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Atwell, Mary Welek, 1943-

Evolving standards of decency : popular culture and capital punishment / Mary Welek Atwell. - New York : P. Lang, 2004 - 178 p. ; 23 cm. - Politics, media & popular culture ; v. 10 . - Politics, media & popular culture ; v. 10. .

Includes bibliographical references (p. [153]-178).

The public and capital punishment : past and present -- "A random assortment of pariahs" : the Supreme Court considers the death penalty -- Real people and "true-life novels" -- Novels transformed into films -- Killing to show that killing is wrong : the death penalty in the movies -- If words could kill : crime fiction and the death penalty -- The power of stories. Ch. 1. Ch. 2. Ch. 3. Ch. 4. Ch. 5. Ch. 6. Ch. 7.

"Evolving Standards of Decency examines the ways in which popular culture portrays the death penalty. By analyzing literature and film, Atwell argues that capital punishment becomes much more complex when both offenders and victims are presented as fully developed individuals." "Those studying justice issues, corrections, or capital punishment will find this an accessible work that places the stories read in novels or seen in movies in the context of the legal system that has the power of life and death."--BOOK JACKET.

ISBN: 0820467111 (pbk. : alk. paper) 9780820467115 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Standard No.: 99818805943

LCCN: 2004014688

Subjects--Topical Terms:
Capital punishment--Public opinion.--United States
Capital punishment in popular culture--United States.
Mass media and public opinion--United States.
Public opinion--United States.
Todesstrafe--Öffentliche Meinung--Massenmedien--USA.
Öffentliche Meinung--Massenmedien--Todesstrafe--USA.
Massenmedien--Öffentliche Meinung--Todesstrafe--USA.

Subjects--Geographic Terms:
USA--Todesstrafe--Öffentliche Meinung--Massenmedien.

LC Class. No.: HV8699.U5 / A89 2004

Dewey Class. No.: 364.66/0973