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 my spring classes.
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.
With your comment, please include your
first name, the initial of your last name and class (MW or Online). I
need this information 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 or commenting on 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 and include a brief
summary of the work.
I'll go first. In past semesters, the movie I would call my favorite
was "Twelve Angry Men" -- the original with Henry Fonda. But in 2012,
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 abolished slavery. A
movie about passing a constitutional amendment? How perfect for a media
law prof!
I look forward to reading your comments.
77 comments:
A few years ago, a show by the name of 'How to Get Away with Murder,' caught my attention. The TV show takes a look at the lives of a group of law students and their professor, who ends up in an unsettling situation involving murder. The dialogue focuses on criminal law, but nonetheless, it was interesting for me to see how the students and their professor work together to solve cases.
Errin P.
M/W
I recently watched the Netflix movie 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile' on Netflix. This is a movie that describes the case of Ted Bundy through his girlfriends point of view. I found this interesting because instead of watching how it affected him, you could see how his crimes affected the people around him. This movie was interesting because the man that was on trial was also the lawyer that defended himself. This proved how people can be intrigued by the law and still have the intention of breaking it and I found that interesting.
Rylee K. M/W
This is a bit nerdy, but one of my favorite shows is a Japanese animated show called "Death Note." The show focuses on opposing pursuits of justice with the protagonist, a young man with a god complex who seeks to positively reform the world by executing criminals, and the antagonist, a world-renowned detective who seeks justice by stopping the protagonist's tirade. "Death Note" revolves around the idea of whether criminal law is truly enough to stop evil people, or if absolute judgement is necessary in the name of "justice."
Lauren R.
M/W
After I read this prompt, I immediatley started singing "I Fought The Law" by The Clash. This song is very catchy and repetitive. Here's the lyrics to the last several lines of the song:
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
It's pretty self explanitory what the song is about. The Clash is a britsh punk rock band formed in the 1970's. You may be more familiar with their famous song "Should I Stay or Should I Go". I would say they are a favorite punk band of mine and I enjoy their music, but I will not be taking legal advice from them anytime soon.
Nichole B.
M/W
Hulu has an original exclusive called The Handmaid's Tale. I recently started watching it and honestly it's completely brilliant. It focuses on modern day society, however there is a fertility issue among the women and only a select amount can still have children. The women who are still able to conceive are owned by families to produce children for them. The goal of the show, in my opinion, is to exaggerate yet bring attention to how societies and laws try to control women's bodies. I think it was just a way to fire shots at lawmakers. With that being my opinion, I could also see how people would think that the show is simply demonstrating how extreme and bad the laws could be. I don't agree with that theory, however it is still viable.
Tatum Kosiara
M/W
The first show that came to mind after reading the prompt was the Netflix original Mindhunter. The show follows two homicide detectives and one clinical psychologist as they attempt to create a serial killer profile by interviewing famous serial killers such as Ed Kemper and Charles Manson in the 1970's. The main detective grapples with the law as he breaks rules to get killers to give information/struggles with politically influenced police departments and jurisdiction based regulations. The show gives great insight into the inner workings of criminal investigations and the laws that detectives must abide by. Crime junkies and fans of detective shows can both enjoy Mindhunter while learning about criminal law.
Alisa P.
M/W
First piece of law media that jumps to mind for me is the movie, My Cousin Vinny. For anyone who hasn't seen it, Vinny is a a pretty lackluster Brooklyn Lawyer who has never won a case. His cousin and his friend get accused of murder and so it all kinda falls on Vinny to keep them from seeing jail time. I thought this movie was funny, because every time I pictured myself in Vinny's shoes it would always make me laugh.
Ty R. MW
What comes to mind for me when I think of a movie or TV show pertaining to law is the Netflix original TV series called “Ozark”. Ozark is a show with multiple seasons that’s all about your average family from Chicago that is forced to relocate to the ozarks after the father finds himself involved in a money laundering scheme that was being hidden from the government. Basically, the father needs to pay a large sum of money back to a Mexican drug lord, or else he will either be sent to jail for a very long time, or awful things will be done to his family. This show highlights the way this family is paying off their debt and hiding away to stay out of trouble.
