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Conclusions about storytelling
Conclusions about storytelling
Essays on documentaries
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On December 18th 2015 Netflix aired with great popularity a 10 part documentary series called “making a Murderer” The documentary, written by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demo, present the case of Steven Avery; a convicted murderer exonerated on DNA evidence after serving 18 years for the assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen. The writers present the series in a way that suggest that Avery was framed by the Manitowoc Country police department. and present that the police planted evidence to frame Steven Avery because he had been exonerated from the previous crime. The ethical problem with this as is presented by Kathryn Schulz in The New Yorker, is that the documentary argues their case so passionately that they leave out important …show more content…
Schulz present’s in her article that “Making a Murder” attempts to point out that it’s concern over the jury finding with certainty that Steven Avery had committed the murder when there is some evidence that he did not commit the …show more content…
The ethical concern is a lack of prudence. Prudence is according to Aristotle the judgment and determination of right reason. This involves looking not only at looking at the ends of an issue but looking at the potential effects that their decision will have on others. The documentary appears to have the conclusion that is focused on the innocence of Steven Avery. The problem from this is that the effects appear to have little consideration if their position is wrong. The effect of their error is might have on the victim’s family is probably the highest concern because this involves the potential harm and emotional turmoil that the families feel when they have moved on or began to adjust to their lives without Teresa Halbach. The documentary bringing that back to the service could potentially cause harm to the Halbach family’s healing process. This is harm that needs to be mindful of when one is acting prudently. The family of the Averys needs to be considered, because it would also be unethical, if the documentary is supplying them with the false hope of Steven Avery being released from
Murder at the Margin is a murder mystery involving various economic concepts. The story takes place in Cinnamon Bay Plantation on the Virgin Island of St. John. It is about Professor Henry Spearman, an economist from Harvard. Spearman organizes an investigation of his own using economic laws to solve the case.
The Murderers Are Among Us, directed by Wolfe Gang Staudte, is the first postwar film. The film takes place in Berlin right after the war. Susan Wallner, a young women who has returned from a concentration camp, goes to her old apartment to find Hans Mertens living there. Hans took up there after returning home from war and finding out his house was destroyed. Hans would not leave, even after Susan returned home. Later on in the film we find out Hans was a former surgeon but can no longer deal with human suffering because of his traumatic experience in war. We find out about this traumatic experience when Ferdinand Bruckner comes into the film. Bruckner, Hans’ former captain, was responsible for killing hundreds
The definition of forensic science is any scientific research, method, or theory used to analyze evidence in an attempt to solve legal cases (Cho). In recent years, there has been growing public interest in forensic science, arguably because of the numerous television programs that glamorize its practices. This phenomenon is part of what is known as the CSI effect, or the process through which devoted fans of popular crime dramas develop unrealistic notions of forensic science methods, practices, and their applications in real life cases (Mancini 544; Stevens 37; Ley, Jankowski, and Brewer 52). The CSI effect has had more negative impacts on forensic science and society than positive impacts, especially in regards to what goes on in the minds of jurors who frequently watch television programs about crime. Studying the CSI effect also leads to tough questions about the ethics of portraying real stories to entertain the audience. The use of these true stories is justified in certain contexts, such as instances when societal issues arise, and as long as there is respect toward the privacy of family members and friends involved in such tragedies. The solution to the negative consequences of the CSI effect could be to produce television programs that are somehow informative and entertaining, but this would make it difficult to hold the interest of a viewing audience that craves drama and action.
Many people watch the media or read the media and they believe what is told even if there is no solid evidence against the individual being questioned by law enforcement. As a result, these individuals face scrutiny from not only the media but by everyone who listens to the false information the media reveals. I think the media should definitely be held accountable for destroying someone’s life because they create reports that can potentially ruin an innocent person’s life. I understand the media has a job to do and that is to maintain their ratings, but they need to understand that what they share to their viewers has extraordinary influence. In order to take responsibility for ruining someone’s life, they should inform their viewers of their mistakes and publically apologize for their wrongdoings. It is important to admit when mistakes have been made. Although the damage had already been made against Richard Jewell as a result of the media releasing the information that he was being questioned by law enforcement, they could have taken responsibility and prematurely released Jewell’s name before any solid evidence was found against
In the essay, The CSI Effect by Richard Willing, he explains how television shows have and are affecting todays people and society. One show in particular he mentions is the CBS crime-scene/drama series CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). Willing says that shows like CSI raises jurors’ expectations in courthouses. Some lawyers have said that CSI and related shows have jurors relying too heavily on scientific findings and are not willing to accept those findings without taking into consideration that it was compromised by varying errors. Jurors have learned a lot about DNA tests from these programs, but not taught about the right time to use one in court. This “CSI Effect” is felt beyond the courtroom as well. Some of the science is state-of-the-art
In 2006, over 100 million people in the United States tuned in to watch either CSI or any if the other forensic and criminal investigation related television show each week (CJSG). Since then, the number of viewers has increased rapidly, as well as the amount of television shows with the same type of theme. As a result of the increase of these television programs, researchers are discovering a new phenomenon called the ‘CSI Effect’ that seems to be fueling an interest in forensic science and criminal investigations nationwide. This effect is actually the ability of criminal justice themed television shows to influence and increase victims’, jurors’ and criminals’ ideas about forensics, DNA testing and methods, and criminal investigations (CJSG). Although the connection between the CSI Effect and a criminal’s mind is a growing problem, the CSI Effect influencing jurors in the United States by causing unrealistic expectations for definite forensic evidence, creating an increased ‘knowledge’ about forensic science and by creating an expectation for criminal cases and trials to be equivalent to what happens on popular criminal justice television shows is a much bigger issue.
