PS 337 Crime and Society
This course places crime and criminal activity in a broader social and historical context by examining the ways in which different societies have defined the boundaries of criminal and noncriminal behavior. Special emphasis will be placed on the changing patterns of criminal activity and the role that cultural forces play in stimulating and preventing criminal behavior. The course will also explore the representation of crime in the mass media as well as theories of crime causation. Some of the authors whose works will be featured include: Mike Davis, Michel Foucault, Lawrence Friedman, Gary La Free and Christian Parenti.