-Cailey Craig (MW class)
If you need a good laugh, watch "Derry Girls" on Netflix. Season 2 just came out and the finale was tear jerkingly wonderful as well as the stomach pains from laughing so much. The city of Londonderry, Ireland in 1988 was going through the Omagh Bombings. The city was divided and the show walks through the lives of a young catholic school group of best friends who are just trying to survive high school. Season 2 ends with the arrival of President Bill Clinton bringing hope to the new found Free Derry after the ceasefire ends and an agreement is made. Clinton concludes with, "crossing the border now is as easy as crossing a speed bump. The soldiers are off the streets. The city walls are open to civilians. There are no more shakedowns as you walk into a store. Daily life has become more ordinary. But this will never be an ordinary city." With that the teens walk away priding themselves in being Derry Girls.
-Bailey B (MW)
The Legally Blonde movie franchise is absolutely cliche, but romantic comedies are my guilty pleasure so that's what instantly comes to mind for this question. The protagonist, Elle Woods, follows her ex-boyfriend to Harvard Law School in hopes of winning him back. Everyone belittles her and underestimates her, so she starts taking law school seriously and proves everyone wrong. It's silly and impossible to dislike.
Laura N.
MW
The first thing that pops into my head when I think of my favorite media about law is "The Ted Bundy Tapes." This is a Netflix documentary about the infamous serial killer Theadore Bundy. While the stories of his individual crimes don't go into great detail in this documentary, his journey does. These tapes take you from the very beginning to when he was in love and committing these crimes under wraps to his two escapes to where he ended up: death row. I find this extremely fascinating! I recommend this documentary to everyone. In addition, if you were wanting to watch the Netflix movie about Ted Bundy, "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," watch the confession tapes first because you will have more knowledge of his crimes and how he thinks because the movie focuses more on his story, not his unbelievable crimes.
-Morgan B. MW
My favorite law-related show is "Suits" on Amazon Prime. The show is about a top law firm in Manhattan that hires a genius college dropout. I like it because is different from other law-related shows that I've seen before. Instead of focusing on the trial like many shows do, Suits focuses on the work at the firm and the relation with clients. It's very funny and entertaining and I can honestly say I learn a few law terms after watching the show.
Ana Bravo (M/W)
Joe R
MW
I would say my favorite law movie since childhood is probably Gone with the Wind. Now if I am being honest I don't remember much of the movie however I do remember the most important parts. The entire plot is completely different than what most movies were back then. Also its the fact Gone with the Wind is such a timeless classic, I just couldn't help myself by not including this movie.
My favorite book is Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It’s been years since I have read it I just remember being so intrigued with the characters and that I had certain quotes memorized. I actually have to rebuy it because I let a friend borrow it and she never gave it back.
Bianca Cano
MW
Brian D
Class:MW
A movie I came across that had a mix of journalism, the exposure of the U.S. government's deceptions about the futility of the Vietnam War and Newspaper publishers battling it out with Restraining orders being tossed around with an indicted for Contempt looming. Jeopardize the paper or fight for the Freedom of the Press. This movie is packed with great actors that portray and showcase government corruption and the risks journalists make to delivernews to the people.
Ashlyn Hubertus
M/W
A TV show related to law that I am really into right now is “Mindhunter” on Netflix. It portrays 2 FBI agents in Quantico, studying the psyche of numerous and infamous serial killers such as Ed Kemper, Richard Speck, & David Berkowitz. This show is my all time favorite series I have watched because I’m very interested in learning about different serial killers and how their minds work!
Sarah A.
M/W
A documentary I recently watched was “I Love You, Now Die” on HBO. The show is about the girl who encouraged her boyfriend to commit suicide via text and the judicial process that was taken to determine if she was guilty for his death or not. Very interesting how technology may restrict the first amendment with unprecedented laws!
Nereliz Colon, MW
I've watched so many of the shows and movies mentioned, and they're all so good. I think mine would have to be Law and Order: SVU. Of course, when it first aired, media wasn't as involved being that it aired 20+ seasons ago, but as the show and time developed, the producers made it a point to include social media and how dangerous of a place it could be. Showing how easily predators could find you just by friending you on Facebook and other ways made the show even more relatable to our time, so it's always been a favorite.
While most of the TV and music tends to lean on the political side, most of the time its not necessarily related to law. That being said, the closest to a law-related movie I enjoy is actually Legally Blonde.
Legally Blonde is a show about a seemingly stereotypical "dumb pretty girl" archetype who's lawyer boyfriend breaks up with her because he implied the girl, Elle Woods, is just not smart enough. Elle Woods then goes on to get a law degree from Harvard, and then uses her knowledge to pass an animal rights bill to end cosmetic testing on animals.
