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Lights, 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.
List of contents
Chapter 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
About the author
By Helen J. Knowles-Gardner; Bruce E. Altschuler and Jaclyn Schildkraut
Summary
Lights, Camera, Execution! engages in detailed critical analysis of nine different films about capital punishment in the United States. It examines well-known movies from the last thirty years; explores the cinematic techniques used; and identifies common themes such as race and human dignity.
