Cultural Criminology and the Carnival of Crime

by Mike Presdee

Cultural Criminology and the Carnival of Crime attempts to make sense of the current increase in violence, cruelty, hate and humiliation, which has come to permeate daily life. The text argues that an overly organised economic world has provoked a widespread desire for extreme, oppositional forms of popular and personal pleasure. This desire has resulted in a cathartic 'second life' of illicit pleasures often deemed criminal by those in power. Amongst the exciting issues Mike Presdee addresses

* joyriding
* street crime
* antisocial behaviour in private via the internet
* hate, hurt and humiliation in popular culture
* the popularisation and criminalisation of sadomasochism and dance music cultures.

Genres: Sociology

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 9, 2000

Reviews

[Jim v H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a comprehensive socio-cultural analysis of deviancy that combines macro and micro explanations of behaviour often deemed "irrational". Interestingly, Presdee asserts that in an era of scientific rationality and order, the very fact that certain acts are irrational makes them so attractive to commit (hence celebrating the "carnival" of crime). Presdee offers a refreshing perspective on 'senseless' acts such as violence, joyriding - but also on legal carnivalesque acts (such as kickboxing, and committing violence for the status quo, which he describes as "legal delinquency"), showing the sometimes blurry lines between the legal and illegal. Moreover, Presdee discusses the impact of consumer culture, criminalisation and other macro-level processes on individual behaviour. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the study of deviant behaviour.

[theo ♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

very very reductive of the intentions behind the crimes discussed. interesting take that it’s basically for the sake of pleasure but neglects to acknowledge soooo many other factors at play. also goes on a weird anti-therapy tangent for normalising hate and denormalising tolerance idk what that was about

[Rebekah Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read with some thought provoking ideas

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

// From my 2006 book diary:

Interesting look at modern cultural excesses, putting as diverse activities as joyriding, raving and hate in perspective. Reminding us that it is through societal controls that crime and thus criminals are created. The focus is on borderline 'carnivalesque' behaviour that in earlier times had an outlet through annual festivals, rites and traditions of 'turning the world upside down'.

Presdee asserts that the creep of legislation interfering with people's lives is what causes further alienation and thus more misbehaviour - like a lid on a boiling pot: sooner or later the steam will have to escape.

So, issuing ASBOs (Anti Social Behaviour Orders) to misbehaving youngsters, thus making them criminals with a record, rather than trying to address the issues leading up to the misbehaviour is quite rightly an area to be very concerned about. But it is is less useful to assert that "the car 'joyrider' does not come into being until chased by the police" (p25) which I'd say is a sort of regression back to 'does a tree falling in the forest make a sound' or put differently: is there a crime if nobody sees it?