Legally Blonde showed surprisingly accurate courtroom settings and interactions, as well as gave the ugly parts of law a lighthearted spin using the characters and primary plot arc.
Jonathan Crouch
M/W
My favorite law related movie is The Devil's Advocate. Not only does the film feature two of my favorite actors, Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino, it also dives into the ethics of law. The film follows a young and hungry defense attorney Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves), after he successfully defends a child molester he finds himself moving up in the world but at the cost of his morals and loss of relationships. The movie is an excellent example of ethics involved in law.
Oscar Moctezuma (MW)
Ryan H (MW)
I don't watch many law movies but, since Oscar used Devils Advocate already I have to say War Machine is my favorite law movie because it follows Brad Pitt as Commander of a NATO division in Afghanistan. The movie sheds light on the reality of this war for oil and how the government used legal loopholes to try to make a profitable war at the expense of many fallen soldiers and ultimate failure in Afghanistan.
Alyse G (Online): My favorite book is Lord of the Flies. The plot features young boys stranded on an island after a crash; they must fight to survive and work together to build a community. LOTF is my favorite novel because it questions innocence and government. This book is related to law because it displays young groups forming rule-based communities, which have differing ethical viewpoints and laws/regulations.
Eric W (MW)
An old movie that I recently watched a couple years ago "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" will probably go down as one of my favorite law movies out there. Very political but it also ties into the corruption that goes on in DC and how that corruption can break a man down. Mr. Smith wanted to bring his positive attitude and work ethic into a world that lacked positivity, he quickly learns theres minimal light in that dark world.
One of my favorite shows is Prison Break and it happens to be related to law. The show is about these brothers; one is wrongfully sentenced to death and the other has a plan to break him out of the prison. Meanwhile, his lawyer tries to clear his name and combat the corruption and conspiracy that is happening. It is my favorite show because every episode leaves off on a cliff hanger, and it's interesting seeing multiple point of views from all the characters in and out of the prison. It is on Hulu now and I am re-watching it with my roommate.
M/W Colton H.
One of my favorite tv shows is called "Atlanta," directed by Donald Glover. In the show, the main character is the manager of an up and coming musician, and must figure out ways to raise cash both legally and illegally to fund the musicians deals and gigs. They each have their own encounters with the law, such as faking gift cards at the mall and selling high dollar show dogs under the table. There is also a good look into the music industry and how artists are have to do more than just make music to make it in the industry, and how shady things can get.
Grant Langford
MW
Tabitha R. MW
I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called The Great Hack. It was mainly about the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica and Facebook. After the news broke that Cambridge Analytica had data on every American voter, people began to wonder what that data consists of. The professor who narrated the documentary emphasized that data rights should be human rights. He spends a good amount of time attempting to retrieve the data that Cambridge Analytica has on him, but is unsuccessful. It also begs the question, with the new technology we have, is it possible to ever have a fair election again?
One of the shows i have recently watched was The Act on Hulu. The Act a show based on a true story about Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee Blanchard. The show gives us insight on how Gypsy and her boyfriend Nick killed her mother Dee Dee, and it also shows how Dee Dee made Gypsy believe she had multiple illnesses and diseases that weren't real. At the end, Gypsy and Nick both get convicted of the murder but they had separate trials in the end. The court cases are really interesting to dive into and i would highly recommend checking it out the show and dive in deeper to the whole case.
Samuel T. MW
It's a little bit of a stretch, but my favorite show that's somewhat related to law is Brooklyn 99. It's a cop comedy with Andy Samberg, Terry Crew, Stephanie Beatriz and several other great actors/actress playing detectives in the Brooklyn. It features clever writing and many complex/challenging situations and plot-lines that are made easier to handle through humor. It's a very easy show to binge watch and will make you feel a whole array of emotions, so I highly recommend watching it.
Last year i got in to the television series, Longmire. This series is based on a small town sheriff and his adventures fighting crime near and Indian reservation. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Sheriff Longmire, the main character. He was represented in court by his daughter who in the show happened to be a lawyer. This is an interesting show especially the scenes regarding the case. The audience knew Sheriff Longmire was innocent, but had to watch the opposite party jab at him time after time.
