Suchergebnisse

FOR ALMOST 2 CENTURIES US FICTION HAS FEATURED CRIME, BUT ITS TREATMENT IN POPULAR LITERATURE, WHICH STROKES THE NORMS OF A MASS AUDIENCE, HAS BEEN QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN HIGH ART, WHICH EXAMINES CRITICALLY THE ASSUMPTIONS & VALUES OF SOCIETY. A STUDY OF SERIOUS FICTION CAN PROBE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES: (1) THE DEFINITION OF CRIME, (2) DIFFERENTIATIONS BETWEEN THE MASS & THE STATUTORY DEFINITIONS OF CRIME, (3) PERCEPTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL'S CIRCUMSTANCES & MOTIVATIONS, (4) PERCEPTIONS OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY, (5) THE ROLE OF THE VICTIM, (6) APPREHENSION OF THE CRIMINAL, (7) PERCEPTION OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS, JURIES, & INSANITY DEFENSE, & (8) RANKING OF CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT. FROM ANALYSIS OF FICTIONAL LITERATURE, TENTATIVE ANSWERS CAN BE FORMULATED, BUT GREATER VALUE LIES IN THE HEURISTICS WHICH FORCE RECONSIDERATION OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED HYPOTHESES. MODIFIED HA.