From Sketches to Stereotypes: Understanding Criminality through Student Illustrations

Authors

Sandra Sicurella, University of Bologna, ItalyFollow
Simone Tuzza, University of Bologna, Italy

Abstract

This study investigates the use of comics to challenge stereotypes about criminals, acknowledging the partial and sensationalized nature of cultural production. It examines how TV series, films, and news influence students’ perceptions. Using Art-Based Research (ABR), a creative and uncommon approach in criminology, the research adopts comics as a pedagogical and investigative tool. The study aims to empirically validate this method, contributing to the academic debate on creative techniques in social research. It tests the hypothesis that visual storytelling can reveal beliefs related to the criminal imaginary and stimulate critical reflection. Three workshops were conducted with university students (aged 20–25) from the University of Bologna and the University of Parma. Participants created drawings representing their idea of a criminal. Comics proved effective in promoting spontaneity, reflexivity, and multidimensional responses. A final collective evaluation fostered discussion and opened a scientific debate on the use of graphic media in criminological research. The data collected were rich and meaningful, thanks to the creative approach and attention to young people's emotional responses to crime.

Keywords

comics, stereotypes, art-based research, media representations

Author Bio(s)

Sandra Sicurella has a Ph.D. in Criminology, is associate professor at Department of Sociology and Business Law - University of Bologna where she teaches Sociology of Deviance, Theories of Victimization Processes, and Mafia and Processes of Victimization. Her research focuses on victimization processes.

Simone Tuzza has a Ph.D. in criminology, is a tenure-track researcher at Department of Sociology and Business Law - University of Bologna where he teaches Criminology, Sociology of Deviance, and Security Policies. His research focuses on policing and the relationship between law enforcement and political power.

Publication Date

4-18-2025

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2025.8163

Recommended APA Citation

Sicurella, S., & Tuzza, S. (2025). From sketches to stereotypes: Understanding criminality through student illustrations. The Qualitative Report, 30(4), 3438-3457. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2025.8163