Brooke Perryman
M/W
So the first thing that pops into my head when I hear law and television show in one sentence is “How to Get Away With Murder”. Ironically, I was never able to get into it but I have been into the Netflix original Mindhunter. The show is about a pair of homicide detectives and a clinical psychologist that is eager to teach himself more. They try to create a serial killer profile and interview famous serial killers like Ed Kemper and Charles Manson. Through their journey they risk themselves with the law as they go against the norm to get killers to give their personal insight on politically influenced police departments and jurisdiction based regulations. So far, the show has given me access to different perspectives coming from criminal law detectives. Although I haven’t finished the series yet, I recommend anyone to watch this because its very intriguing.
Michelle Rivera
M/W 11-12:20
Back in high school, the theatre department put on an adaptation of "Twelve Angry Men" and cast both men and women, renaming it "Twelve Angry Jurors". The entirety of the play takes place inside a jury room where the jurors discuss a murder trial in which a son supposedly killed his own father. At the beginning of the play, all the jurors but one believe the boy to be guilty, but throughout the deliberation, their initial verdict shifts as more evidence is uncovered. It's such an interesting character study, as well as a nice peek into what happens behind the scenes of a trial.
Meagan H. M/W
Not to be cliché, but one of my favorite shows is Law & Order: SVU. The show follows detectives of the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit. Many of the episodes feature a "ripped from the headlines" storyline. The detectives investigate mostly sexually-oriented crimes (i.e. sexual assault, domestic violence, etc.), but also deal with other "special" cases like child and elderly abuse. The detectives also work with the Manhattan District Attorney's Office to prosecute cases and seek justice for the victims. Most episodes feature a courtroom scene as well to show how the prosecution plays out. A lot of the time the outcome is not ideal, which only adds to the realism of the show.
Recently I got into this show called Elementary. It's a Sherlock Holmes spin off, but instead of working for the Scotland Yard, Sherlock works for the NYPD as a consultant, and is also a recovering drug addict. Because Sherlock Holmes is a consulting detective to the NYPD, the viewer gets to see a lot of dealing with the law, or lack there of. Sherlock is always breaking laws: breaking and entering, stealing from both the NYPD and the suspects, as well as lying on oath, but he also clearly articulates different laws that pertain to each case. Overall, Elementary is a nice unexpected spin off of the original show Sherlock Holmes, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes, crime mysteries.
Brianna S.S M/W
One of my favorite shows right now on TV is The Flash... as nerdy as that sounds, it has a lot of media law inside of it with one of the main characters being a journalist that has to go between what is right and wrong to post on their blog. In one episode if she were to post an article about the Flash, it would have cause a lot of legal issues between if the Flash should be seen as something to celebrate or not.
Skylar Whinery
M/W
Since as long as I can remember I have always loved watching the show "Law and Order: SVU." It always has a way of bringing me in and informing me about topics and laws I wouldn't have known otherwise. The show is about a detective in NYC named Olivia Benson that helps solve sexual assault crimes. Just by watching the show on multiple binges I feel as though I have a little bit more knowledge about laws in some states.
Monica Silva
Online
Since as long as I can remember I have always loved watching the show "Law and Order: SVU." It always has a way of bringing me in and informing me about topics and laws I wouldn't have known otherwise. The show is about a detective in NYC named Olivia Benson that helps solve sexual assault crimes. Just by watching the show on multiple binges I feel as though I have a little bit more knowledge about laws in some states.
Monica Silva
Online
One of my favorite shows related to law is Ally McBeal. It's a late 90s early 2000s show. I appreciate that it takes place in Boston, which is where I am from, and I love most of the cast in the show. The show centers around the life and cases of Ally, a lawyer. It also includes a unique style of comedy and the cases are interesting.
Diamond P. Online (sec 080)
When I was younger, my dad and I would always have a night to just sit down, relax, and watch this movie called "Law Abiding Citizen". This movie is about an extremely frustrated man that decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets his family's killer free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal. His vengeance was mainly towards the system and the city that allowed such an unjust act to pass. This movie has a lot of twists and turns. At a certain point you won't know who to root for, the system that is just "doing its job" by letting a murder off easy because he had a decent lawyer, or the man that got his family taken away yet still has no justice.
Taitlin Hurd
MW
The first show that comes to mind when I think about shows related to law, is The West Wing. I watched it for the first time about two years ago and I just loved it. It follows the presidency of a Democratic president and his White House aides and closest colleagues. Some of the actors include Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Bradley Whitford and Allison Janney. The show is very witty and fast-paced (typical Aaron Sorkin dialogue), but also hits on hard issues and decisions.
Jailene Polanco (Online)
William Skeen said...
