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 during the summer session.
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 and the initial of your last name, and your class (either MW class or Online Class). 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.
Monday, August 23, 2021
Welcome, Fall 2021 classes!
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132 comments:
Jarod Maxson, JM, MC 4301 001
My movie is The Social Network that shows the rise of Facebook and setting the stage for social media going forward. As far as legality is concerned I found the issue of copyright with the creation of Facebook intriguing and then the issue of privacy and how they could create a face network for people to enjoy interesting as well.
Abbey H MW 3:30
My favorite show related to law is Criminal Minds. It follows a FBI team that profiles serial killers to help local law enforcement narrow down their suspects to find a individual that fits the profile. One of the characters positions is their media personal who plays a major role in working with the public and the local media. Which becomes very essential in high profile cases to either raise or minimize awareness.
Jared S. MC 4301 (MW)
So my movie is “A Few Good Men”. It stars Tom Cruise and Demi Moore and was released in 1992 with very high ratings. Being a Tom Cruise fan, I found the movie very interesting. The movie is about Tom Cruise who is a military attorney, defends 3 young marines in court who are accused of murder. Knowing the law and connecting the conspiracy, Cruise tries his best so the young men are not convicted.
Daniel W. (MW class)
My current favorite show, Succession on HBO, happens to heavily feature elements related to the law. The show is a comedy drama starring a family of powerful billionaires, and how the family fights to inherit the CEO position as their father ages. The family commits and covers up hundreds of heinous crimes, and own a news network that they use to push their agendas. The show brilliantly comments on extremely rich people's influence on politics and common law in America through the main characters' conversations with each other, which are often biting and hilarious. For example, the show will make a point about manufactured corporate communication by showing Tom deliver a speech to a large crowd that is total nonsense. By design, so many scenes in the show will make you want to hide behind your hands out of second-hand embarrassment, so if you think you can tolerate that, I highly recommend Succession!
Shawn K. (MW)
I have always found the Law and Order series interesting, but the newest one "Law and Order Organized crime" is a new favorite of mine. The series follows detective Stabler (Christopher Meloni) on his hunt for the man who is his wife's killer. Towards the end of the first season they end up at a server farm owned by the antagonist. Ultimately a great show that I believe in future seasons will connect more to media.
The original "Law and Order" series was played on loop at my house for the entirety of my childhood. I loved watching the stark difference between the detectives on the street solving the crime, and the lawyers in the courtroom using their evidence to reach a conviction. The show in my opinion is one of the best law-based TV shows of all time.
Valeria T. (MW Class)
I'm not sure if this counts, but I absolutely loved binging Scandal with my mother a few years back. The show, created by Shonda Rhimes, focuses around Olivia Pope's crisis management firm who battles the politics around the White House. It's incredibly thrilling, interesting and there is great character development among the main cast.
If the above doesn't count... I've watched Legally Blonde more times than I'd like to admit. That's got to count for something, no? Seeing Elle Woods navigate law school and eventually come out on top of everyone is pretty entertaining. Probably not much of a real representation of the law, but, quite a good watch regardless.
Mekenzie P. MW 3:30
Since someone already said Criminal Minds, I think I would have to say that my favorite law-related show is HBO's Big Little Lies (specifically season two). This show is a dark comedy-drama that shows the paths of five women living in Monterey, California. They all live fairly separate lives until they witness one of the husbands abusing his wife at the school gala. Things get out of hand and they (*BIG spoiler alert*) eventually end up accidentally murdering the abusive husband at the end of season one. The second season is all about the mothers trying to evade the homicide charges while the widow must fight for custody of her children with her deceased husband's mother. That's a brief description of the show and it's so much better than what I just described. It's a heart-wrenching tale about infidelity, abuse, immense income, motherhood, and so so much more. It has Nicole Kidman, Reece Witherspoon, Adam Scott, Zoe Kravitz, and Meryl Streep (just to name a few). It's a very emotionally taxing show, but it's so well done you just can't stop watching.
Brandon L (MW)
Everything in life is somewhat of a gamble and theres odds in every sitauion that help and hurt us. Matt Damon starred in the movie Rounders in the late 90's and in the film he was studying law at a university in New York. Although the movie is mainly about someone who spent the majority of their lives playing cards, it gives you an insight in a few scenes of what it would be like to be a student studying law.
