Celluloid Mischief: Deviance and Crime on the Silver Screen

Celluloid Mischief explores how films reflect society's values and norms, revealing real-life norms, violations, and efforts to punish and control offenders. It demonstrates the complex and evolving nature of modern America's social, economic, and political values using postwar and contemporary Hollywood cinema as case studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 316 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Celluloid Mischief delves into the portrayal of wrongdoing and "deviant" behavior in film, highlighting the fact that films are material products of both individual and collective imagination. They reflect the values and norms of the society that produce them, allowing us to understand how society understands and classifies particular kinds of behavior. The concept of "wrongdoing" in movies provides insights into real-life norms, the violation of those norms, and the efforts to punish and control the perpetrators of those violators.

Motion pictures, as a form of visual media, possess immense power to convey information about the social world. They constitute a universe of raw particulars that await excavation and analysis. By applying the appropriate approach, what happens on the screen can guide us to an understanding of society and culture. Films, being commercial products, are created by individuals who are members of a society, influenced by that society, and who strive to appeal to a wide range of other members by producing content that they desire to see.

A society's films can reveal a great deal about its taste and preferences, providing valuable insights into the social, economic, and political values of that particular community. This book, through the use of postwar and contemporary Hollywood cinema as case studies, showcases the complex and evolving nature of modern America's social, economic, and political values.

In conclusion, Celluloid Mischief offers a compelling exploration of the portrayal of wrongdoing and "deviant" behavior in film, emphasizing the role of films as mirrors of society and culture. By examining the complex relationship between films and society, this book provides valuable insights into the values, norms, and aspirations of modern American society.

Weight: 504g
Dimension: 154 x 234 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032341361