Using Cultural Criminology to Analyze Extremist Propaganda

Cultural criminology is a branch of criminology focused on sensory influences—predominantly visual factors—and is therefore of particular value when examining the relationship existing between criminal transgression and the cultural aspects of extremism. This chapter applies a cultural criminological analysis to far-right memes to outline how day-to-day racism and extremism have been strengthened by social networking technologies, creating a battleground of contested meanings and emotions. By viewing extremism to be as much the product of foreground human factors—emotions, thrills, seduction—as of background societal factors—economic recessions, increased migration, geo-political issues—cultural criminology can contribute to the understanding of why people may be drawn to fringe communities via propaganda. The application of visual evidence detailing the ways in which mainstream aesthetics are intersecting with eco-fascist and white supremacist communities demonstrates the importance of cultural criminology in helping develop more integrated and influential research into extremism.