Preview

Application of criminology theories to movies

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2854 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Application of criminology theories to movies
The Tracker

The film also presents a critical question of which law is closest to a consensual perspective of justice: the fanatic or trackers?

It reveals an Aboriginal perspective, which allows them to define and apply their own version of deviance onto white Australia with the colonial period.

The film contains references to Positivism, Marxist criminology, Labelling theory, Republican Theory, Strain Theory, Classical Theory, New Right Criminology and Critical Criminology.

The predominant theories throughout the film however are Biological Positivism and Marxist Criminology.

The Europeans view Aboriginals as an inferior race, which would accord with Biological Positivism perspective. Biological Positivism posits that crime is not the choice of the offender. Moreover, it is a 'fault ' in their biological nature, which causes them to commit crime . Positivists believe that behaviour is determined and shaped by forces, which are outside the control of the individual . Lombroso proposes that Aboriginals are born with atavism , which is defined as a biological throwback characterised by atavistic stigmata . Atavistic stigmata is in turn characterised by re-emergence of primitive traits such as narrow forehead, protruding cheek plus jawbones and also large lips and ears . Lombroso even went so far as to suggest that dark hair and skin, which are aboriginal characteristics, are fundamental elements, which make a person criminal.

The movie from a European perspective conveys the theory that racial inferiority equates to criminality.

However the movie deviates from the positivist approach, which argues that responses to crime should be orientated towards individualised treatment . Indeterminate sentences should be imposed which take into, account the nature of the act committed and the classification of the offender .

Throughout the movie, the fanatic deals out retributive punishment to all Aboriginals, which he encounters. It should be noted that the Fanatics



Bibliography: Australian Institute of Criminology, Crime in Australia: a State by State comparison, Canberra, Australian Institute of Criminology, 2001 (14th April, 2003). Becker H.S, Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of Deviance, The Free Press, New York, 1963. Bird G & Purdy J, Criminology: LAW00514 Study Guide, Southern Cross University, Lismore, 2003. Braithwaite J, Crime, shame and reintegration, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (UK), 1989. Cohen S, Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The creation of the Mods and Rockers, Basil Blackwall, Oxford, 1980. Cullen M, "Natural Born Killers and the Cancer of Information", (1997),Current Issues In Criminal Justice, 2(9), 192-200. Cuneen C & White R, "History and Culture", "Protection Legislation", in Juvenile Justice: An Australian Perspective, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1995. Douglas J & Olshaker M, Obsession, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1998. Douglas J & Olshaker M, The Anatomy of Motive, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1999. Gado M, All about Criminal Motivation, Crime Library http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/crime_motivation/9.html 15th April, 2003. Hirschi T, Causes of Delinquency, University of California Press, Berkley, 1969. Hudson B, Racism and Criminology: Concepts and Controversies, Sage, London, 1993. Iannone C, "Standard Deviance", (2002), 54(20), National Review. Keppel R, Signature Killers: Interpreting the Calling Cards of the Serial Killer, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1997. Lawrence F, Punishing Hate: Bias Crimes Under American Law, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1999. Lucas T, Sociology of Deviance: SOC01123 Study Guide, Southern Cross University, Lismore, 2003. Roach Anleu S, Deviance, Conformity and Control, 3rd ed, Longman Australia Pty Ltd, Sydney, 2000. Samenow S, Inside the Criminal Mind, Crown Publishing, New York, 1984. Stuhmcke A, Legal Referencing, 2nd ed, Butterworths, Sydney, 2001. Taylor I, Walton P, Young J, The New Criminology: For a Social Theory of Deviance, Routledge & Kegan Paul, London, 1973. Van Krieken R, et al, Sociology Themes and Perspectives, 2nd ed, Longman, Sydney, 2000. White R & Haines F, Crime and Criminology: An Introduction, 2nd ed, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 2000.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

Related Topics