Jamie bulger PDF

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CJ1010 – the case of jamie bulger

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Violence • Suffered 42 injuries to face, head and body • So 'battered' couldn't tell which injury killed him Graphic imagery • CCTV footage of James being led to his death • Photos of offenders • Photos of train tracks where body was found Children • Both offenders were 10 years old •

Victim was only 2 years old

Individualisation • • •

2 offenders 1 victim Can encourage vigilantism

‘evil monster’ vs ‘tragic victims’ • • •

Media portrayed huge juxtaposition between Thompson and Venables as 'evil monsters' to that of James as an 'innocent victim Now questioned what is 'childhood'? Is it just a social construct? Agenda setting- 'freaks of nature', 'evil monsters'. Graphic headlines will sell stories • 'if it bleeds it leads'- Kelvin Mackenzie, former The Sun editor

Story can still sell years later Impact of media. Protrayl of murder. • • • • •

1960's- government approach to young offenders= welfare over punishment 1970's- conservative government= punitive approach By 1990's media representation of young people based around anti-social behaviour • Result of age of criminal responsibility as 10 in Britain, much higher elsewhere? Before murder, media influenced by Western notions of childhood as 'innocent' and 'pure' Afterwards, media shifted towards more dangerous portrayal of young people as 'feral' • Offenders were trialed as 'adults'- have an impact?

This occurred at a similar time as the rising moral panic about dangerous behaviour amongst youths- full of stories about drug dealing and joyriding...