The CSI effect: Forensic Crime Television Assignment

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Added on 2019-09-20

The CSI effect: Forensic Crime Television Assignment

Added on 2019-09-20

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The CSI effect: forensic crime television shows affect the society.NameSubmitted to Date

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Introduction In this current paper, a discussion is represented on the impact of crime scene investigation (CSI)shows on society. The main ideology behind writing this assignment is to reflect an opinion on the influence of CSI on society group comprising every age-group people. The term crime scene investigation gained fame in the year 2004 in an article featuring the effect being made on trial jurors by television programs based on forensic science in USA Today. The synonyms for CSI are referred to as the CSI syndromeand theCSI infection. The exaggerated portrayal of involvement of crime scene investigation and forensic science-based crime shows on television has hugely impacted the public perception. The biggest challenge associated with such shows are that with the advancement of improved crime scene analysis and forensic technology, people have gathered higher expectations for the provision of more forensic evidence in criminal trials (Spichler et al., 2015).The effect of CSI shows on the society group comprising every age-group people is indeed very real. Youths nowadays are majorly affected by the crime scene investigation shows. The shows broadcasted on television talks about more science and their involvement in dealing with the crime scenes. Youths, especially students seem to be fantasized in large numbers by the kind of tools used in carrying forensic tasks. Tools such as DNA fingerprinting and 3D Laser Scanner, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, alternative light photographyand others used for carrying forensic tasks have widely grabbed the attention of people when they seethe same on television finding application in solving and tracing crimes. Those CSI shows focusing on fighting digital crime are gaining more attention and popularity in today’s world (Penfold-Mounce, 2016).

The CSI effect: Forensic Crime Television Assignment_2

CSI effect is named for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and is a television program which was premiered in year 2000 and is broadcasted up till the present (2000 - 2015). The program features a fictional team comprising crime scene investigators who are ready to solve every complex and simple murder cases in theLas Vegas metropolitan area. These fictional investigators are found to solve end-numbers of mysterious murder cases, with the help of scientific methodologies. The criminal cases are solved by gathering and investigating forensic evidences on crime scenes, interrogates witnesses, and arrest criminals based on the findings. The show has gathered much popularity, and has continued to inspire views of the show. The popularity of forensic crime television shows are up to such an extent that viewers are highly fascinated up till the date by the contents of the shows and out of it they develop many misconceptions about the nature of forensic science and investigation procedures, especially in the legal cases which take place in the real scene and not in the reel (Bull, 2014).FilmAmong the best crime drama shows of all the time we have chosen a popular show namely, The shield, which is a popular American crime drama television series, starring a group of detectives called the Strike Team, an anti-gang unit, led by Detective Vic Mackey, and it’s story is based onthe Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) unit that serves communities of the Los Angeles. The atrocious and illegal actions of the Strike Team, holding control of the streets and raising financial gain through these activities, are at the peak of this violent and bring an argumentative piece of crime drama. The plot goes with, as Mackey’s team struggles to break the scrutiny of a succession of police bosses, The Shield also has a great ensemble cast of police officers with their own day-to-day investigations and a number of

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compelling subplots arising from these characters. Uncompromising, stout-hearted and a grim portrayal of the real life behind the glitz of Los Angeles (Wayne, 2014). Literature reviewTelevision has been considered as the most influential medium in the United States of America as it projects the real life images to the viewers present in their respective homes (Mann, 2006). But it has to be seen noted that most of their stories and accounts that are being viewed on television are fictitious in nature. Therefore, they fail to represent the criminal justice system in an accurate manner. Television, therefore, creates a false depiction of crime victims, criminals, crime fighters and even the courts. In fact, Reiner, Livingston and Allen (2003) have supported this portrayal of crime in the media and have stated that the characteristics of criminals, crimes and even the victims being repeatedly represented in media has respected the polar opposite of the pattern which is usually suggested by the crime official or the crime statistics or and victim surveys (Reiner et al., 2003, p. 15) and refer this to as the law of opposites (Reiner et al., 2003).Usually there are only two platforms where the criminals are talked about: news and popular television shows (Shattuc, 2014). Although a lot of information can be gained on criminals usingmagazines, books, articles, magazines etc. but the majority of Americans are seen to construct their respective view on criminals using what they see on television shows and news (Surette, 2011). On television, the criminals are projected as highly intelligent, attractive and decisive (Surette, 2011). Whereas in reality the opposite is true. Victims are also seen to be depicted in a false manner in media and projected to be highly innocent and helpless. According to Surette (2011), they are white and male most of the times. The reality in all the above cases is extremely opposite to this portrayal which supports the law of opposites given by Reiner, Livingston, and

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