TY - JOUR
T1 - Between heat and light
T2 - The opportunity in moral panics
AU - Lumby, Catharine
AU - Funnell, Nina
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - This paper argues that contemporary moral panic theorists are often too narrowly focused on either refining the sociological framings of moral panic theory or, alternatively, on applying that theory to case studies without asking how the theory might be used to frame strategic interventions into public debate and policy. It examines the way that conservative politicians and media commentators have appropriated the accusation that they are fuelling moral panic as proof that they are actively engaged in a fight for morality. It contends that moral panic theorists need to use their knowledge of how moral panics work in order to engage in strategic interventions into public debate and policy. It concludes with a call for scholars working on specific issues in the field to apply their research and redouble their efforts to ensure that evidence-based research is heard and understood.
AB - This paper argues that contemporary moral panic theorists are often too narrowly focused on either refining the sociological framings of moral panic theory or, alternatively, on applying that theory to case studies without asking how the theory might be used to frame strategic interventions into public debate and policy. It examines the way that conservative politicians and media commentators have appropriated the accusation that they are fuelling moral panic as proof that they are actively engaged in a fight for morality. It contends that moral panic theorists need to use their knowledge of how moral panics work in order to engage in strategic interventions into public debate and policy. It concludes with a call for scholars working on specific issues in the field to apply their research and redouble their efforts to ensure that evidence-based research is heard and understood.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84455193607&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1741659011417606
DO - 10.1177/1741659011417606
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84455193607
SN - 1741-6590
VL - 7
SP - 277
EP - 291
JO - Crime, Media, Culture
JF - Crime, Media, Culture
IS - 3
ER -