Corpses, Spectacle, Illusion: The Body as Abject and Object in CSI

Kim, Jeongmee and Glynn, Basil (2009) Corpses, Spectacle, Illusion: The Body as Abject and Object in CSI. Lexington, New York. ISBN 9780739124703

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Item Type:Book or Monograph
Item Status:Live Archive

Abstract

In the case of CSI audiences have come to expect a body horror extravaganza and in most episodes they get one. Yet through a series of stylistic and aesthetic strategies such grisly images are not as disturbing as perhaps they should be. CSI has managed to make extreme imagery palatable to a mainstream audience rather than just a niche horror fan audience. This chapter suggests that the program has achieved this by undercutting the violent imagery it displays by advertising its artificiality so that audiences recognize and are constantly reminded of the fictional nature of what they are watching. The gore on display in CSI illustrates that audiences are not yet fully comfortable with “unrestricted” horror, but are happy to enjoy the fantasy of horror when it is clearly presented as such.

Keywords:CSI, body horror, crime drama
Subjects:P Mass Communications and Documentation > P301 Television studies
Divisions:College of Arts > Lincoln School of Film & Media > Lincoln School of Film & Media (Film)
ID Code:49208
Deposited On:09 May 2022 15:12

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