My TV show is Criminal Minds. The show depicts a team of FBI agents that use behavior and psychology to understand a criminal's psyche and therefore catch the criminal. Law is heavily embedded in the show as obviously killing is against the law. However, the main point I wanted to bring up is the show seems to show many unconstitutional actions on the part of the government (FBI) and huge information overreach in finding these people. The law isn't something that the plebs are supposed to abide by, but the people that are put in positions of power as well.
For credit purposes: my name is Keegan Metz. I am in the MW class.
Kaci B (MW)
My movie is the 2016 film called "Loving". The film is about the arrest of Richard and Mildred Loving for interracial marriage. It is set in Virginia in the 1950s during a time when interracial couples were undesirable. I found this movie interesting because of how different peoples views were decades ago. Although not nearly as prominent, we are unfortunately still experiencing prejudice concerns in the 21st century.
Lauren H. (MW)
One of my favorite shows of all time is "Law and Order: SVU", which just so happens to have lots do with the law. As a kid, my dad always had this show on, and I've been hooked ever since. I love getting to see the whole progression from the crime being committed, to detectives investigating the incident and then all the way to the court room scenes. I also like how the show stays current with the times and includes new laws and prevalent issues that appear in real life as well.
Javier S. (MW class)
My favorite film that was related to law was definitely "and justice for all. It gave me a really clear view on how corrupt and messed up lawyers and judges both were back in the days. It also brought to my mind how messed up the system can still be to this day because a lot of the things that these judges and lawyers were doing can still be done today and it would still be hard to find proof on these things they are doing. It also opens your eyes as to how defendants lives are at stake and any little hiccup that a lawyer commits can cause the defendant their life.
Lynnsey Klecka (MW 3:30 CLASS)
I would have to say one of my favorite films related to law is "How to get away with murder." If you have not seen this is highly recommend it! This show is so interesting and I think I binged watched dang near the whole thing in a few days. The film is based on a law professor Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) who recruits a group of 5 students from her class to take on cases with her. Through out the whole film there are series of events that happen and are not school related and some events are illegal. This is a must watch!!
Matt S (MW 3:30 Class)
One of my favorite TV shows related to law is "Law and Order: SVU". I loved watching SVU because of how well and concise characters like Olivia Benson and Odafin Tutuola solve special victims unit cases throughout each episode. Also, I like seeing how the characters are when they are in court because it looks so real and even some of the episodes are based on events that have happened before. Overall, the TV show is a solid show to watch and you can definitely find a lot of things related to the law on the show.
Cassidy T. (MW)
One of my favorite books is Animal Farm by George Orwell. Though fiction, it depicts the Russian Revolution in 1917. This satire tells a story of animals who plot against an abusive farmer. Subsequently, the humans are forced out thus allowing the animals to form their first list of commandments. They adopted their most crucial belief- “All animals are created equal”. Two animals rise to the top but after a dispute against modernizing the farm, one declares himself supreme. Once in command, the supreme admonishes the other to the public. He begins to resemble the totalitarian ways of the humans, coinciding with the Stalinist era. Many executions and failed windmills later, the animals begin drinking alcohol and walking on two legs; they could no longer differentiate between the human and animal.
Melynda G. (MW Class)
One of my favorite songs I’ve come across that is, loosely, related to law would be “That Handsome Devil - Rob the Prez-O-Dent”. The song is about a man that is ultimately fed up with the government, being taxed relentlessly and finding himself further in debt each year, with seemingly no way out. Struggling to keep up with bills he feels enticed to rob the president directly, since the system has failed him time and time again. I feel as though this song represents many people that struggle with making ends meet. This song is merely one of my many favorites from this artist because they have a simple yet effective way of capturing the scene. Let alone their songs are pretty catchy. If you enjoy rock, surf, or bluesy types of genres I would highly recommend giving them a listen.
Skyler Rupnow, MC 4301 (MW)
Lately, I've been watching The Crown on Netflix after a friend put me onto it. The show follows the journey of Queen Elizabeth becoming the Queen of England and the hardship she faces. I'm only on the first season but, it has already shown me how parliament works and gives accurate historical information/events. Although the show doesn't involve much of what I assume we will talk about in class, it's definitely interesting getting to learn about the dynamic "across the pond" and I highly recommend it!
