Accessibility statement

Crime, Media and Culture - SOC00058H

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

How are perceptions of crime heavily influenced by mediated visual forms which circulate images and narratives of crime, criminality and victims? This module seeks to reveal the connections between crime and the media, which is central to understanding the cultural place they occupy in our social world.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

How are perceptions of crime heavily influenced by mediated visual forms which circulate images and narratives of crime, criminality and victims? This module seeks to reveal the connections between crime and the media, which is central to understanding the cultural place they occupy in our social world. Working broadly from the perspective of cultural and visual criminology, you will engage with theories and debates about the media and its relationship with crime, and learn about and use techniques of visual analysis. We will also critically discuss representations of crime in the news media and in popular culture within a mediated crime-oriented social world.

Module learning outcomes

Articulate a theoretically informed understanding of the interaction between media representation, crime and culture.

Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the significance of media narratives and images for different audiences in the local and global context.

Critically discuss the significance of popular culture and news media portrayals of crime on perceptions of crime and criminality in the local and global context.

Critically evaluate the relationships between crime, media representations and cultural dynamics within a global context.

Critically analyse visual artefacts in the context of relevant theoretical and conceptual debates.

Demonstrate ability to undertake critical analysis and to convey complex ideas in written and verbal formats.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

For formative work - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. Formative assessment provides practice for the summative tasks which are in line with LO particularly 2, 5-6.

For summative work - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with LO 1-6. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Carrabine, E. (2015) Visual criminology. The Routledge handbook of qualitative criminology, London: Routledge.

Hayward, K. ed., 2010. Framing crime: Cultural criminology and the image. Routledge.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.