Welcome to my media law blog. I use this blog as a teaching tool that
allows me to comment on current events and topics related to media law.
It also allows you to participate in discussions involving media law
topics.
As the name of the blog suggests, I want you to use this forum to
speak freely about the topics that we will discuss in media law class.
We will discuss some controversial topics -- and often, we may not
agree. You may not agree with me, or you may not agree with your
classmates.
But this is a forum of expression, so you have the right to express
your opinion. My opinion is not correct just because I'm the instructor.
You should feel free to disagree with me.
Think about this as the First Amendment in practice.
A few ground rules, please. Some of our discussions may become
heated. While you have the right to express your opinion, I urge you to
be considerate of others, especially those with whom you disagree. Avoid
attacking or belittling someone just because you disagree with his or
her opinion. And, I suggest you double check your comment for grammar,
clarity and sensitivity before you post.
Also, this is IMPORTANT. With your comment, please include your
first name and initial of your last name. I
need this to keep track of your comments for participation points.
You can get an idea of how I used this blog in past semesters, though you are not responsible for reading previous blog entries.
Now, let's start with something light.
Share with us a favorite book, movie, TV show, song, etc., that is related to law, then tell us why it's your favorite.
I'll go first. In past semesters, the movie I would call my favorite
is "Twelve Angry Men" -- the original with Henry Fonda. But last fall,
I saw Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and was thoroughly impressed. The
movie recounts President Lincoln's effort to encourage Congress to pass
the Thirteen Amendment, which called for the abolition of slavery. A
movie about passing a constitutional amendment? How perfect for a media
law prof!
OK, your turn.
25 comments:
Looks like i'm the first to answer this question...So hey guys!! I'm Montreal W. and my favorite TV right now that has to relate to law is Scandal!! (That has to do with law right??) Anyway it's just an amazing show and drama filled which I love. I can't wait until the Fall for season 3! I'm not really a law person so I don't watch shows like that unless you count The First 48 which is another one of my fav shows to watch!!
Montreal W.
Hey y'all, my name is Jeremy G. and I would have to say that the movie "The Social Network" about the life of Mark Zuckerberg and how he created Facebook raised a lot of legal questions in my mind. I was fascinated by the legalities in this movie and how they relate to and have influenced mass media. Zuckerburg was sued by two twin brothers from Harvard who claimed that the Facebook was their idea and that Zuckerberg had stolen it from them. The case was dropped after a $200 million settlement paid to the Winklevoss twins. Many other legal issues were presented in this movie such as privacy rights (Facemash - created by Zuckerberg to rank people's attractiveness), copyright law (the presence of Sean Parker, creator of Napster, played by Justin Timberlake), as well as the importance of business ethics and protecting one's self legally even when doing business with friends (the ousting of close friend and co-founder Eduardo Saverin by Zuckerberg). I highly recommend this movie to anyone in this class who has yet to see it because it directly relates to mass communication studies and is entertaining to watch.
Good evening, all! My name is Marla E., and my favorite television show of all time is Law and Order SVU. I enjoy the fact that the episodes are derived from real-life stories, but are layered with enough fiction to make entertaining television. From the heinous crime scene to interviewing suspects, to experiencing the opinions of the defense lawyers and district attorneys, to watching the witnesses on the stand, to hearing the final verdicts, and living through the lives of detectives and attorneys solving the cases, Law and Order SVU is one of the best political shows I've seen in a long time.
Hey guys! I'm Stephanie G. and I would have to say that my favorite book would be To Kill A Mockingbird. It's a great story that not only exposes how the law can wrongfully convict someone but through the eyes of racism. In my eyes this story was important because it was a white man who defended him regardless of what others would think of him. What is wrong is wrong and Atticus stood for that.
Deanndra G.
One of my favorite tv shows pertaining to law is The Good Wife. I like the different cases and how interesting they are. Everyone in the law firm has their duty in how they contribute to the work up the case. The firm represent their clients to the best of their ability. I think it's interesting when one of the associates Cary does his research and finds case law wherein he's able to help in proving up his case.
Catherine O'Hara
I don't think I watch or read much having to do with law, but the show that came to mind was Breaking Bad. It really depicts the other side of law, though. The main characters, the criminals, are constantly calling up their lawyer and paying him to call his connections to clean up their dirty tracks. Another show that came into mind was Arrested Development because the Bluth family hires Bob Loblaw as their new attorney and he has his own blog- Bob Loblaw's Law Blog.
Hiii! My name is Brittney C. I love reading and thats why I picked my favorite book "Handle With Care" by Jodi Picoult. I picked this book because it has a lot to do with law, specifically malpractice. This book is about a family that struggles to make ends meet with their daughter's medical expenses due to a severe diagnosis that causes her to break bones just by lifting up an arm, etc. To ensure a lifetime of care for her daughter, the mother files a wrongful birth lawsuit against her ob/gyn. She must stand up in court and say in public that if she knew her daughter was going to have a disability, she would have terminated the baby. This creates a messy situation with her husband that disagrees about what she is doing and also her ob/gyn who is also her best friend. This book deals with medical ethics and personal morality.
Heyy my name is Ana V. and my ALL time favorite movie has to do with the law. My favorite movie is Legally Blonde and although some people might see it as just a chick flick, I think it is full of great information about the law especially for the youth in tody's society. I think the ideas and plot of the movie is great not only because its entertaining but it combines entertainment with some beginners knowledge about the law. Also, it teaches you how to bend and snap! Just kidding..:)
Hey! My name is Francesca M. I’dhave to agree with Jeremy. I absolutely LOVE The Social Network because it ties all of the things I’m interested in into one movie. And I also love Law & Order: SVU! Who can resist some old school Liv and Elliot!? I also love the song “Bad Boys” from the COPS show. My 94-year-old grandma always sings it and it’s hilarious!