The recent copyright dispute between Led Zeppelin's song, "Stairway to Heaven," and Spirit's 1968 song "Taurus," has my attention due to the nature of creativity vs extreme censorship.
Michael Skidmore, trustee of the late Randy Wolfe (AKA Randy California), decided to sue Led Zeppelin in 2014 for similarities between the two songs despite Wolfe being deceased for 22-years. This is a very interesting subject to me as a guitarist who admires Stairway to Heaven. Skidmore claimed Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page, stole the intro to Spirit's Taurus to create Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelin won the case in 2016; However, recently, the case reopened with Skidmore claiming there were issues with the jury in deciding the outcome of the original trial.
This is important to me not only as a Led Zeppelin fan, but as a music lover in general. There are similarities between the two songs, but only at the beginning. The bass notes of the guitar progression of Stairway to Heaven are reminiscent of Taurus, but the rhythm and picking pattern is much different. Furthermore, to me, this is an attack on creativity and if Led Zeppelin loses the case, what would it mean for creativity in music? Will this hinder musicians in the future? In my opinion, there needs to be a clear cut rip off of someone else's art (i.e. lyrics and melody), and although Stairway to Heaven has similarities to the Taurus intro, there is not near enough evidence to claim Led Zeppelin stole from Spirit. After all, there are many songs with similar chord progressions to these two songs, and I've attached a youtube URL that explains this point quite nicely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MBKJDmE-OQ
William Skeen
M/W Online
A movie that comes to mind for me is Erin Brockovich, a true story of an unqualified woman who lands a job at a law firm. She is judged by all of the employees and is seen as a joke, but somehow ends up convincing the firm to let her investigate a case. She turns out to be quite good at it, and discovers key information the entire firm missed. I would definitely recommend it!
Jamie White MW
One of my favorite shows that is related to law would be Cable Girls on Netflix. This show follows four women in the 1920's who have to overcome many obstacles while trying to gain equality with men. The laws back then were much different than ours making it harder for women to have more freedom. A main theme in the show is justice, the girls always seem to get in some form of trouble without there being a way out.
This show is in Spanish but, there are English subtitles for those who do not understand it. Some of the include Ana Fernandez, Blanca Suarez, Maggie Civantos, and Nadia de Santiago.
Lessly Lopez
Online
I've always loved the movie My Cousin Vinny because it really exemplifies how the system can wrongly persecute innocent people. In the movie Vinny is a down on his luck lawyer who goes ot help his nephew and his friend out when they are accused of killing a shop clerk because they fit a vague description of the murders. Honestly, this movie is hilarious and I highly recommend it for the comedy alone but the way the practice of law is presented is not fluffed or exaggerated so it feels authentic. I like that this movie also makes you appreciate how our court has principles like having a lawyer and being innocent until proven guilty otherwise people would be wrongly accused and have no chance.
Julia Reape
Online
One of my favorite shows I've recently been watching is, Better Call Saul. It is a spin-off prequel of Breaking Bad showing the life of Jimmy McGill as an up-and-coming lawyer before the events in Breaking Bad where he later becomes Saul Goodman. It adds a ton of development and background to the Saul Goodman character. Jimmy is a former con artist which adds to the sketchy way he goes about doing his job. In an interview with the director he said, "I like the idea of a lawyer show in which the main lawyer will do anything it takes to stay out of a court of law," which is a pretty good description for Jimmy's character.
Adri S. Online
This is Joshua A from the Online Course. My favorite book related to law is "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow. Reading about the way that Hamilton utilized the press to effect change was very inspiring. He may not have been the first to support the First Amendment or Bill of Rights, but he was, in all other respects, the essence of what an attorney should be and what they should do. He came from humble origins and he used his law education from Columbia to be an agent for change.
I recently started watching Designated Survivor on Netflix. The show deals with everyone in Congress being killed. Congress chooses a 'Designated Survivor' to stay behind when Congress gathers. This means if anything were to happen to the entirety of the Congress, the Designated Survivor would become acting President. The show follows the designated survivor, trying to overcome the obstacles that come along while being President of the United State, not to mention, the designated survivor, Tom Kirkman, has no experience leading in this way. He is a lower level cabinet member, and always does what is right. He quickly learns the right thing to do, isn't always the best answer to his/the country's problems.
Michael S.
