Movies and Literature
CCJ 410 Courts in TV, Movies and Literature: Second ExamInstructions: Please respond to one (1) of the following questions. Your response cannotexceed 1500 words (excluding in-text citations and bibliography). You are expected to referencethe Textbook, scholarly journals, and cases to support the arguments you are making for thequestion you select. Although the primary focus for the exam questions is on the material inWeek 7-Week 10, you may use scholarly resources that were available in the SuggestedReadings and the Textbook from Week 1-Week 5. Your exam must be submitted tothe Second Exam Drop Box by 11:59 pm on Thursday, March 18.Question Options:1. Daytime courtroom television shows, such as Judge Judy, are sometimes criticized as notpresenting an accurate portrait of what actually occurs in a courtroom setting. To whatdegree is this criticism accurate? And, does the entertainment value of these daytimecourtroom shows trump any deficiencies in educational content?2. We have seen how television, movies, and literary works often present a fictionalized viewof what actually takes place in criminal court proceedings. Do these popular mediavehicles also present a fictionalized view of what takes place in actual civil trials? Sincecivil cases far outnumber criminal cases in the American court system, does anyeducational deficiency in how civil cases are presented on television, in movies, or throughliterature pose a greater problem for achieving justice in the American court system?3. Do portrayals of death penalty situations on television, in movies, or through literaryworks have any significant impact on how ordinary citizens or legislative policy makersview the death penalty? And, is the portrayal of death penalty situations in these popularculture vehicles an accurate picture capital punishment or simply a form of fictionalizedadvocacy for a particular perspective on capital punishment?4. Is it possible to secure a fair jury and a just verdict in either a criminal or a civil case dueto the overwhelming exposure most individuals have to fictionalized presentations of howthe American justice system works on television shows, in the movies, and though popularsystem novels? If so, how would you suggest that jurors be educated with respectto what to realities in an actual courtroom setting?5. Americans are deeply divided on the death penalty, yet most films and books that involvethe death penalty oppose the application of the death penalty. Giving specific examplesfrom media sources (movies, television, or literature), what reasons do these mediavenues provide to support a negative view of the death penalty? Are these reasonsconvincing? From the opposite perspective, what specific media venues offer examples ofsupport for the death penalty? Are the reasons provided by these media sourcesconvincing?Extra Credit Option: You may develop and answer your own question on the Week # 7 – Week #10 material. Your response could secure up to 4 extra points, depending on its quality. Theword limit on this extra credit option is 500 words. You may submit your extra credit responsewith your Answer to the Second Exam or you may send it directly to me at [email protected]:[email protected]