Hello everyone, my names Chris G. And my favorite movie that has the law incorporated unit is a movie called Liar, Liar with Jim Carrey. It's a comedy in which he plays a lawyer who cannot lie for one whole day because his son wished it upon him. He has this huge court case about custody and millions of dollars at stake. The fact that he can't lie in court makes it that much harder to win a already tough case.
Hello, my name is Judy D. I'm kind of addicted to shows that deal with law or criminals. However, recently I have been addicted to watching the Jodi Arias trial. I thought it was very interesting how the jury decided she was guilty, but they couldn't agree on if she should get the death penalty or not. I can't wait to see if the family of Travis Alexander will file a civil lawsuit or not.
Hey, My name is Jordan M. and I have to agree that the lawyers on Arrested Development are probably my favorite depiction of the law in pop culture. I know I wouldn't want Barry Zuckerkorn as my attorney, especially if I had committed some "light treason" like the Bluth family.
Hi my name is Kaily T. and one of my favorite shows that has to do with law is Criminal Minds. Although, it also has a lot to do with psychology too, which both interest me a lot. I really enjoy trying to figure out what is going to happen in these shows and who will end up guilty or innocent. It is such an interesting show, even though sometimes it can be pretty scary too!
My name is Casey Carroll. I would say my favorite movie that relates to law would be "Law Abiding Citizen." I am not going to go on a rant here pretending that I know anything about law, because that would be false, or even that the movie was an accurate depiction of law. However, I really liked the scene when he was in court and he kept contradicting the judge, even when she was in his favor, to prove how the court system failed him in the case against the suspected killer of his wife and daughter.
My name is Carlos Garcia. I recently read a book titled "Liberty and Justice for Some" by Glenn Greenwald. It is a great read for polisci nerds. It talks about the lack of accountability in Washington and how it began with the Nixon pardons and it carried on with both Republican and Democrat administrations. I definitely had to look back through some history books and articles because it was honestly a tough read, but I learned a lot.
My name is Michael Joseph. I would have to say my favorite movie that applies to law and ethics is "Run Away Jury." The movie depicts the case from the juries perspective as well as the defense/prosecution. In class on Tuesday we discussed "Voir dire" or the jury selection process. This movie shows a very good example of this. Have a good semester everyone!
I am Ashley Howard and I would say my favorite movie that relates to law is "The Lincoln Lawyer." We discussed cross-examination is class on Tuesday and in the movie, Haller (Matthew McConaughey) cross-examines.
http://cms.fightforthefuture.org/teenager/
this is a great article related to the 1st amendment!
-ana vaso
The movie “An Innocent Man” is an old movie from the 80s but I found it very interesting. It is about an innocent man basically found guilty of being a drug dealer even though he is innocent. The man serves 6 years in prison for a crime he was framed. In class we discussed how our justice system is based on the idea that courts would rather a guilty man be found innocent than an innocent man found guilty. We also discussed how the burden to prove someone guilty is high in a criminal case (beyond a reasonable doubt). This movie kind of makes you wonder if our justice system really works out they way we intend it to.
Brittany V.
Fairly late, but still participating. I have to agree with a handful of my classmates and choose "The Social Network" ... I had heard about the battles of ownership of Facebook, but I never understood the sides of the each case. I still, till this day, do not know which to choose. With the law and its many loopholes I get lost in it all. The twins, Mark and Eduardo all had a case. With that said, there is still debate on what should have been done. Because of movies like these, you'll want to go back and pick up on different details that you hadn't before to get a clearer perspective...
Though most of the movie is detailing the account of every pitch involved in the scandal. Eight Men Out can also be related to law. The commissioner at the time Kenesaw Mountain Landis, a former judge, is the one who passes judgement on the players. While most of the movie is the actual games of the 1919 World Series, the latter part is the trial of the "Black Sox," the eight individuals who were in charge of fixing the 1919 Fall Classic. A certain detail (which I won't reveal for those who wish to watch it) is a testament to the wild, inefficient, and sometimes outlaw judicial system of the time.
John B.
Hellooo,
My name is Ashtin B. and I would have to admit that I am addicted to Law and Order SVU... I do not know if I would call it my "favorite," but if I have nothing to do I'll catch myself watching a marathon all day! I like that it is based on real-life situations, and the story lines just pull me in.
Hi, I'm Jordana H. and like many of y'all I'm definitely addicted to all of the Law and Order shows, especially SVU. I also really loved Law and Order LA and was really sad it didn't make it past the first season. Another crime show I loved that you might not be familiar with is Final Witness. It only lasted one season as well, but it took real-life crime and told the story from the point of view of the victim. They had actors act out the story, but also showed real interviews with the people involved in the crime, the prosecutors, detectives, etc. The story lines were awesome. I'm always on the hunt for a good crime show.
I recently re-watched My Cousin Vinny starring Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei. Despite being a comedy, it does realistically portray how a court room operates and how a case settles. Basically, two New Yorkers travel through Alabama and get blamed for a murder they didn't commit so Vinny (Pesci), and his loud fiancee (Tomei), comes down to represent as their lawyer. It's pretty funny.
My favorite would have to be "Runaway Jury". It's about 10 years old, but it's one of the most interesting thrillers because it gives back story to the court case going on. The case last months and the whole time the characters (jury members) are developed and given depth as to their court decision. You have to check it out!
-Scott A.
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