Also, a fun fact about the cast and filming:
Each season they recast the show in order to have the characters look as if they have aged. It's pretty crazy how similar the cast looks compared to the real royals during each season.
One of my favorite series is the Purge series. The movies all play around the concept of the "new founding fathers" of the United States. The movie that really delves into politics however is the Purge: Election Year. This movie follows a candidate that is running for office to create a law that would end the purge. She is both popular and unpopular as many feel there are "benefits" to the purge. In this movie, we also get a look into the ethics of this new American government and see how they would rather let citizens kill one another than deal with the issues of criminal activity, poverty, etc.
My favorite TV show that is related to the practice of law would have to be the USA show Suits. The show is about a young man that weasels his way into a corporate law firm in NYC without taking any law class or the bar exam. His natural talents towards law make him smarter than others in the firm, but the lack of schooling gets him into trouble. The show is very interesting because it shows a different client/case every episode so that it shows a variety of people and subjects.
One of my personal favorite books related to law, and one of my favorite books in general, is "The Autobiography of an Execution," by David R. Dow. This book is written by a former defense attorney for death row inmates, and really gave me a new perspective of the legal system during a time when I was considering going to law school. Dow described how despite the courtroom being cold and sterile, he was able to form meaningful connections with his clients, because they appreciated his open communication and respect towards them, even in the most hopeless cases. In addition, Dow described how rare it was for him to actually get someone off of death row, and that his role was more to carry out final wishes and at least be the one person on their side until the end. This book is one of my favorites because it made me consider the moral ambiguity of the different scenarios Dow described, as he was able to cultivate empathy and respect for people who, by societal standards, may not have been deserving of it in some cases, as well as the emotional toll that was paid as a result of this.
Legally Blonde gets an honorable mention as one of my favorite law-related forms of entertainment, just because it's so iconic and was a staple in my household growing up!
David C (MW)
The movie I have chosen to talk about is the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs. The movie follows a rookie FBI agent who one day is assigned to interview Hannibal Lecter a former highly respected psychiatrist and incarcerated cannibalistic serial killer with hopes that he can provide valuable insight to the FBI's manhunt of another psychopathic serial killer known as Buffalo Bill. Being a big fan of true crime documentaries and TV shows I found this movie despite being completely fictional amazing. The performances in the movie are great as well as the story itself which is very dark and disturbing and features not one but two iconic villains. What I like the most about this movie is not only how it focuses on the law enforcement side but how it also shows the perspectives of the serial killer's and delves into why exactly they do what they do and what causes them to commit such horrendous acts of violence and terror. If you haven't seen this movie before I highly recommend it if you enjoy anything about serial killers or true crime related.
My favorite film related to law is the 2010 film "The Social Network." This film is my favorite because of the collaboration between David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin, the director and screenwriter respectively. This film depicts the creation of Facebook and how Mark Zuckerberg's ego and inability to relate to others causes him to lose people he cares about and be in the middle of three lawsuits. Although this film involves three separate lawsuits and scenes take place in deposition rooms, this film primarily focuses on themes of betrayal, friendship, insecurity, and jealousy. I'd highly recommend this film if you love movies or if you just want to learn more about Mark Zuckerberg and how his internet dominance began.
Another honorable mention for a law related film would be the 2020 film "Trial of the Chicago 7." This film is also an Aaron Sorkin film. This film is similar to "The Social Network" because of the way it's cut and the use of characters narrating portions of the story. However, unlike the Social Network, this is more of a true courtroom drama. This film focuses on the trial of 7 men who were protesting the Vietnam war in Chicago in 1968. It depicts the unfair trial of the protestors and how although the trial was in 1969, the message of a corrupt judicial system is still relevant and evident today.
Kerry L. (ONLINE)
My favorite show is Narcos Mexico. It follow up with a DEA agent (Kiki Camarena) investigating and tracking down on the biggest drug lord (Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo) in Mexico. As Felix builds his drug empire, the more dangerous Kiki was in after following Felix’s every moves. Kiki learns that it was hard for him to catch Felix since the Mexico Police was in his hands. I thought this show was really good because realistically, this is an ongoing problem in the real world with all of the politics and government is corrupted. There are multiple drug lords in Mexico while the police/federals are being controlled by them and to the point Americans can’t interfere.
Russell V
My favorite TV show related to law is Perry Mason. It is about a detective where in each episode he solves various cases, and follows (most of the time) the outcome in court. This a very old show but will probably be known as a classic. It's my favorite because not only the show itself, but the time-period as well, I find entertaining.
