Entry One - Your topic and question

Explore the glamorisation of the "criminal" across various types of media.

Why i have chosen this topic:
I have chosen this topic as i believe that the glamorisation of the stereotypical "criminal" in the media is due to current political issues such as teenage crime and robbery, this is therefor an extremely interesting topic to be researching. the way that the extent of glamour differs between film and documentary will also offer insight into the reasoning behind the portrayal of the modern day criminal.

Why i have chosen this question:
I came to this question as it is interesting as well as relevant in our crime infested modern society. I believe this question in particular is specific enough to cover micro issues, such as the creation of stereotypical and repetitive antagonists in blockbuster cinema, yet could be inclusive of the bigger picture such as the effect this has on the public (the macro issues).

My first steps of research:
my first steps in researching the topic in order to be able to draw conclusion from the question will be to watch the Layer cake in order to see how the modern day "Criminal" is shown in film. I will then watch the BBC drama Hustle in order to show the brutal glamorisation of the lowly con-man.
In order to contrast this i will then be reading several articles written by BBC journalists on a new wave of Con-men that have been robbing from the elderly, taking advantage of the current financial crisis. As well as this i will be watching Gangster NO 1, a fictional film that i believe shows the glamorous exterior yet dark and saddening interior of the criminal in film.
I will also be watching Donal MacIntyre's "A very British gangster", an all access film inside one of Britain's most dangerous crime families. featuring a gang of contemporary criminals opening their lives to reveal a brutal world and an underclass which relies upon gangsters for justice, rather than police. i will be watching this as i believe it shows the head of a gang organisation as unglamorous. as well as this it is an example of the criminal in real life which means it will give an insight to the darker side of crime, perhaps not portrayed by other forms of media.

As for my primary research i will be writing a detailed analysis of one of the above, as well as doing a questionnaire in order to convey the viewing public opinions on the subject, seeing not only what they think about the portrayal of criminals as glamorous in the media but also how they are influenced by this.