Crimesploitation

"e;Due to the graphic nature of this program, viewer discretion is advised."e; Most of us have encountered this warning while watching television at some point. It is typically attached to a brand of reality crime TV that Paul Kaplan and Daniel LaChance call "e;crimesploitation"e;: spectacles designed to entertain mass audiences by exhibiting "e;real"e; criminal behavior and its consequences. This book examines their enduring popularity in American culture. Analyzing the structure and content of several popular crimesploitation shows, including Cops, Dog: The Bounty Hunter, and To Catch a Predator, as well as newer examples like Making a Murderer and Don't F**K with Cats, Kaplan and LaChance highlight the troubling nature of the genre: though it presents itself as ethical and righteous, its entertainment value hinges upon suffering. Viewers can imagine themselves as deviant and ungovernable like the criminals in the show, thereby escaping a law-abiding lifestyle. Alternatively, they can identify with law enforcement officials, exercising violence, control, and "e;justice"e; on criminal others. Crimesploitation offers a sobering look at the depictions of criminals, policing, and punishment in modern America.