Russell V (ONLINE)
My favorite TV show related to law is Perry Mason. It is about a detective where in each episode he solves various cases, and follows (most of the time) the outcome in court. This a very old show but will probably be known as a classic. It's my favorite because not only the show itself, but the time-period as well, I find entertaining.
Sofia Aponte (ONLINE)
How To Get Away With Murder is definitely my favorite tv show related to law, because it is the most suspenseful and twisting show about a defense lawyer and her students. This show opened my eyes to the knowledge and capabilities defense lawyers attain as they defend murderers and the guilty, making them capable of murder themselves. The show revolves around an intelligent defense attorney and professor, Annalise Keating, and a small group of law students she has deemed to be the best. As they assist in her cases, drama ensues and they all find themselves apart of a murder plot and mystery. When your job is to defend another person's innocence in a court of law, what would you do to defend yours?
Amira A. Online
My favorite show that is related to law is Criminal Minds. I don't really watch or engage in shows, books, or movies relating to law but I thoroughly enjoy that one! The show follows an FBI team while they travel to other police departments to help solve a case. It's my favorite because each episode is a completely different story.
I do not watch much TV, but one of my favorite shows that is related to law is Hawaii 5-0. This show really caught my eye because it was always a new case that the FBI was solving and it kept me interested. The show follows FBI agents that deal with different crimes around the islands of Hawaii, trying to solve the cases. Although I watch it about 3 years ago, I still remember learning a lot about law from it!
Elaine D. MC 4301.080 online
My favorite movie pertaining to law is Legally Blonde. The movie follows Elle as she goes to Law school to chase a boy. Yes, she goes to Law school for that reason and delivers the iconic quote "What? Like it's hard?". During the movie, she learns she should not have to change herself for anyone and discovers her own self-worth. I am not confident it is the most realistic when it comes to how a courtroom operates, but I love how the protagonist is a very feminine lead and how she uses it to her advantage in the courtroom!
Hunter M - MW
My movie is one I watched rather recently and thoroughly enjoyed called "The Lincoln Lawyer" with Matthew McConaughey. The Movie is about an alpha male, witty, too smart for his own good defense attorney who McConaughey portrays. The movie follows him as a successful defense attorney until a new case shines light on the horrors of his past mistakes. Really loved the movie and its use of law verbage.
So one of my favorite series on Netflix is Narcos(2015-2017), which heavily includes the law. It basically is based on that. About how Escobar was the main drug lord based in Colombia. 2 DEA agents spend years trying to catch him, and end up successfully doing so.
Another movie I like that is based on the law is Lincoln Lawyer(2011). It basically is about a lawyer who ends up defending the guilty party, and due to blackmail and threatening of his family is stuck defending the man knowing he is guilty. He has to find a way around it to where his client still somehow gets behind bars.
St.John R MW
My movie pick is Knives out. It's a murder mystery about the death of a mystery author that leads to an investigation of the family and the distribution of the will. I love mysteries and the characters were super vibrant and well written. I also loved the drama between the family and the conflict over the distribution from the will.
Jared D (MW 3:30 Class)
My favorite television series relating to law would be The Wire. I love how unafraid the series was at exploring topics such as policing, surveillance, and bureaucracy in government. It delved into the dysfunction at the heart of many American legal institutions and how they fail the people they are supposed to protect. It has an unparalleled dedication to realism in its depictions of urban life, police officers, and the American media. It's incredible.
Josh A (MW 3:30)
A show I watched about a year ago that I found very interesting related to law was House of Cards. It was a very nihilistic, dark, take on how politics in our government are enacted; and I think it was so succesful because that idea is very scary and really played to people's fears. That instead of acting in the interest of constituents, for example, that a politician would do something because he owed a favor and needed help winning re-election . Designated Survivor was another more PG political drama that was entertaining, and I also enjoyed The Wire as I saw someone else mention.
Tanner Y, (MW Class)
My favorite show relating to law would have to be Queen of the South. It follows a woman from Mexico as she goes from working at a bar to becoming the head of the cartel. She has to deal with law enforcement, the DEA, rival cartels, as well as personal issues. I know it's completely made up, however, it's really cool to watch her being a businesswoman making deals and dealing with distributing a product, and all of it being completely illegal. I normally don't like action shows, but this one is way too good. Highly recommend!
