Description
Popular culture and media is often an effective way to study certain phenomena and
fraud and white-collar crime is no different. There are many good examples in which
white-collar crime is presented in the film, some of them dramatizations of actual events
and others that are purely fictional. In either case, many of these films can be an
effective way to consider concepts such as moral ambiguity, immoral and illegal
conduct, victimization, enforcement, policy, and jurisprudence
For the purpose of this class, each student will select a film from a list provided
Actions
, watch the film (you can rent it or stream it as a group), and write a research paper exploring
the film and the portrayal of fraud and/or white-collar crime. Your paper should be 3 to 5
pages, 12-point font, 1.5 spacing, and use headers, etc. for organization.
As appropriate, your paper should address:
● Synopsis of the film; describe and analyze the fraud/crime committed in the
movie
● Overall white collar-theme of the film
● Description of the protagonist(s) and the dilemma he/she/they faced
● Personality, conduct, and motivations of the perpetrator(s)
● Components of the Fraud Triangle that may be present.
● Application of other fraud theories, as appropriate
● What harm resulted and who were the victims?
● The specific offense at issue, including applicable laws
● How was the offense prosecuted, defended, or adjudicated or how might it
have been?
Also consider:
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Victimization and victim psychology
Moral ambiguity and societal response
Immoral and/or illegal conduct
Enforcement/Punishment
Other observations or responses
Your paper will be graded based upon your summary of the applicable components and
concepts of the film, the application of course content, and your ability to communicate
them in a clear and concise manner.
Fraud & White-Collar Crime
Movie List
This list, while not necessarily comprehensive, provides a starting point for ilms
that have portrayed white-collar crime and/or fraud. Many of these ilms provide a
virtual experience through which we often relate to characters and are absorbed by
the dilemma(s) they face. Whether the ilm is based upon actual events or is purely
a work of iction, ilms such as these can bring us to a deeper understanding of
white-collar crime, the conduct and character of the perpetrators, and the harm
done to the victims.
The Ascent of Money (documentary) (2008)
The Accountant (2016)
All the President’s Men (1976)
American Hustle (2013)
Arbitrage (2012)
Barbarians at the Gate (1993)
The Big Short (2015)
Boiler Room (2000)
Casino Jack (2010)
Casino Jack and the United States of Money (documentary) (2010)
Catch Me if You Can (2002)
Chasing Madoff (2010)
Chinatown (1974)
Duplicity (2009)
Firewall (2006)
Fun with Dick and Jane (1976)
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
The Informant! (2009)
Inside Job (documentary) (2010)
The Insider (1999)
Lord of War (2005)
Margin Call (2011)
Michael Clayton (2007)
Of ice Space (1999)
Owning Mahowny (2003)
Quiz Show (1994)
Rogue Trader (1999)
The Social Network (2010)
Too Big to Fail (dramatized documentary) (2011)
Wall Street (1987)
Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
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Rev. January 2017
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