Toward a Theory of True Crime Narratives: A Textual Analysis (Routledge Focus on Journalism Studies)

__Toward a Theory of True Crime Narratives__vivifies how nonfiction murder stories are told, what role they play in society, and in the form of true crime why they remain enduringly popular internationally on every platform. This book establishes for the first time the actual line--or dotted line--between mainstream journalism and the multimedia phenomena of true crime. Presenting a stable definition of what is--and what is not--true crime will either challenge or justify Truman Capote's claims regarding the creation of a "new journalism" with__In Cold Blood__, and accordingly expose the reluctance of the promoters of NPR's__Serial__, HBO's__The Jinx__, and Netflix's__Making a Murderer__to refer to their products as such. This research codifies true crime texts of various types on multiple platforms--radio, television, print, digital, and film--to reveal the defining characteristics of the genre. "Toward a Theory of True Crime Narratives vivifies how nonfiction murder stories are told, what role they play in society, and in the form of true crime, why they remain enduringly popular internationally on every platform. This book establishes for the first time the actual line--or dotted line--between mainstream journalism and the multimedia phenomena of true crime. Presenting a stable definition of what is--and what is not--true crime will either challenge or justify Truman Capote's claims regarding the creation of a "new journalism" in In Cold Blood, and accordingly, expose the reluctance of the promoters of NPR's Serial, HBO's The Jinx, and Netflix's Making a Murderer to refer to their products as such. This research codifies true crime texts of various types on multiple platforms--radio, television, print, digital, and film--to reveal the defining characteristics of the genre."--Provided by publisher Toward a Theory of True Crime Narratives vivifies how nonfiction murder stories are told, what role they play in society, and in the form of true crime why they remain enduringly popular internationally on every platform. This book establishes for the first time the actual line―or dotted line―between mainstream journalism and the multimedia phenomena of true crime. Presenting a stable definition of what is―and what is not―true crime will either challenge or justify Truman Capote’s claims regarding the creation of a "new journalism" with In Cold Blood, and accordingly expose the reluctance of the promoters of NPR’s Serial, HBO’s The Jinx, and Netflix’s Making a Murderer to refer to their products as such. This research codifies true crime texts of various types on multiple platforms―radio, television, print, digital, and film―to reveal the defining characteristics of the genre. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Securing the Scene......Page 10 The Background Check......Page 14 2 The Exploratory Study: A Proper Search......Page 25 Interrogating the Texts......Page 31 Selection of True Crime Narratives: “The Usual Suspects”......Page 34 Summation......Page 91 The Prosecution: The Critic’s View......Page 93 The Defense: True Crime as a Justice Mechanism......Page 94 A Review of the Evidence......Page 95 Summation......Page 102 A Theory of True Crime......Page 104 The International Man Hunt Is On......Page 110 Accomplices After the Fact: NON-narrative True Crime Writing......Page 112 The Final Sentence......Page 113 References......Page 120 Index......Page 131 Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 9 1 An Outline in Chalk 10 Securing the Scene 10 The Background Check 14 2 The Exploratory Study: A Proper Search 25 Interrogating the Texts 31 Selection of True Crime Narratives: “The Usual Suspects” 34 Summation 91 3 The Findings: Two Sides to Every True Crime Story 93 The Prosecution: The Critic’s View 93 The Defense: True Crime as a Justice Mechanism 94 A Review of the Evidence 95 Summation 102 4 Conclusion and Discussion: The Verdict 104 A Theory of True Crime 104 Crimen Veritas 110 The International Man Hunt Is On 110 Accomplices After the Fact: NON-narrative True Crime Writing 112 Crime Porn 113 The Final Sentence 113 References 120 Index 131 An Outline In Chalk -- The Exploratory Study : A Proper Search -- The Findings : Two Sides To Every True Crime Story -- Conclusion And Discussion : The Verdict. Ian Case Punnett. Routledge Focus. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 111-121) And Index.