The Politics of Representation of Crime and Criminalization.

A very appropriate film to use when conducting an analysis of the politics of representation of crime and criminalization is 'The City of God'. This is a very powerful film that deals with troubled youth in the heart of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. This film is based on a true story but it is the story that is being 're-presented' to us that we should be most interested in. It is also very important that …

…to the act of crime in this film. 'The City of God' has represented the typical criminal as a poor young Black male. If any one of these four variables is taken away, however, then the person may not be a violent criminal. But what is being re-presented to us is the idea that if all four variables apply, it is quite clear that a violent criminal is the best way to describe this person.