191-438 Criminal Fictions

37.5 points of second/third year criminology subjects for third year. Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in criminology. However, the subject is available to cultural studies students who have not done 37.5 point of criminology subjects.

This subject involves theories and methods in the cultural analysis of crime, with particular reference to the stories told about crime by victims, offenders, criminal justice agents, criminologists, and general members of the public. The aim is to examine narrative structures and genres in stories about crime; to read narratives about crime in their social, historical and cultural contexts; to study the legitimation of particular voices and stories. Examples to be studied include detective fiction; crime fiction; news media accounts of crime; survivor testimony; eyewitness testimony; policy reports; criminological studies. Students who complete the subject should be able to analyse critically the construction of crime narratives, and the implications of their purpose, audience, and genre.

• have highly developed cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills;

• have an advanced understanding of complex concepts and the ability to express them lucidly in writing and orally;

• have sophisticated awareness of cultural, ethnic and gender diversities and their implications;

• have an ability to plan work and to use time effectively.

Written work of 4000 words on a topic set by the coordinator or on the student's selected topic in consultation with the coordinator 100% (due at the end of semester). For students at 4th year and above the essay will be of 5000 words.