Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the mediated portrayals of the police and judicial system in the true crime genre of television, specifically in the Netflix Original series Making a Murderer. Using Sonja Foss’ ideological criticism, I analyzed the first season of the show, which spanned 10 episodes. In my analysis, I uncovered three major themes that highlighted the portrayals of both the police and the judicial system. First, this study concluded that the police and judicial officials involved were seen as both secretive and corrupt Second, it was found that low social and economic class citizens are given a lack of due process. Finally, looking at how the police and the judicial system uses media to their advantage. Using ideas such as representation and cultivation theory, this analysis is able to uncover what these themes mean.
Advisor
Johnson, Michelle
Department
Communication Studies
Recommended Citation
Appel, Michael, "Making a Murderer : Examining Portrayals of the Police and Judicial System in the True Crime Genre" (2020). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 9137.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/9137
Disciplines
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Keywords
True- Crime, Cultivation Theory, Representations
Publication Date
2020
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2020 Michael Appel