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Book Cover
Book
Author Hunt, Darnell M.

Title O.J. Simpson facts and fictions : new rituals in the construction of reality / Darnell M. Hunt
Published Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1999

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Location Call no. Vol. Availability
 MELB  302.230973 Hun/Ojs  AVAILABLE
Description xii,350 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
Contents Introduction: Knowing O. J. -- Pt. I. Theory. 1. O. J. and ritual. 2. O. J. and politics -- Pt. II. News construction. 3. Press rites and O. J. wrongs: behind the scenes at "Camp O. J." 4. Celebrating the process: O. J. and KTLA-TV. 5. (Re)affirming official sources: O. J. and the Los Angeles Times. 6. (Il)legitimate transgressions: O. J. and the Los Angeles Sentinel -- Pt. III. Audience reception. 7. Raced ways of seeing O. J. 8. Raced ways of seeing O. J. - revisited -- Pt. IV. Conclusions. 9. O. J. and reality -- App. 1. Page-one O. J. narratives, Los Angeles Times, January 25-October 4, 1995 -- App. 2. Page-one O. J. narratives, Los Angeles Sentinel, January 25-October 5, 1995 -- App. 3. Emerging discussion themes, by group, March 30, 1995 -- App. 4. Emerging discussion themes, by group, August 1, 1995 -- App. 5. Transcript of Primetime text -- App. 6. Transcript of KTLA text
App. 7. Logistic regression of perceptions about Simpson's innocence or guilt on race, gender, education, family income, interviewer race, and perceptions of criminal justice system bias
Summary Abundant popular discourses surround the O. J. Simpson double murder case. By contrast, Darnell Hunt scrutinizes these very discourses in order to further our understanding of the interests underlying them. Exploring the relationships between O. J.'s trial, the social location of television viewers (their race, gender and class) and everyday consciousness of social issues, his textual and audience analyses consider the incredible allure of the trial as "media event." Looking beyond the obvious explanations of celebrity, scandal and voyeurism, Dr. Hunt asks: Why was America so obsessed by this case? Why did so many people invest in particular outcomes? And what are we to make of the apparent racial divide in attitudes about the case, as shown in the opinion polls?
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Subject Simpson, O. J., 1947- -- Trials, litigation, etc.
Simpson, O. J., 1947- -- Trials, litigation, etc. -- Public opinion.
Mass media and race relations -- United States.
Mass media and race relations.
Public opinion -- United States.
Television broadcasting of news -- Social aspects -- United States.
Television viewers -- United States -- Attitudes.
SUBJECT United States -- Race relations. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140494
Genre/Form Trial and arbitral proceedings.
LC no. 98038422
ISBN 0521624568 (cased)
0521624681 (paperback)
Other Titles OJ facts and fictions