Watch & Learn: Illegal Behavior and Obedience to Legal Norms Through the Eyes of Israeli and American Popular Culture

Abstract

What do popular media tell us about the way we perceive the rule of law in our society? What conceptions of legal norms and obedience to these norms control popular mass media? How do these conceptions shape and reflect the legal culture of a given society? This paper aims to explore empirically these questions, through the analysis of American TV shows and Israeli TV shows that became popular in Israel. To achieve this goal a dual empirical strategy was adopted—content analysis of popular TV shows, and an Internet survey among Israeli respondents. This approach addresses a methodological and substantive gap in existing literature on law and popular culture since it integrates the two elements of law and popular culture that are usually treated separately—the messages conveyed in the popular artifact and the way the audience actually perceives those messages. The content analysis seemed to reveal a disregard towards legal rules when doing so served an important interest for the characters, as well as undermining the competence of law enforcement agencies. Furthermore, the research revealed differences between Israeli and American shows, suggesting that the legal cultures of these societies may well differ. This portrayal was supported by the survey results. Moreover, the survey suggested a correlation between viewing habits and the acceptance of illegality, contributing to the evolving literature on the cultivating effects of mass media. The comparative