Linda, L ( Online)
My favorite show relating to our topic discussion would be How to Get Away with Murder. The show is about an intelligent criminal defense professor and a group of her students. They're all involved in heinous murder plots that will help them learn more about the class course. I like this show because it's full of suspense and thrill. I also like this show because they come up very smooth, cleaver cover- ups to hide away their crimes. This show also shows how government is beyond corrupted and that laws are being misused.
Nick C (MW Class)
My favorite movie relating to our topic would have to be Snowden. In the movie it goes over the life of Edward Snowden and his time working for the NSA. During this time Snowden learns that the government is not only collecting data from foreign governments and terrorist but also from the American people. He then decides to leak this information which leads to laws being put in place to protect the American people.
Oscar H (MW Class)
My favorite movie has to be Wolf of Wall Street, staring Leonardo Dicaprio and Jonah Hill. Jordan Belfort has a level job at this brokerage firm. Later on by gathering his group of brokers and defrauding wealthy investors. Not too long into the movie the SEC and FBI in his empire face charges. This movie shoes no matter how smart you are, the government knows what you're doing with that money.
Alexandria A (Online)
This blog made me realize how much I don't interact with law related movies or shows. I feel in a way it makes me anxious because you don't know what to expect. The one movie that I did interact with and had some relations to law is the movie Legally Blonde. Elle Woods who attends law school realizes her resources to outsmart the system. Due to the way Elle carries herself many individuals don't believe in her. Elle then solves a murder case and gets the victim to admit their wrong doings. Elle moves up within her practice and becomes successful. The movies message to me was you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
Adriane C (online)
One of my favorite law related movies is The Firm. I enjoy a good thriller. John Grisham does a good job writing thrillers. In The Frim, the lead character Mitch is at the top of his class and gets recruited at this top law firm. The plot thickens when he is approached by the FBI to participate in finding evidence for their case against this firm, which represents mafia types. The FBI is asking for evidence from the firm of money laundering and tax fraud. He and his wife's lives are threatened and he does not want to be disbarred for disclosing information about legitimate clients. I love the twist in the movie in which he provides evidence of mail fraud to the FBI for their case. The mail fraud was related to the firm overbilling their clients and using the USPS to mail fraudulent invoices to their clients. I truly enjoy stories that highlight a legal loophole to catch the bad guys.
Nicole Lopez (MW Class)
My favorite movie related to law is definitely ‘On the Basis of Sex’. This movie is my favorite because it follows the beginning of the career of Ruth Bader Ginsburg before she became the extraordinary supreme court justice we all know and respect today. The movie follows the court case Moritz v IRS which was Ginsburg’s first lawsuit that dealt with gender discrimination. This movie also shows all of the adversities Ginsburg had to deal with to become a respected lawyer. This movie truly does an incredible job of showing what a trailblazer Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg was!
Vanessa Navarrete (online class)
A show that I like that is related to law would have to be criminal minds. As several people here have said they love this show it follows FBI agents while they do investigations. While the show itself is unrealistic it briefly goes over laws and how investigators follow along their cases.
Ireland S, MW 3:30
My TV show of choice that is closely related to law is "Homeland", where a CIA agent returns home to America after being held captive in the Middle East for the past 7 years. In this show the actors are confronted with abiding by the legal system and staying out of trouble, or going against the law and bettering themselves. This show is very interesting because we are able to get a look into the CIA and the war on terror that took place, as well as viewing how this system is so fraudulent and dangerous. This show gives a different perspective on the law and how it can be bent to better America or better the CIA.
Brandon S (MC 4301.001)
My movie of choice that involves law is the movie "The Wolf Of Wall Street" Starring Leonardo Dicaprio, directed by Martin Scorsese. This movie is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a stock broker in New York who learns the dirty tricks of the stock market in the 1980's and early 90's. Jordan learns of a way to profit from selling stock by artificially inflating the price and having his clients sell so he can make money for his firm. While this scheme occurs, the FBI and SEC are trailing him and start investigating him until he eventually gets caught and has to serve jail time. I really enjoy this movie for it's humor but also telling a true story about law and order very well also.
