Effects of Popular Culture

The CSI Effects & Media Effects

Television series like CSI make jurors see more forensic evidence and make better decisions (Cole & diso – villa 2007). CSI effect is the description way of forensic science to social cognition in Crime Scene Investigation. The real world impact is that people are getting unrealistic expectations about forensic science.

Key concepts of CSI effects

1.That the portrayal of forensic science in crime scene TV shows is

exaggerated and/or false

2.That this portrayal has an influence on how the public and by

extension juries perceive forensic evidence when it is presented

in real-life court cases

3.That this perception impacts the verdicts issued by juries

Some hypothesis:

Do CSI viewers give forensic science more weight than it deserves?

By having had their expectations raised, have they become more skeptical?

Strenths of CSI effects

- Detailed methodology which makes it replicable

- Detailed methodology (qualitative analysis) – makes it

replicable

Weaknesses of CSI effects

- Small sample size for meta-analysis -> cannot reach causation - Studies examined only focused on individual decision- making instead of jury deliberations - Potential publication bias b/c relied on published data although researchers attempted to find original sources

Divide in the literature on whether the CSI effect exists - Lawyers / legal professionals more likely to say yes! - Existence of CSI effect and in particularly degree of potential influence remains uncertain between fields - Current research seems to indicate that the CSI effect is real... but HOW REAL remains the question

Source: Schanz & Sulfati, 2016,

Media Effects

We 've seen how Grossberg’s reading helps us understand the construction of identity. We also talk about the effects of the media, continuity. Producing identities is understanding how pop culture can shape how we see ourselves. Audiences, markets and fandoms are divided into economic identity and socio-cultural identity. Markets are quantitative description of a population according to a set of social or sociological variables. The taste cultures is the continuing commitment of a group of people to a type of product. Lifestyle clusters is where our demographics meet our consumption patterns and habits. Socio-cultural identities include membership in different social groups. There are some ways to think about our identity, in political, social, cultural and economic way. We’ve also studied pop music analysis, hip-hop culture. They all contained messages like self-reflexivity. Pop music help us understand relationships of identity.

Why do we focus on popular culture?

- It is everywhere.

- Simulates social reality / realities and functions a space for observational learning

Social Cognitive Theory

(Bandura)

- Prolonged exposure to mediated messages can influence how audiences perceive the world

Cultivation Theory (Gerbner)

Popular culture establishes social norms and boundaries and conveys information about inter-group dynamics. Adolescents are easier to get affected by music videos, include sexuality. Twerking, a popular culture in Africa also have been applied to music. But this could arise gender stereotypes.