Law and Popular Culture Overview

The process of a ruling group maintaining control over a society through a combination of force and the construction of cultural values and norms that are widely accepted.

The act of challenging and creating alternative ideas and practices to undermine the dominant power structures and hegemonic norms.

Intellectuals who emerge from specific social groups or classes and advocate for their interests, often challenging dominant ideologies.

Intellectuals who claim neutrality but often reinforce existing power structures and serve the interests of the ruling class.

The arena where cultural and ideological consent is formed through voluntary participation in social practices, institutions, and beliefs.

A system of ideas and practices that shapes social consent and frames the way people understand the world.

The shift in moral authority from divine punishment (church-centered) to societal punishment (secular laws and social judgment).

The tendency to depict criminals in sensationalist narratives using language and imagery that evokes fear, disgust, and moral condemnation.

The process of internalizing societal norms and values, often accompanied by a sense of self-policing and conformity.

The emphasis on individual choices and responsibility for criminal actions, ignoring systemic factors that contribute to crime.

The merging of culture, ideology, and politics to explain how power is maintained and challenged in society.

The use of sensationalist language and narratives to create a sense of fear and moral outrage about crime, often leading to public demand for harsher punishments.

The portrayal of poverty in sensationalist narratives as a moral failing caused by weak will, lack of discipline, and susceptibility to vice.

The idea that the pursuit of self-interest and economic gain drives individual behavior, often leading to social consequences.

The tendency to oversimplify and distort public understanding of legal processes and outcomes, often influenced by sensationalist media narratives.

The tendency to portray individuals involved in crimes as inherently weak-willed and prone to temptation.

The use of a fictional, idealized representation of a reasonable person to objectively evaluate individual actions in legal contexts.

The act of suppressing or erasing the stories and achievements of folk heroes, often to maintain social control and prevent working-class aspirations.

The process of integrating and co-opting diverse cultural elements into the dominant ideology, subtly reinforcing hegemonic norms.

The emergence of new forms of power and dominance in society, often marked by a transition from traditional to modern forms of control.

The use of sensationalist language and narratives to evoke an emotional response from the audience, often manipulating their beliefs and perceptions about crime.

The gradual and incremental changes in society that maintain existing power structures, often driven by state-led initiatives.

The struggle between opposing forces in society, including the ruling class and those resisting their dominance.

A key concept in Gramsci's theory, highlighting the interconnectedness of cultural, political, and economic forces in maintaining power structures.

The ability of the ruling class to shape cultural norms and values to such an extent that they are perceived as natural and inevitable.

The act of blaming the victim for their own misfortune, often ignoring the systemic factors that contributed to their vulnerability.

The tendency to focus on individual choices and motives of criminals, often neglecting systemic factors that contribute to their criminal behavior.

The portrayal of children in cautionary tales as vulnerable and susceptible to temptation, reinforcing the need for strict parental guidance and societal control.

A coalition of forces, including intellectuals, political leaders, and social institutions, that work together to maintain and reproduce hegemonic power structures.

The tendency to present crime as a result of personal weakness, immorality, and lack of self-control, often ignoring systemic inequality and social factors.