Emmanuel O. | MC 4301 Online Class
One of my favorite movies that is related to law would have to be The Devil's Advocate. The film tells the story of Kevin, a successful lawyer who has made a name for himself in defending and winning for controversial cases. Kevin is recognized and hired by a high profile law firm in New York but his life begins to derail after realizing the true nature behind his boss' motives. I really enjoyed the plot of the movie and the suspense element to it. Although this might not be the most realistic law-related movie. I think it's a great film that implements law in an interesting way.
My favorite TV show that is related to law is "Law & Order: SVU." The show revolves around the Manhattan Police Department's Special Victims Unit team, as they solve cases that involve sensitive topics such as rape, murder, domestic violence, and so much more. The group consists of well-known characters, detective Olivia Benson and her former partner, detective Elliot Stabler. Although in recent years, detective Benson has gotten a few new partners until she ultimately became captain of the SVU. Recently, they brought back detective Stabler in the new show "Law & Order: Organized Crime" and had a few cross-over episodes showing the characters reunite after years of not seeing each other.
Each case is so unique with each episode played on TV that it surprises you when you watch the next one. The cases can happen in a person's everyday life, and it makes one think of all the things that can happen behind closed doors. But it also shows how our legal system can fail to help others at points in time.
For example, some episodes will show those who hold power in our legal system abusing it. From bribing the judges to guards that sexually assault prisoners as they serve out their sentences, Law & Order: SVU doesn't leave out the nitty-gritty details that the legal system may not talk about out in the open. On another note, I enjoy how it shows the courtroom debates when they prosecute the criminal and what goes into preparation to defend either side.
Abigail H. MC4301 (Online)
My favorite television show that is closely related to law is Longmire. Longmire is a crime drama based on the Walt Longmire Mysteries, a series of novels written by Craig Johnson. Like the books, the show focuses on Walt Longmire, the sheriff in Absaroka County (which is of course, fictional). Throughout the show the sheriff investigates major crimes as well as an overall mystery that lasts the entire length of the series.
I enjoy this show because it has the perfect amount of "western" movie feel to it, but is still very engaging. I found the last season of the show to be the most interesting because all of the pieces started falling together, which helped answered questions that I still had from previous seasons. Sheriff Longmire is in the process of being sued over his chosen practices while solving the crimes in Absaroka County, so it is very interesting seeing the legal process he and those helping him use to clear his name.
One of my favorites is Law Abiding Citizen, which is actually not a great movie. Super entertaining, though. Gerard Butler plays a family man, working for the CIA, whose family gets killed in a home invasion early in the movie. Jamie Foxx is a prosecutor who, while working on the case, cuts a deal with the killer. Butler’s character never forgives him for this, and he disappears for ten years or so. He resurfaces and ends up in prison, by his own design. From prison, he uses his CIA mastermind capabilities to target and kill people involved in the crooked deal that lets his family’s killer go free. Jamie Foxx and co. have no idea how he is doing it, or how to stop him. Again, not a highly rated film, but still good fun and very suspenseful.
Brooke E.(MW Class)
Two of my favorite shows that are related to law would be Bones and Criminal Minds. Not many TV series can't hold my attention for multiple series, however, these two I can watch on repeat at any time. For those who may not know, Bones focuses on two main characters, one who is a Forensic Anthroplogist and the other a FBI Agent. They work on cases all across the nation and some specifically in Washington D.C. Criminal Minds follows a team of FBI Agents who focus on cases that typically involve a serial killer or kidnappings. I think that these two shows illustrated incidents that could happen in real life which entraps me in watching the full episode or season because I have to know the ending.
Madison S. (MW)
My favorite show that highlights the procedures of law enforcement is Hawaii Five-O. While Hawaii Five-O is a fictional television show, it pretty accurately describes the daily life of a local law enforcement officer, but does not strictly center on a team of average policemen. The Five-O unit consists of five highly trained members that are experienced in high profile cases such as abductions, murders, robberies and more. It doesn't just focus on the main five peoples' efforts, but it also shows how different agencies such as SWAT, the ME office, and local police officers interact with each other to solve the cases more efficiently and with stellar safety standards. Each episode follows a different case and they all end in finding the suspect associated with the crime. While that is clearly not a realistic representation of law enforcements efforts that we know of today, it is refreshing to see devoted local enforcers who do not rest until a crime is solved and the perp is brought to justice.