“Texas is though”, as stated by an investigator, but the punishment should be granted with uncertainty, but as we look into the individual that is Tony Ford we can take a look at who he is from circumstances, and trial findings to determine some of the sociological causes. The basis for the entire documentation of this trial is drastic change from the way the media has portrayed the criminal justice system, we are more likely to have the police and the prosecution of a criminal glamorized and seen as a victory rather than view it as a misguided system. The episode even goes as far as introducing the viewer to an anchor who is convinced the trial was unfairly represented both in context and in the media. Furthering the public’s view Ford, we know that the media has a grand level of influence on the public’s perception, and this case demonstrates that the “selection of individuals who are interviewed to support a reporter’s view” (Barkan, 2015, p.24) can be a grand influence. So for a media correspondent to step out in disbelief, even after years, holds great power for the investigators to go on since they do have someone who may know things
This trial was not based on facts but based on emotions. “Prosecutors didn't have a murder weapon, cause of death, witness, or a definite motive” (Kristal Hawkins, pg.9). All the evidence pointed to Peterson's innocence and yet the jury decided upon his fate because of his emotions through out the trials. “They cited Peterson's apparent lack of emotion as a factor in their decision” (Hawkins, Pg.10). With lack of evidence against Peterson, the jury should not have convicted an innocent man.
Does taking another’s life actually avenge that of another? The disciplinary act of capital punishment, punishment through death, has been a major debate in the United States for years. Those in support of capital punishment believe that it is an end to the reoccurrence of a repeat murderer. The public has, for many years, been in favor of this few and pro-death penalty. Yet as time goes on, records show a decrease in the public and the state’s support of the continuation of capital punishment. Those against capital punishment believe it is an immoral, spends taxpayers’ money improperly, and does not enforce a way to rehabilitate criminals and/or warn off future crimes.
Not to be confused with psychopaths, psychosis is also a cause of serial killers. Psychotic patients, unlike psychopaths, have lost their sense of reality (Brogaard). For example, Carl “Coral” Eugene Watts was charged with strangling twelve woman with many more suspected victims because he believed they had “evil in their eyes” (Brogaard). Psychotic serial killers mostly tend to be either, schizophrenic or bipolar (Brogaard). Richard Trenton Chase was a schizophrenic who believed the Nazis were after him with poison that would turn his blood to powder (Brogaard). In order to prevent this, he consumed and soaked himself in the blood of those he had slain (Brogaard). Psychotic serial killers can be triggered by the loss of close relatives, such as in the case of Ed Gein (Morrison 51). Ed Gein was also a Schizophrenic, who began digging up graves and most notably skinning his victims to make suits consisting of women’s breasts and genitals (Morrison 52). Gein wore these suits made from his female victims because he wanted a sex change (Brogaard). These criminal actions were triggered after the loss of his brother, father and, most importantly, his over-bearing mother (Morrison 51).
The film, Kill the Messenger directed by Michael Cuesta, portrays a journalist by the name of Gary Webb who discovers that the Central Intelligence Agency was involved in the importation of large amounts of cocaine into the United States. The vast amount of cocaine was aggressively sold in ghettos across the country to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras rebel army. After the discovery, Webb was pressured not to go public with his story and expose his evidence found against the Central Intelligence Agency. Regardless of this situation, he decided to follow through. As a result of this disclosure, Webb was forced to experience a vicious campaign using false accusations to discredit his work and so was forced to defend his own integrity, family, and life. Initially he was celebrated, then investigated fully, until his work was finally considered flawed. Newspaper companies produced holes in his story while government officials claimed he was crazy. This eventually led to his death, or as the officials ruled it, with two self-inflicted gunshots.
Throughout the criminal justice system, many errors and shortcomings have arisen. Major shortcomings are apparent in conducting investigations, reliability of eyewitnesses, interrogation techniques, and the inaccuracy of the jury system. Throughout the book, Dan Simon makes a clear argument by citing cases that were solved incorrectly due to one of these four shortcomings. DNA exonerations have revealed that some cases that seemed so simply due to witness identification or confession of guilt were mishandled, and therefore the incorrect person was incarcerated.
1. Nichols, Bill. ‘Why are Ethical Issues Central to Documentary Filmmaking?’ Introduction to Documentary. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2001, p1-20
When a person becomes a peace officer - or any position that has inherent authority - ethical dilemmas will soon present themselves. If such an individual has divorced the concept of morals and ethics from practical daily-living then you can expect their decision-making to end where the consideration of others begins and therein lies the root of much of the world’s ills. The result of such actions harms not only the officer and the victim but reflects on the whole of the American criminal justice system. Because of their visibility the necessity for officers to not only to have a working knowledge of ethics but to practice the highest conceivable notion of it - including morality and impartiality.
Michael Sanders, a Professor at Harvard University, gave a lecture titled “Justice: What’s The Right Thing To Do? The Moral Side of Murder” to nearly a thousand student’s in attendance. The lecture touched on two contrasting philosophies of morality. The first philosophy of morality discussed in the lecture is called Consequentialism. This is the view that "the consequences of one 's conduct are the ultimate basis for any judgment about the rightness or wrongness of that conduct.” (Consequentialism) This type of moral thinking became known as utilitarianism and was formulated by Jeremy Bentham who basically argues that the most moral thing to do is to bring the greatest amount of happiness to the greatest number of people possible.