‘A guy in my position is a government target … You got to be extra, extra careful’: Participation and strategies in crime talk in The Sopranos

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Statham
Keyword(s):  
Organised Crime ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Electronic Surveillance ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Television Drama ◽  
Crime Drama ◽  
Film And Television ◽  
The Sopranos ◽  
The Government ◽  
Television Audience

This article reflects the trend within the stylistics of drama towards the analysis of film and television discourse by examining dialogue from HBO’s popular organised crime drama The Sopranos. A major theme of the series focuses on the consistent attempts of the authorities to bring Soprano gang members to justice for their crimes. To gather evidence, investigators rely on electronic surveillance and surreptitious listening devices worn by collaborating witnesses who agree to testify for the government against their former associates. FBI agents are additional participants in recorded conversations and they perform a range of discourse roles in these encounters. Cooperating witnesses employ a range of conversational strategies to accommodate FBI ‘eavesdroppers’, whilst the major criminal characters adopt tactics of conversational vigilance in their ‘crime talk’. Gangsters exercise a level of caution in their interactions which has important implications for conversational cooperation. This article will use Goffman’s (1981) participation framework to analyse how recorded crime talk is affected by the presence of investigating authorities and cooperating witnesses. The divergent conversational intentions of targets and cooperators also affect adherence to Grice’s (1975) conversational maxims. These seminal models will be applied to selective dialogue extracts from The Sopranos in order to demonstrate that criminal topics of conversation can have a significant effect on the structure and strategies of interactions in a television drama. Characters employ conversational caution when addressing incriminating acts which they consider it unwise to discuss explicitly. In many cases the external television audience is accommodated by being shown these crimes whilst internal overhearers are frustrated by the tactical vigilance adopted in characters’ talk.

scholarly journals Perspectives on Privacy, Information Technology, and Company/Governmental Surveillance in Japan

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 263-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Luther ◽  
Ivanka Radovic
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Electronic Surveillance ◽  
Governmental Surveillance ◽  
The Government ◽  
Shed Light

The purpose of this study was to explore Japanese notions of privacy and perspectives on electronic surveillance carried out by companies and the government. Prior research has suggested fundamental differences between Eastern and Western viewpoints on privacy. Theoretical-based arguments have been put forward that in Eastern nations such as in Japan, culture plays a major role in downplaying the significance of privacy. Given the increasing usage of technology for surveillance purposes, this study hoped to shed light on whether or not such theoretical arguments are reflected in or diverge from the perspectives expressed by members of the Japanese public.

Playing the dictator: re-enactments of Mussolini in film and television

Modern Italy ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Gundle
Keyword(s):  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Television Drama ◽  
Final Phase ◽  
Film And Television ◽  
Media Construction

This article explores the portrayal of Mussolini in film and television drama. It considers the contexts in which films and mini-series were made from the 1970s and the problems faced in bringing the Duce to the screen, mostly in dramas that stressed the final phase of his rule. Despite efforts to ensure authenticity in the reconstruction of locations, events and people, there was a notable emphasis on the private and personal dimensions of the dictator's life, a sphere in which screenplays had to indulge in invention in keeping with the practices of all ‘biopics’. The resulting ‘screen Mussolini’ is more human and potentially more sympathetic than the Mussolini of historiography. In a situation in which the legacies of Fascism and anti-fascism are still debated, this media construction has been controversial. The article assesses, using textual analysis, the meanings of the different representational solutions deployed in the films and considers some of the issues involved in playing Mussolini.

Gang violence highlights Venezuela security crisis

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organised Crime ◽  
State Violence ◽  
Gang Violence ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government

Significance The government claims opposition factions linked to Guaido are behind the upsurge of ‘GEDO’ violence (Grupo Estructurado de Delincuencia Organizada, or Structured Organised Crime Group). Efforts by security forces to ‘stabilise’ GEDO-dominated communities may portend an upsurge in state violence. Impacts The Haitian president’s killing has strengthened the government narrative of externally orchestrated mercenary warfare. Concerns about state decomposition in Venezuela will add urgency to international efforts at successful dialogue. An already weakened Guaido is on the back foot following Guevara’s arrest and lacks the authority to enforce any negotiated outcomes.

