All-American TV Crime Drama: Feminism and Identity Politics in Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (Library of Gender and Popular Culture)

Law and Order Special Victims Unit (SVU) is more popular than any other American police procedural television series, but how does its unique focus on sex crimes reflect contemporary popular culture and feminist critique, whilst also recasting the classic crime narrative? All-American TV Crime Drama is the first dedicated study of SVU and its treatment of sexual violence, gender and criminality. The book uses detailed textual and visual analyses of episodes to illuminate the assumptions underpinning the programme. Although SVU engages with issues pertaining to feminism and gender it still relies upon traditional and misogynistic tropes such as false rape charges and the monstrous mother to undermine positive views of the feminine. The show, and its backdrop, New York City thus become a stage on which national concerns about women, gender roles, the family and race are carried out. Moorti and Cuklanz unpack how the show has become a crucible for examining current attitudes towards these issues and include an analysis of its reception by its many fans in over 30 countries. Cover Half-title Endorsement Series information Title page Copyright information Table of contents Acknowledgments List of figures Series Editors’ Foreword Introduction: All- American Crime Drama 1 A Very American Story Rising from a Stupor Rewriting a Masculine Genre The Male Foil Thematizing Multiculturalism City as Actor Prime Time Assaults Feminism and Rape Birth of the Prison State Neoliberal Feminism The Formula 2 Family Matters: Criminal Mothers and Fathers Misogynist Feminism Reversal of Terms The Monstrous Maternal The Absent Abusive Father Exoneration of Fathers Criminal False Fathers Genetic Links Both Parents as Abusers Conclusion 3 The Violence of Race Melodrama in White? Silent Witness Three Strikes ... Race Thinking A Star Turn Re-writing Racism Civil Dis-ease Expanding the Rainbow Labile Whiteness Angry White Men 4 A Foreign Affair: The Global Turn to Gaze at the Self Orientalist Cosmopolitanism The Narco-monstrous The Lure of Sex Save the (Brown) Children Re-visioning the Harem War Crimes Trauma on the Homefront Updating the Protection Scenario 5 Images of Truth: The Science of Detection Scientific Optic Criminal Intent Biology Recapitulates Truth The Violent Unconscious Gender Outlaws Coming Out as Trans Policing Perversions Sexual Citizenship Precarious Lives Lipstick Lesbian Biological Immutability 6 Paratexts and the Afterlife of SVU Cyberfans and Fandom Fan Cultures Crime Drama and Lesbian Fans Slash Fiction and SVU What SVU is Missing Who Cares About Canon? SVU Femslash The Demise of the Fandom Contemporary Online Fandom Activism Lisa Jackson’s Sex Crimes Unit Conclusion: The Story Continues Notes Introduction: All- American Crime Drama 1 A Very American Story 2 Family Matters: Criminal Mothers and Fathers 3 The Violence of Race 4 A Foreign Affair: The Global Turn to Gaze at the Self 5 Images of Truth: The Science of Detection 6 Paratexts and the Afterlife of SVU Conclusion: The Story Continues Bibliography Index Why Has Law And Order: Special Victims Unit (svu) Achieved Popularity Beyond Any Other American Police Procedural Television Series? How Does Its Unique Focus On Sex Crimes Reflect Currents In Popular Culture And Feminist Critique, And Recast Traditional Crime Narratives? This Book Is The First Ever Dedicated Study Of Svu And Its Treatment Of Sexual Violence, Gender And Criminality. Through Detailed Textual And Visual Analyses Of Episodes, It Reveals How Elements Of Misogynist Feminism And Cultural Revanchism Manifest Themselves In Svu, And Shows How Its Use Of Forensic Science Offers New Fables Of Objectivity. With Chapters Devoted To Justice, Racial And Gender Dynamics, And The Show S Spectatorship, This Study Is Essential Reading For Students Of Media, Criminality And The Phenomenon Of Sexual Violence. Introduction : All-american Crime Drama -- A Very American Story -- Family Matters : Criminal Mothers And Fathers -- The Violence Of Race -- A Foreign Affair : The Global Turn To Gaze At The Self -- Images Of Truth : The Science Of Detection -- Paratexts And The Afterlife Of Svu -- Conclusion : The Story Continues. Sujata Moorti And Lisa Cuklanz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (SVU) is more popular than any other American police procedural television series, but how does its unique focus on sex crimes reflect contemporary popular culture and feminist critique, whilst also recasting the classic crime narrative? All-American TV Crime Drama is the first dedicated study of SVU and its treatment of sexual violence, gender and criminality. This book uses detailed textual and visual analyses of episodes to illuminate the assumptions underpinning the program. Although SVU engages with issues pertaining to feminism and gender, it sill relies upon traditional and misogynistic tropes such as false rape charges and the monstrous mother to undermine positive views of the feminine. The show and its backdrop, New York City, thus become a stage on which national concerns about women, gender roles, the family and race are carried out. Moorti and Cuklanz unpack how the show has become a crucible for examining current attitudes towards these issues and include an analysis of its reception by its many fans in over 30 countries"--Publisher's description.