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This book explores the interface between law and popular culture, two subjects of enormous current importance and influence. Exploring how they affect each other, each chapter discusses a legally themed film or television show, such as Philadelphia or Dead Man Walking, and treats it as both a cultural and a legal text, illustrating how popular culture both constructs our perceptions of law, and changes the way that players in the legal system behave. Written without theoretical jargon, Law and Popular Culture: A Course Book is intended for use in undergraduate or graduate courses and can be taught by anyone who enjoys pop culture and is interested in law.
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«'Law and Popular Culture' combines film history, social history and legal issues in a readable and engaging way. Better still, the course Asimow and Mader propose will help any would-be lawyer to see his or her role in society in a more humane and responsible way. But best of all, this book and this course offers entertainment as well as enlightenment. I never wanted to be a lawyer, but if this course had been around when I was in college, I would happily have embraced it.» (Richard Schickel, Film critic, 'Time Magazine', documentarian, and author of numerous books on film history and criticism)
«'Law and Popular Culture: A Course Book' will become an instant classic. Focusing on exemplary films and television shows about law and lawyers, Asimow and Mader present insightful readings and interpretations of both their narrative and visual elements. This book provides a stellar example of the kind of intellectual excitement that can be generated in the classroom and a truly invaluable resource for teachers and students eager to explore the increasing important connections of law and popular culture.» (Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst College, author of numerous works on law and society and law and popular culture)