Online Class
My favorite law show of all time would have to be Suits on Netflix. However, it did used to be on USA but jumped over to Netflix once the show ended. This show is based on a prestige law firm that hires an amazing lawyer who lied about attending law school. This prestige firm only hired lawyers who attended Harvard University. Most of the show was about him keeping his lie a secret and how to avoid getting caught.It did actually show you cases that they worked on and how complex law really is. I think we all know that you have to be extremely intelligent and committed to practicing law. But I don't think you realize how extensive and difficult law can really be. I really liked this show because although I never wanted to pursue law, I always wanted to know what it was like. This show gives you a little glimpse of the depth that practicing law really entails.
Milaura Singletary
Online Class
My all time favorite movie is Legally Blonde. It's a very cliche rom-com but the protagonist, Elle Woods, is your typical sorority girl that is rich, a little bit ditzy and doesn't seem to have a care in the world. When her boyfriend, Warner, breaks up with her for a more "serious lawyer type" she works hard to get into Harvard law school to prove to him she can be that girl. She starts off having a rough time but then starts to take law school seriously and ends up working a case along side her professor and really uses her "sorority girl" knowledge to save the day and win the case. I love all the aspects of this movie especially how she's the underdog in her law school but studies really hard and uses her knowledge in a case.
Jessica W
M/W 11:00 class
"The People vs. Larry Flynt" is one of my favorite movies. Based on true events, it is a great movie that deals with the law, the first amendment, and decency laws. Larry Flynt, the man behind "Hustler" magazine is brought to trial over the pornographic content that is featured in his publication. Flynt's lawyer is truly amazing in the courtroom in my opinion. Flynt and his lawyer were shot by a man who was truly outraged by the case. Flynt becomes paralyzed after the shooting. The case makes it to the supreme court, and it is truly entertaining to watch it all unfold. This movie was also wonderful because the cast is so great. Woody Harrelson plays Larry Flynt. Edward Norton is the Lawyer. Courtney Love plays Flynt's love interest.
Leah Lanphear
4324.001 M,W 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m.
Gage N, online class.
As silly as this sounds, hear me out. I consider Evan Almighty a movie related to law, and here's why:
Evan, a congressmen, builds an arc throughout the majority of the movie after God talks to him letting him know a flood will come. His coworker and fellow congressmen attempts to destroy Evan and God's plans by pointing out that the arc is violation of property law. Police, among others, come to where the arc is located and attempt to destroy the arc before a flood comes that requires everyone who previously doubted Evan to trust in his and God's plan.
This is one of my favorite movies because I am a Steve Carell fan. My favorite show is The Office, and a lot of the actors in that show are also in this movie.
When I think of crime I think of Law and Order: SVU. This has been my favorite show for the past 5 years and it'll probably remain my favorite.
The show is based off of scenarios of things that have happened in real life and things that could possibly happen when involving assault, discrimination, death, etc. The last few seasons have really hit home on situations that have happened throughout the country regarding the safety of citizens. There's a group of detectives, a lieutenant, and an Assistant District Attorney for every episode and they piece together the crime and then take it to court.
Olivia Chaney
Online
One of my favorite movies involving law is The Lincoln Lawyer. First of all, I think this movie has an amazing cast Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Phillippe,William H. Macy, and John Leguizamo.
This movie follows a LA based Criminal defense attorney (McConaughey) who mostly operates from the back of his Lincoln Town Car while being chauffeured in around the city.
McConaughey had mostly defended people who had committed petty crimes, but thenlands a big case that initially seems like an high paying, open-and-shut case, but as he is working it he starts to think that his client is actually guilty of more than he is accused of.
Nicole Bautista
Online
My favorite movie that relates to the law would have to be "The Dark Knight" by Cristopher Nolan. In "The Dark Knight," Harvey Dent serves as the District Attorney. Dent has one goal in mind: cleanse the streets of Gotham City of criminals no matter the cost. Although the methods of bringing criminals to justice he used were questionable at best, I was always fascinated by the willingness of Harvey to put himself in harm's way in the name of justice.
Dylan K.
MW
Hello everyone,
My favorite T.V. show or rather documentary is "I AM A KILLER." Death row inmates convicted of capital murder give a personal account of their crimes in this Netflix documentary series. Some inmates are sociopathic in that they've developed a complex or different identity/person they've related these crimes to that is objective from who they are in the moment while others own up to their behaviors and detail the disturbing and vivid approach to murdering their victim(s). As it relates to law, these inmates describe how they were caught as well as how the prosecution ended up winning a death row trial against them. It goes as far as to interviewing prosecution and defense attorneys so that they may offer varying perspective and a more legal view of the situation (i.e. their odds of winning or losing trial based on the provided evidence). It's a bit of a morbid show but very interesting as it relates to crime and law!
