She authored several books covering topics such as media theory, popular culture, women's issues, and the portrayal of the legal system on television.
As a regular contributor to such publications as The Nation, The Progressive, and The New York Times, she wrote on a wide variety of cultural issues including film and movie reviews.
Rapping was the author of several books which address a range of topics from popular culture, television and society, gender issues, to media theory.
[citation needed] Her 2003 book, Law and Justice As Seen On TV, examines the significance and political impact of law-related television programming beginning with courtroom dramas in the 1940s up to the crime shows of the present.
In his review of Law and Justice, educator Austin Sarat stated that Rappings's work "shows how valuable the analysis of popular culture can be in illuminating some of the most important legal and social issues of our time.