Electronic Surveillance for the Public Good

2007 ◽  
pp. 100-113
Author(s):  
Liz Lee-Kelley ◽  
Ailsa Kolsaker
Keyword(s):  
Public Good ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Electronic Surveillance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Surveillance Technology ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

The central government in the UK is determined to employ new surveillance technology to combat the threat of terrorist activities. This chapter contributes to the important debate on the relationship between citizens and the government, by discussing not whether electronic surveillance should be used, but rather, when it is acceptable to the populace. From our analysis, we conclude that a reconciliation of state-interest and self-interest is critical for the success of e-governance; as such, electronic surveillance’s mission has to be about serving the law-abiding majority and their needs, and its scope and benefits must be clearly understood by the visionaries, implementers and the citizenry.

scholarly journals The Financial Investigation of Human Trafficking in the UK: Legal and Practical Perspectives

2019 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 284-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Middleton ◽  
Georgios A Antonopoulos ◽  
Georgios Papanicolaou
Keyword(s):  
Human Trafficking ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
The Political ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk

A significant body of law and policy has been directed to organised crime generally, with Human Trafficking remaining high on the political agenda. This article conducts a contextualised study of Human Trafficking in the UK, examining the underpinning legal framework before drawing on the expertise of key professionals in the sector, who have been interviewed for this purpose. It is suggested that it is not so much the legal framework that is the problem, but rather there are a number of practical and policy-related considerations that the government should consider as part of their efforts to combat Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking.

El Chapo arrest will not improve Mexican security

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organised Crime ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Trafficker ◽  
Media Attention ◽  
Maximum Security ◽  
High Profile ◽  
The Government

Subject The recapture of the world's most-wanted drug trafficker. Significance On January 8, federal police detained fugitive drug trafficker Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Loera, following his high-profile escape from the maximum-security Altiplano prison on July 11. Both his escape and his recapture have generated considerable media attention, and could have ramifications for organised crime, the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto and US-Mexican relations. Impacts Another escape, though possible, is extremely unlikely. El Chapo's extradition may not take place until after the end of Pena Nieto's term. Any popularity increase for Pena Nieto resulting from the recapture will be short lived. While the Sinaloa cartel is relatively cohesive, it may splinter in the medium-to-long term.

Brazil's fiscal crunch will worsen Rio crime crisis

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Organised Crime ◽  
Security Strategy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Criminal Violence ◽  
Police Presence ◽  
The Government ◽  
Oil Revenues ◽  
Janeiro State

Subject Deteriorating crime levels in Rio de Janeiro. Significance The government of Rio de Janeiro state, facing a financial crunch, has been accused of undermining the iconic police pacification programme tasked with fighting organised crime in its slums. This represents a blow to a security strategy credited with significantly reducing homicides before Rio's financial troubles began compromising the police presence in the slums from 2014 onwards. The latest budget cut comes precisely as a war between Rio's most powerful gangs intensifies. Impacts Recent reductions in funding and other resources will leave police unprepared to tackle the gang war in Rocinha. Criminal violence will damage Rio's attractiveness for tourists and business, further complicating the recent decline in oil revenues. The decline in the pacification strategy may undercut its importance as a promising model to be applied in other violent cities.

Ecuador’s military faces cuts as security risks build

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Organised Crime ◽  
Excessive Force ◽  
Budget Cuts ◽  
Close Attention ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Security Forces ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fuel Subsidies ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Military

Subject Military pressures. Significance The military has become more visible in Ecuador in recent months, with soldiers and tanks deployed on the streets in October, to tackle protests over the elimination of fuel subsidies. Defence Minister Oswaldo Jarrin has become a focus of popular discontent with the security forces, which were accused of using excessive force to contain the unrest. The protests, together with increased drug trafficking and organised crime, have compounded pressures already faced by the security forces due to budget cuts, more of which are planned for 2020. Impacts Investigations into protester deaths will generate tensions between the government and security forces. Close attention will be paid to the tactics and force used by the security forces during future protests. Washington may use stronger Ecuador ties to bolster its presence in the Andean region.

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