Marissa C (Online class)
One of my favorite shows is how to get away with murder. The show is based on college students taking an actual course called “How to get away with murder” with professor Keating who become her assistants working on different cases. They begin having situations arise and mysterious truths unravel. The season carries on with ways to hide their truths. I enjoy this show because on episodes when they’re in the court room they use law terminology as well as have strategic planning on how to win justice for the clients.
Hi there,
One of my favorite documentary films that have to do with digital privacy laws and specifically the First Amendment is The Social Dilemma on Netflix. The film's main focus is how major social media companies, like Facebook and Twitter, can utilize their tools to manipulate users by using complex algorithms to encourage addiction to their platforms. It exposes the mighty scale of influence that these tech companies really do have over us, and that this was all created on purpose.
It also talks about how these platforms receive personal data to target users with advertisements. As you may know, Apple recently changed its privacy agreement, making it more difficult to track and show relevant ads based on your searches/interests. Of course, these social media companies make "privacy agreements" very small and easy to just check the mark. These agreements are tremendously long and can influence people to authorize throwing their privacy right out of the window.
In this digital age, social media could truly be utilized in our society's best interest. Sharing your ideas, art, helpful resources, etc. However, at the moment it is more designed at a commercial interest-- invoking capitalism and financial profit.
My favorite show that is related to Law is the TV show "Suits". This is my favorite show that includes relations to law because of the actors/actresses. I really enjoyed the story lines as well through out each episode. They tied law into drama and suspense which gave an inside look on how the courts can get messy sometimes. This show is about a college dropout who turns into a Law Associate for a huge Law Firm in New York. It makes the show even more interesting due to the fact that he was a talented Law Assistant without even attending Law school. Overall I have a hard time engaging in shows because I usually get bored after one episode. Although this show kept me curious with each episode I watched.
Megan A MW 3:30
A favorite movie of mine about law is Erin Brockovich which is based on a true story. It's about a woman (Erin Brockovich) who accidentally stumbles across medical records placed in real estate files. She then starts investigating and discovers a huge cover up which involves contaminated water which had been causing illnesses among the people in the town. She then starts visiting these residents and putting two and two together and it ends up turning into a class action lawsuit. It was being completely hidden and covered up. It's honestly one of my favorite movies!
Leanna P. MW 3:30
One of my favorite law related shows is How to Get Away with Murder. It is about Annalise Keating, a professor of Defense law, who teaches her class on how to get away with murder. Annalise is also a criminal defense attorney. She chooses a couple of students to study under her but things don't go as planned. In the show, Annalise and the students literally have to get away with murder. It is one of my favorite shows because you never know what is going to happen next and who is really the murder.
Amanda Ramos MW 3:30
My favorite show pertaining to the law is How to Get Away with Murder. It is my favorite because unlike most law series where it is all about finding or taking down the "bad guy" some of the cast members get entangled with some pretty serious crime themselves and with them being law students it is quite scandalous. The show is about four students in law school and their brilliant professor getting involved in a twisted murder plot. I highly recommend if you like suspense, scandal, and mystery.
Federico V MW 3:30
I would have to say my favorite show pertaining to law would have to be Criminal Minds. I have been watching this show since I was young and it has always interested me. The show is about a FBI team that investigates homicides. The show follows the team throughout their investigation gives good insight to what a real FBI investigation may look like and the things FBI gents deal with.
George G Online Class
I'll be honest and admit I do not watch too many shows and movies that deal with the law, but the one that sticks out to me is Criminal Minds. I know it sounds super cliche and it is. The show follows a special FBI team that tackles various tasks that prove to be too much for local police. I have not seen the whole show in its entirety, but from what I have seen has impressed me. The stakes are always high and you have to wonder how/when they will capture the bad guys. It would be interesting to see how closely the show can resemble an actual FBI team in real life. This is probably the go to show when it comes to law.
Matthew M. (Online)
There are quite a few of my favorite movies and tv shows that involve law! First, I'll begin by saying that I've seen ALL of the Legally Blonde movies (yes including the 3rd critically panned movie Legally Blondes) as well as the musical. Another one of my favorites is Law & Order: SVU there is just something so satisfying about seeing the pain and suffering one can go through and that the one who caused it is brought to justice (usually). Another one of my favorites is the Sitcom "Will & Grace" where the main male character is an attorney, while law isn't usually discussed it still made me research law firms and lawyers growing up! I remember as a kid watching "The Practice" with my mom but I cannot give an accurate account of the structure of the show, guess I'll have to see if they are airing any re-runs!