Ashley Charlize Figueroa
MW
One of my favorite books dealing with the law is "In Cold Blood." In Cold Blood takes a literary approach to a real story that could have otherwise been told in a news story. In a way it is like a feature on two criminals of a horrific murder on an innocent family. The author Truman Capote spent a great deal of time in the community of the victims and tells a story of the events prior to the murder. Capote is present in the whole trial to tell a captivating story. As a journalist myself, I enjoy the mesh of literary writing and journalist writing.
Sonia G
MW
My favorite show is "Orange Is The New Black" and boy does that show have much to do with the law. The show follows different women in a federal prison and it looks into everyone's very different lives. We get some insight into the many different ways the federal system is corrupt. I genuinely enjoy that show... and I am also sad that it just ended.
Michael G
MW
I recently started watching a show on Netflix called "The Handmaid's Tale." The show takes place in the current day except the majority of women have fertility issues and can't have kids. The women who still can have kids are owned by the rich and produce children for them. I believe with recent bills about strict abortion laws being passed, it ties in with current events. The show also mentions things like birth control and how it is perceived as bad in their society. I think this show is a way of highlighting how the decision about women's reproductive rights have been left up to old white men sitting in office. It is a very interesting show and I started watching it because I had heard lots of great things about it. So far it has lived up to the hype.
Kayla Cowling
MW 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Sebastian Q. MW 11am
My favorite movie about law would have to be "My Cousin Vinny". This movie does an excellent job explaining how procedure works inside the courtroom. My Cousin Vinny also exposes the prejudices some officers may have had in the past and present while dealing with minorities. As an Italian American this movie hits extremely close to home. Along with having a star-studded cast, this movie is one of the few that has scored the highest on legal realism by LegalEagal on youtube. It show the faults in our legal system, but it equally shows the pros in our legal system as well. Another benefit of this movie is it shows people in real life. Not to say that yes its a live action film and not animation, but it does not embellish the human experience and humanizes lawyers.
If I'm going to decide on piece of media pertaining to law I have to stay true and go with Judge Judy. Judy is a television icon and any time law is brought up it's easy to put her up there with Law and Order, Cops, and Better Call Saul.
Michael Matthews (MW)
Yay, I finally got this link to work!
I watched a much older movie not too long ago called "12 Angry Men" - it was released back in the 1950's. The movie followed a jury of 12 men trying to determine whether or not a young man was guilty of his crimes or not. I thought it was really interesting and entertaining because it showed the process of them reinacting the crime, observe the weapon and go over every detail given about the crime. Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and it definitely had a surprise ending.
Ralston G MW.
My favorite show about Law is Law and Order: SVU. Each episode contains a plot that the law has to get involved every time. Throughout the seasons, I learn about the different laws when certain situations arise. The show is great way to show how and Law works behind closed doors. I believe that's what makes the show much more interesting.
My name is Joshua Branch,
I have been binge watching a STARZ show that is called "POWER". I just started the sixth season and it continues to get better every show. It is about a corrupt night club owner who from the outside looks flawless, but lives a secret double life as a major drug dealer. He betrays his wife and family by cheating on his wife with his high school lover, who ironically serves as a United Sates Attorney. As the show continues unveil they are forced to work together against the law to try and keep clean and stay out if prison.
Isaiah H. MW
My favorite show to watch right now related to law is Mindhunter. It is about the behavioral analysis unit at the FBI and how the unit began. The two agents in the show visit prisons to interview serial killers to try to learn how they think and understand the reason behind why they kill. The interview some of the most infamous serial killers in history and even some you've probably never heard of. The writing by David Fincher in the show is amazing and that's why I believe the show is phenomenal.
“Schoolhouse Rock” Coming to Texas from Norway means immersing yourself in another nations history. I saw the short films as an easy and quite honestly fun way to learn about Laws and US history as I had very little knowledge of it before. This whole series is both informative and enjoyable. I don’t think you could ask for a better way to learn!
Pernille Rudolfsen
Online Class
Recently I watched an AMAZING 2 part documentary on HBO called "I Love You, Now Die". This documentary was about an 18 year old boy who had committed suicide after text messages from his girlfriend who was encouraging him to do this act. The main thing that grabbed my interest with their documentary was how the case was handled in court because nothing has exactly happened like this before and they didn't really know how to rule it. At the end of the documentary Michelle was charged with involuntary manslaughter in the suicide of Roy.
