Organized Crime

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer discusses that popular culture portrayals of organized crime are sordidly romantic. The writer notes that stories of organized crime include titillating themes of betrayal, backstabbing, murder, and intrigue. Further, the writer points out that organized crime also depicts the triumph of the underdog: the would-be poor immigrant growing rich in spite of being hounded by the big bad cops. The writer concludes that organized crime can destroy families, communities, and larger social organizations and is rarely as romantic as it seems on the silver screen.

From the Paper:

"Movies like Goodfellas and television shows like The Sopranos are perfect examples of how organized crime is romanticized in pop culture. The bad guys don't seem so bad because they have families, friends, and a code of ethics. Even if their code of ethics is warped, audiences root for the gangsters because they earned our trust and sympathy. Based on pop culture definitions alone, I could define organized crime as a collective response to political, social, and economic injustice. Most television and film mob families are working class minority or immigrant groups. Their criminal activities help them achieve the American dream. They might break the law, but also help pour money back into their communities. In fact, organized crime syndicates take the law into their own hands when the establishment falls short. Cops in mafia movies are usually as corrupt as the gangsters."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Criminal Justice Resources: Organized Crime." Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/crimjust/orgcrime.htm
• Federal Bureau of Investigation. (nd). "Organized Crime." Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/orgcrime/aboutocs.htm

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