime' Part III - the section entitled `Crime, Media and the Image' explores all the attendant issues here in thought provoking detail.

The book is laid out in six sections, i.e. six categories -- including the one just mentioned -- which develop this and related themes to explain further the dynamics of cultural criminology. That each article has been lifted word for word out of its publication of origin for inclusion in this volume is obvious; which is a virtue of course, so no criticism about that, except it's a little disconcerting to see such a variety of typefaces, fonts and layouts between the same two covers!

This is definitely a book for criminologists, sociologists and professionals in related or relevant fields - the Criminal Bar, too, no doubt -- who wish to examine in depth the subject of cultural criminology in all its many facets.

Here, in one handy volume, is a wealth of theoretical discussion as well as illustrative examples of how theory may be applied - plus any number of references for further research. But, does it shed more light on the causes of crime?

Possibly "yes", as much as criminology ever does. Its main advantage lies in its orientation toward the contemporary and the modern - and in that respect it perhaps has more relevance to -- and promotes a deeper understanding of - the almost intractable social problems which plague society today: yep, `cultural criminology' is indeed a good title for what we face now!

I actually had Jeff Ferrell as a professor at Northern Arizona University, which is the main reason why I read the book. He is extremely knowledgeable about the subject, and reading it was a very eye-opening experience. I would definately recommend this to anyone! Of course, you'll never be able to watch the news or read TV again without thinking of this book... :)