Discourses surrounding crime, punishment and justice are closely entangled with religious ideas and narratives while media function not only as echo chambers but are akin to co-authors of these discourses. Many religious traditions have spent great effort in painting mental and real images of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and developing underlying ethical frameworks with their notions of good and evil. Furthermore, they have also provided concepts and language used in broader social or political discourses to understand crime or legitimize its punishment. The upcoming issue on “Religion – Media – Crime” aims to bring debates about religion, crime (and related notions like justice, innocence, good/evil), and the visual/communicative aspect together. Its focus is the exploration of the intersection – and sometimes perhaps even clash – of religion, media, and crime. 

Iconic urban settings shape cinematic narration in unique ways. Landmarks like the Coliseum, the Forbidden City, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Eiffel Tower, or Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai serve not just as background to a film’s plot, but play their own part as expressions of cultural values, technical achievements, cultural exchanges and conflicts, or historical constellations. The manifold representations of urban phenomena in film are closely entangled with religious communities, institutions, traditions, practices, worldviews, or places. In this JRFM issue, we explore the multilayered interactions between urbanity and religion in mainstream films, arthouse productions, TV series, or short films.