Does Media Cultivate?

Crime Patrol which runs on Sony Entertainment Television is the longest Indian crime reality show. It has been airing since twelve years. It is an anthology series created by Subramanian S. Iyer. Conceived as a reality series, it was the first show on Indian television, where cameras travelled with the law enforcement authorities to capture crimes live. It started as a half-hour broadcast which extended to an hour. The fact that the time slot was increased makes me anticipate whether it was the Television Rating Point (TRP) or the Crime rates in India that made Sony to take this decision.

Crime in India

Report by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 

Madhya Pradesh tops the crime chart or the report released last year, 2015. It has recorded a total of more than two and a half lakh crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Maharashtra was ranked second in the report with 8.8 percent of the total crime registered in the country accounted for by the ruling government.

The NCRB data shows which is categorized under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL).

Indian Penal Code includes murder, kidnapping, sexual harassment, dowry, deaths, child rapes, dacoity and cheating.

Special and Local Laws include explosive, gambling, immoral trafficking and cyber-crimes.

It reveals:

·         Incidence of crimes in 2014 had a 7.7 percent increase from the previous year, 2013.

·         A 7 percent increase from 2013 in the number of accused arrested for murder.

·         Madhya Pradesh tops the list of sexual harassment and offences under IPC with 5,076 cases followed by Rajasthan with 3,759.

·         In rape cases under IPC, a 14.4 per cent increase from 2013.

·         Delhi is reported to be the city to have maximum murder cases, 472 followed Bengaluru.

·         Delhi also top the list of rape cases registered with 1813. It was followed by Mumbai 607 cases and Jaipur 263 cases.

·         In cases of kidnapping and abduction, Delhi was again ahead from other cities with more than six thousand cases followed by 599 cases in Patna. There was a huge difference.

·         Despite the various steps taken by the Centre and State governments, crime against women across country has risen by 9.16 percent. As per the report, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are the least safe states for women.

·         Interestingly North East States had the least crime against women. The question arises is whether the crime is less or people have not reported? Which I think should have been the focus of the study.

Crime Patrol

A show broadcasting for twelve years now has been longest crime reality show. Compared to the crime shows in America and Europe which mostly revolve around fictional stories, dramas, and murder around the bend with the special effects and music. Indian crime shows are based more on real life events drawn from police files and newspaper clippings. The rapes, murders and other crimes that take place often with the settings we are familiar with. “There is obsession and jealousy, murder and rape, dowry deaths and property disputes, fraud and forgery, domestic violence and kidnappings. This sordid drama is played out, night after night, in middle class homes in our cities: Gurgaon, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, etc. The screen cities are real. The perpetrators and victims could be our neighbours What keeps one riveted, even when things get tacky, is the ‘this really happened’ factor.” , said Palash Krishna Mehrotra in his review published in Daily mail.

Another point that got my attention in his article was his appreciation for the show to dramatize recent events like Delhi Gang Rape Case in 2012 or Om Prakash Chautala teacher recruitment Scam. The headlines still being fresh in our memory it makes one interested in the show and has a visual presentation. It works because of its slick camera work, excellent casting and acting. Having a pool of actors the show gives the viewer a sense of continuity and familiarity. The shoot is location oriented thus a case of Chandigarh are shot in Chandigarh.

But then again there are times when it is not always accepted for presentation of ideas or case. Bhartiya Shree Shakti, a non-governmental organisation, Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India intervened and asked Sony Entertainment Television not to telecast a program about the Delhi gang-rape case. But on 10 September 2013, the show was given permission to present the 2012 Delhi gang rape case on their show, and subsequently the promos of the episode were also aired. The episode was aired in a two-episode part on 21 September 2013 and 22 September 2013.

Sony TV was to air episodes based on Om Prakash Chautala teacher recruitment scam in the show. On 22 February 2013 Delhi High Court restrained Sony TV from telecasting the related episodes till 4 April 2013, upon the appeal by Chautala and others as the case was still in court and there was a possibility of a bias of the show on case. On 2 March 2013, show was given clearance by High court. However, clearance was challenged in Supreme Court and on 6 March 2013, the episodes of this case were again put on hold. On 3 May 2013, the Supreme Court allowed Sony TV to telecast episodes as the trial was complete and judgment of conviction and sentence are in public domain.

Psychology Theory

Cultivation Theory: was a theory composed originally by G. Gerbner. It is based on research done in mid-1960s endeavouring to study media effects, especially whether watching television influences audience’s idea and perception everyday life, and so if, how. Cultivation theory states that high frequency viewers of television are more susceptible to media messages and the belief that they are real and valid. Heavy viewer are exposed to more violence and therefore are affected by the Mean World Syndrome, the belief that the world is a far worse and dangerous place and some suspect shows like Crime Patrol trigger it more.

Crime patrol too has its clichés. It takes us for a journey to Planet Fear but here are plenty of spots where it is weak. In most of the episodes the senior officer’s only contribution to problem solving is to shout ‘I want action. Media is asking questions and feels we are incompetent to solve this case.’ The only way to extract information from criminals is by beating up criminals. This violence which is justified by the show.

In spite of that the shows gets good ratings. Ripti Malhotra of India TV gave ratings which stated, "The show is presented in such a way that will not threaten you but will make you conscious enough with that extra punch and appeal. Overall, to make the show convincing is the major responsibility of the host." 

Where shows like Crime Patrol creates awareness about our surroundings. It makes one conscious about their actions and crimes creating an element of fear. At time shows like this whose motive is to curb crime it at time may even trigger motives. The psychological state of the viewer whether he or she is active and involved or not may make them imitate the violence seen in the show. One tends to create opinions about a particular situation faced and see and believes only one side of the coin. It doesn’t want to flip the coin to see the other side as it fear the consequences stated by show.

Thus bringing us to Resonance theory of communication: In which media simply acts to reinforce people’s real-life experiences.

It is an effort to create resonance between a speaker and an audience that establishes a foundation of trust and shared identity. Crime patrol like the resonance theory looks for common ground with the audience by exploring the deep concerns that motivate the audience to watch. It discovers the set of shared values that shape the sense of right and wrong in the world.

There are cases in crime patrol when they tell a story about the lost boy or girl who was re united with his family or saved from a crime by police, which is the right action for the audience. The show setting an example of ideal behaviour. But then they are cases where the audience are told about rape cases from the victim’s point of view all the time which makes people to think from culprit’s point of view. About how the culprit is the victim of distractions of media (soft porn), alcoholism due to tiredness from labour and poverty and lack of government aids. Thus creating stereotypes in everyone’s mind. Shows like Gumrah having a same format like Crime patrol which cover teenage crime makes parents generalise behaviour of all teenagers, hence judging their children. Shows like Saavdhan India which repeats the same cases shown by crime patrol and not getting creditable reviews shows audience loyalty.

The report by NCRB shows an increase in crime and with shows like Crime Patrol it may not always serve the purpose it seeks to. The easy availability of the content may have led to desensitisation of the people towards crime. In the recent times we have come across several rape cases.

Thus at times media and shows may lose track of time and motive and may showcase content for which the audience isn’t that mature to handle or understand. Thus shows have to start practising self-censorship and filter content. Media is a reflection of society but they must understand they must keep balance of opinions. There must not be a monotony of opinions and cases. The audience may not always have to see the wrong of crime (murder or deaths) but at time the point of realisation and acceptance of crime my culprit.

 references: Daily mail article by Palash Mehrotra.