Crime Fictionalization In Crime

Introduction: In many aspects, television has become a vital aspect of daily life within modern society. It encompasses a variety of genres ranging from soap operas to thrillers, as to meet the uses and gratifications of its audiences. As television continues to become more popular, networks are struggling to come up with new and inventive plots as a means of attempting to outshine other programs in their genre. Nelson Media Research ratings confirm that in 2006, aside from top shows like American Idol, part-time crime dramas have ranked as one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the industry (DeTardo-Bora, pg. 154, 2009). The relationship between the media and the criminal justice system is a delicate balance, as more often than not, crimes are portrayed in a false light leading to the concern of whether or not such programs may be to blame for many violent acts. An example of a crime based television series is Criminal Minds as it stands out among the crowd for being overtly when compared to its competitors; as it is based off of a real life division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that attempts to anticipate criminals moves before any further harm may be done. The majority of crime based television programs …show more content…
Fictionalization may be applied to many prime-time crime series through the ways in which officers of the law are presented, and the ways in which the criminal justice system appears. This idea is so prevalent in today’s society that academics have labeled it the “CSI Effect.” The CSI Effect may be related to the popularity of such series as CSI, Criminal Minds, and other programs that portray scientific and forensic evidence-gathering procedures to catch criminals (Dowler &Fleming, pg. 2, 2006). In Ken Dowler and Thomas Fleming’s article, “Constructing Crime: Media, Crime, and Popular Culture,” they discuss the effects of fictionalization,