From villain to hero- A new approach in pedagogy and rehabilitation?


From villain to hero delves into the more insightful and integrative elements of Criminology. The comic recently published by Kevin Hoffin and Dr Adam Lynes answers some questions around rehabilitative practises for offenders who have faced high levels of institutionalism and incapacitation. The narrative explores a typical criminal offence which is realistic in today’s social and economic climate. A jewellery shop heist.  The heist takes place and the comic critically explores the mental conflictions between some of the offenders, in terms of their rationale and thinking behind their crimes. This underpins several theoretical paradigms such as rational choice, differential association and relative deprivation theory which have been made accessible for not only a non-academic audience, but possibly individuals who may not have a typically high reading and writing capability. This newly founded mechanism for education provides a fresh approach to learning, teaching and rehabilitation. This can be further supported by exploring further narratives embedded within the comic. One scene shows the interviewing of the victim/witness. The witness was told to take her time and to relax whilst she recollected the traumatic events from the robbery. The next scene explored the offenders being interviewed. The rationale and reasoning behind the offenders motives came to light, and to the reader this revelation subconsciously unmasked the offender and adopted a more humane perspective. This compilation of both offender and victim based perspectives underpinned the critical understandings of ultra-realism. Realism has a subjectivity engrossed heavily in socio-economic climates and the empiricism's contained within builds its ontology.  The conflictions between left and right realism and its approaches to crime and punishment were simplified by the context supplied by the responses to the crime which took place. One perspective discussed ‘benefit scroungers’ a phrase commonly adopted by the populist  right wing tabloids and how punitive responses was the answer to this ‘burden’ on society, This was breaking down right realism. Another approach discussed the barriers and structural inequalities which have perpetuated these offenders to commit crime, and that help, rehabilitation and localised state funding is necessary to deter offenders from committing crime. This is of course adopting a critical left realist approach. These paradigms were complimented by the incredible use of imagery and design which draws in readers from all backgrounds and capabilities. I genuinely believe that this is the start of a very inspiring and promising tool within pedagogy, rehabilitation and leisure interests for those who are looking to get inspired, learn new concepts and engage with their discipline in ways which go far and beyond reading papers and journals.

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