Courtroom drama in the context of "Crime fiction"

⭐ In the context of crime fiction, courtroom drama is considered…

Ad spacer

⭐ Core Definition: Courtroom drama

Legal drama, also called courtroom drama or law procedural, is a genre of film and television that generally focuses on narratives regarding legal practice and the justice system. The American Film Institute (AFI) defines "courtroom drama" as a genre of film in which a system of justice plays a critical role in the film's narrative. Legal dramas have also followed the lives of the fictional attorneys, defendants, plaintiffs, or other persons related to the practice of law present in television show or film. Legal drama is distinct from police crime drama or detective fiction, which typically focus on police officers or detectives investigating and solving crimes. The focal point of legal dramas, more often, are events occurring within a courtroom, but may include any phases of legal procedure, such as jury deliberations or work done at law firms. Some legal dramas fictionalize real cases which have been litigated, such as the play turned into a movie, Inherit the Wind fictionalizing the Scopes Monkey Trial. As a genre, the term "legal drama" is usually applied to television shows and films, whereas legal thrillers typically refer to novels and plays.

↓ Menu

>>>PUT SHARE BUTTONS HERE<<<

👉 Courtroom drama in the context of Crime fiction

Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, crime novel, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives or fiction that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, often a murder. Most crime drama focuses on criminal investigation and does not feature the courtroom. Suspense and mystery are key elements that are nearly ubiquitous to the genre.

It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as historical fiction and science fiction, but the boundaries are indistinct. Crime fiction has several subgenres, including detective fiction (such as the whodunit), courtroom drama, hard-boiled fiction, and legal thrillers.

↓ Explore More Topics
In this Dossier