Alexia Jones
MW
Gen H,Online
The movie that I really enjoyed and that relates with law is Devils Advocate. The movie features Keanu Reeves, an up and coming hot shot lawyer that defends questionable characters in his small town. Keanu's character gets noticed and he's approached by large firm to work for them in New York. The people he's asked to represent however are all mega influential and evil in their own way. Al Pacino is the big boss and also,*surprise, surprise* the devil. I thought it was refreshing to see a perspective on those lawyers that defend unethical corporations, high profile pedophiles/sex offenders/criminals, or basically people of influence that have zero to no morality. It speaks on how money influences the world we live in and law doesn't necessarily mean justice.
Gen H,Online
The movie that I really enjoyed and that relates with law is Devils Advocate. The movie features Keanu Reeves, an up and coming hot shot lawyer that defends questionable characters in his small town. Keanu's character gets noticed and he's approached by large firm to work for them in New York. The people he's asked to represent however are all mega influential and evil in their own way. Al Pacino is the big boss and also,*surprise, surprise* the devil. I thought it was refreshing to see a perspective on those lawyers that defend unethical corporations, high profile pedophiles/sex offenders/criminals, or basically people of influence that have zero to no morality. It speaks on how money influences the world we live in and law doesn't necessarily mean justice.
Nathanael L. (M-W 11:00)
I've recently been binging Better Call Saul, which is a prequel series to Breaking Bad.
The show is about Jimmy, a con who became a small-time lawyer and has to defend an ex-cop who's running drugs in New Mexico.
It's really intense, and it's gotten better every season.
My favorite TV show about the law is How to Get Away With Murder. It’s about a group of law students, at first they help their professor solve cases and are getting in the groove of being law students. Then things take a turn for the worse and bad situation start happening and people end up dead. Their professor is the person who usually helps them stay out of trouble as well as covering her own tracks. That could all change on season 6 that just premiered which is rumored to be the last season.
M/W Vanity J
When I think of law in the media, I think of the Ted Bundy Tapes. This documentary follows the journey of famous killer Ted Bundy and highlights how he was a law student and decided to act as his own lawyer throughout his trial period. I found this extremely interesting because its not often someone acts as their own lawyer, especially in a case as huge as his was.
Jacob J. M/W
- William Weir MW Class
One of my favorite movies related to law is the movie called “My Cousin Vinny” by Jonathan Lynn. My cousin Vinny is about a young lawyer from New York who has never successfully won a case in his life. All a sudden Vinny’s cousin and friend are accused of murder. Vinny has to come help his cousin avoid going to jail for the rest of his life but Vinny knows he isn’t the best lawyer around. It’s an underdog story that puts one of his own family members freedom on the line which forces him to have to find a hole in the prosecutors story or else his own cousin will rot in jail for a murder he didn't commit.
Madelyne Martinez (MW)
One of my favorite shows related to law was actually OJ Simpson vs. the people. Although it was a short series on Netflix it still was very very interesting to watch. With such publicity, I find it super interesting to see how it still effects people today.
My favorite show that I discovered actually pretty recently is Hulu's, The Handmaids Tale. It takes place in present time and the show begins with a radical totalitarian government taking over the United States. This new society they call Gilead where women are merely property of men and of the state. It deals with the new laws of this dystopian society and focuses on the lack of women and minority rights. It's an enthralling show.. get ready to binge watch if you begin watching!
Matthew F (M/W)
After reading the prompt I immediately thought about the television series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" created by Dick Wolf. The first 12 seasons are the best and they center around Elliot Stabler and Olvia Benson, two detectives in the New York City Police department. I have always liked this show because the writing is great and the fact that it is filmed throughout New York. The show does a good job of balancing both sides of the law, keeping you drawn in and on edge, plus there's always a twist.
Hope Jenkins A04591887 (MW)
My favorite TV that is related to law has to be Law & Order SUV. I really hope there are detectives like Stabler and Benson in the world. The show is hard to watch - for it emphasizes on the Special Victims Unit that usually consists of rape, violent crime and murder victims. The show is well written and always has creative content, but I can only watch about one episode at a time. It's crazy that some of the episodes are based off of true stories.
Amanda L (MW)
One TV show I have always loved to watch with my family is Dateline on NBC. I have always been in to murder mysteries and crime cases! Every week, Dateline has a new story that they cover over a homicide. They usually include interviews of either victims or family members, and you watch the case play out.
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