The media construction of justice in Die Verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum: a criminological analysis

Abstract

This article examines Die verlorene Ehre der Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll, exploring how the media constructs criminal narratives and shapes public and judicial perceptions. The study draws on criminological and legal-literary theories, including labeling theory, biopolitics, the semiotics of power, and female criminality. The work is analyzed chronologically, emphasizing the consequences of sensationalist media language on Katharina Blum's subjectivation and social isolation. Furthermore, it reflects on the contemporary role of social media, manipulated by algorithms and digital platforms, as an extension of the oppressive practices depicted by Böll. This article demonstrates how literature transcends its narrative function to expose the shortcomings of media and judicial institutions, fostering critical discourse on justice and empathy in the modern context.