CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Paperback, 2008 Ed.)

Since its debut in 2000, "CSI: Crime ""Scene Investigation, "which depicts the crime-solving work of Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and his team of smart criminalists in modern-day Las Vegas, ""has inspired a loyal fan following and won critical acclaim and ratings success. Steven Cohan's insightful study of "CSI" introduces the show, its main characters and stand-out features, such as the role of science, and the use of unexpected and often bizarre episode openings and plot resolutions. Cohan makes a case for the series' classic status, arguing that it has been responsible for the twenty-first century reinvention of the cop show in a fresh, more suburban and also a more intellectual model which has spawned both the spin-offs of "CSI: Miami "and "New York" and numerous imitations.

Cohan addresses the series' visual style, its attention to both cutting-edge forensic technology, the often grotesque condition and dissection of corpses and CGI close ups to represent the effects of weapons on the human body, and goes on to consider the series' setting, in which the theme-park delights of the new "Las Vegas" exist alongside echoes of its gangster-ridden past, and the contrast drawn between the flashy spectacle of the Strip, suburban Clark County and the arid landscapes of the Mojave desert. Cohan analyses "CSI's "consistent questioning of identity and the status of 'normality', from its theme song - The Who's "Who Are You?, "to numerous episodes that feature subcultural groups such as the deaf, 'plushies', vampires, scrabble players, dwarves, fat people, transsexuals and, in a story arc featuring the series' most popular character, Lady Heather - the s/m scene.

Finally, Cohan questions how mainstream success and imitation has affected "CSI"'s edginess, and speculates on a future for the show post-Grissom.

General

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!