Representation of Victimization in Film

• In Event: Representations of Victimization in Television and Film

Abstract

Depictions of crime and violence in the mass media are an important part of our culture. These depictions both represent and shape our understanding of the nature of violence and victimization (Madriz, 1997), whether victims are blamed or seen more empathetically (Anastasio and Costa, 2004), and believed by others (Kahlor and Morrison, 2007). Our study adds to the literature by empirically examining the representation of victims in films using a large sample of trailers dating from the 1920s to contemporary films. For each trailer, we examine the representation of up to four victims, the behaviors of victims, the nature of the victimization, and measures of their presence in the trailer and overall narrative. We examine (1) who is depicted as a victim, (2) how victims are represented—as individuals with identities or as “disposable” characters who are more or less objectified, (3) whether the depictions of victims have changed significantly over time, and (4) whether the type of film affects the representation of victims.

Author

• Colleen Kadleck, University of Nebraska at Omaha