Criminal Identities and Consumer Culture: Crime, Exclusion and the New Culture of Narcissism
2008; Sheffield Hallam University; Volume: 6; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1475-0279
Autores Tópico(s)Crime Patterns and Interventions
ResumoCRIMINAL IDENTITIES AND CONSUMER CULTURE: CRIME, EXCLUSION AND THE NEW CULTURE OF NARCISSISM Hall, S., Winlow, S. and Ancrum, C. (2008). Cullompton: Willan. ISBN 978-I-84392-2SS-I This pioneering book is a major contribution to criminological scholarship. It possesses many strengths, not least of which is its trenchant theoretical insight into the motivations (conscious and unconscious) underpinning offending behaviour within the context of late capitalist consumer society. Every criminology student knows that the British Crime Survey and recorded crime figures indicate that crime, overall, is consistently falling. That, however, may not be the whole story of crime in contemporary Britain. Any serious attempt to intervene with offenders who flourish under socially marginalised conditions must address not just the culture of liberal capitalism and the post-political neo-liberal state, but also the egoism and narcissism which suffuses advanced capitalist culture. Current fears of economic recession mean that this book, which outlines the brutality of existence and daily lived realities for those in economically dispossessed communities, is timely. The data informing this work is rooted in a broad ethnographic study of criminal identities in the north-east of England. What renders this book particularly impressive is the quality of its ethnography, which is reflected in the intensity, persuasiveness and frankness of its interviews. No-one who reads this book will be surprised that Steve Hall lauds his co-authors Simon Winlow and Craig Ancrum as 'two of the best criminal ethnographers in the business'. In documenting 'life on the precipice' and providing a voice to the voiceless, they have performed an inestimable service not just to criminologists but to every criminal and community justice practitioner who seeks to understand their clients. Those clients appear to constantly fantasise about another big drug deal, another offending opportunity, and wealth and riches which perpetually remain just around the corner, almost within reach. Whilst striving towards this fantasised end, they will engage in brash, relentless and conspicuous consumption, ensuring that other community members do not fail to notice their 'success'. In this fractured community, no shame is attached to offending. Life in socially marginalised communities is focused on not just the acquisition but the display of consumer symbolism. A researcher visits the home of a local drug dealer which is replete with expensive consumer items including: '... at top of the range racing bike with all the accessories, an expensive crossbow, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, PSP, plasma TVs, home cinema systems, paintball equipment, a laptop computer, a huge Bose music system, a jetski parked in the yard...' (pg 33). In the all-pervasive ethos of ornamental consumerism, offending is experienced as the product of the desire to be continually immersed in consumer indulgence. Reflecting the anxiety imposed by consumer culture, the dealer aims to convince the researcher that he is not a 'loser'. The only real ignominy and public dishonour for the interviewees is seen as being viewed by others as a 'skip-rat, 'no-mark' or Aldi basher'; that is, a member of the disposed urban poor who is so unconcerned with their own social status and sense of identity that they shop at discount stores. Even the everyday act of shopping is loaded with ramifications. The only real ambition and aspiration for the interviewees was to achieve riches as a criminal, typically as a large-scale drug dealer, who is able to ostentatiously display that wealth to all by purchasing the desired consumer items. Any considerations of ethics, community or social conscience are not just irrelevant but confined to the legions of 'nomarks' and 'mugs' destined never achieve real riches. …
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