Description
Book SynopsisLights, Camera, Execution!: Cinematic Portrayals of Capital Punishment fills a prominent void in the existing film studies and death penalty literature. Each chapter focuses on a particular cinematic portrayal of the death penalty in the United States. Some of the analyzed films are well-known Hollywood blockbusters, such as Dead Man Walking (1995); others are more obscure, such as the made-for-television movie Murder in Coweta County (1983). By contrasting different portrayals where appropriate and identifying themes common to many of the studied films such as the concept of dignity and the role of race (and racial discrimination) the volume strengthens the reader's ability to engage in comparative analysis of topics, stories, and cinematic techniques.Written by three professors with extensive experience teaching, and writing about the death penalty, film studies, and criminal justice, Lights, Camera, Execution! is deliberately designed for both classroom use and general readership.
Trade Review“In this compelling examination of the death penalty on film the authors show that the success of those films depends on their capacity to draw their audiences into individual stories rather than their taking a pro or anti-capital punishment stance. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the culture life of state killing.” -- Austin Sarat, Amherst College
“Lights, Camera, Execution! fills an important void in our knowledge about how cinema engages with the important issue of the death penalty, and does so via fascinating, yet thorough, analyses of several films, including many that will be new to most readers. Everyone from new undergraduates to seasoned film buffs will find something of value in this groundbreaking work. Highly recommended.” -- Justin Vaughn, co-editor of Poli Sci Fi: An Introduction to Political Science through Science Fiction
Table of ContentsChapter 1 – Murder in Coweta County: No Man is Above the Law Chapter 2 – The Thin Blue Line: The Search for Truth Chapter 3 – Dead Man Walking: Redemption for the Guilty Chapter 4 – The Life of David Gale: A Paradoxical Execution Chapter 5 – A Lesson Before Dying: A Dignified Date with Death Chapter 6 – The Green Mile: An Extraordinary Look into Death Row Chapter 7 – The Chamber: “Take A Deep Breath” Chapter 8 – Last Dance: A Tango Between Life and Death Chapter 9 – Monster’s Ball: Understanding the Broader Impact