Hope C.
MW Class
How to Get Away with Murder would probably be my favorite TV show as it pertains to law. The show encompasses so many different characters, secrets and story lines throughout it, which keeps me constantly hooked. How to Get Away with Murder is about an astute law professor who is also one of the top lawyers in the surrounding area. The show goes through many different cases of varying topics, but also touches on the personal lives of the student's and lawyers. It's a great show and I highly recommend it!
My favorite TV show related to Law just happens to be a show called Psych. Now, yes this show has a man who claims he is a psychic to solve crimes, but he still works with the law! The show follows a man named Shawn who's Father happens to be an ex-policeman. Shawn has a unique ability (a lot like Sherlock Holmes) to see things a lot of people miss. With this gift, he claims he is psychic and he and his partner start a business that works with the police to solve crimes. It is a hilarious show. I also love the Sherlock Holme movies with Robert Downey J.R. These are a few of my favorite law-related shows/movies.
Mia B. (M/W)
My favorite law related show is How To Get Away With Murder. The show takes place at a university where a professor teaches the class “how to get away with murder” to a class of law students. Many of the episodes shows her lecturing the class on law and going into case studies but the show becomes a murder cover up as the main cast of students and the professor gets mixed up in trouble. This shows written law, loopholes, and illegal things and how they all tie together.
Isaiah G. (M/W)
My favorite piece of media law related is Marriage Story (2019). It's a film that follows a couple in the midst of a divorce. The film shows both the husband and wife's perspectives as they go through the entire process of getting a divorce. From the legal battle for custody to the division of assets, the film does a pretty fair job at illustrating the legal process of a divorce.
Miracle L. (online class)
It may be shocking to hear, but I don't think I've ever watched a movie, tv show, heard a song, or read a book that's based around law. I've never watched Law and Order, How to Get Away With Murder, Scandal, or even Clueless for that matter. Truthfully, I never found law interesting until this summer. Funny enough, after careful consideration, I am actually now planning on going to law school to pursue Entertainment Law. It's ironic that I don't have previous background with media portrayal of law, but it's now a field I'm interested in joining. I think the only reason I've never found law portrayal through the media interesting is because of how much criminal law is portrayed on TV. I'm not really interested in court rooms, judges, plaintiffs, and defendants, however, I'm super intrigued about all the other forms of law such as real estate law, entertainment law, health law, etc. I like the idea of practicing law outside of a courtroom. Reading everyone's blog post has been super interesting, and I definitely have a lot of shows and movies to add to my watch list! Hopefully, for our next post, I can contribute a bit more with thoughts, and actual personal experiences.
Andrew M Mc 4301.080
A Tv show that I was into for a long time was Hannable on Netflix. Granted I watched the show for the murder mystery aspect, but all the characters are detectives in a police station and they focus on trying to catch serial killers. The main character Will is slowly going crazy because his therapist is Hannibal, a serial killer himself. I liked the show because of the cast and all the interesting types of serial killers they created across the two seasons. I finally stopped watching because it just became a depressing show. the main character Will always had something sad to say and his character never improved. All in all the first season was really well done!
Giselle M, Online Class
My favorite movie related to law is Legally Blonde 2. This movie is about a female lawyer who hopes to pass a bill that stops makeup companies from testing on animals. It shows the hardships she has to face as a woman in law not being taken seriously, harassed, and insulted yet continuing to overcome those obstacles and fighting to release all the animals currently being held for testing. I like this movie because it's honest about what it's like for women in law sometimes, yet still depicts that you can be feminine, optimistic, and a productive despite those difficulties.
Honestly, my favorite law related film would have to be Liar Liar starring Jim Carrey. It's a comedy classic about a seemingly dead beat dad who is physically unable to tell a lie after his 5 year only son wishes that he couldn't be able to lie for just one day. What makes this a law related film, is the fact that Jim Carrey's character is a layer, so the inability to lie, or even exaggerate the truth, during his court case puts his at a comical disadvantage, and makes for some really hilarious moments. I appreciate this moment because it really shows how often people actually lie without realizing, especially in a trial by court.
Austin C MW(3:30)
My favorite movie related to law is The Judge. Featuring Robert Downy Jr. and Robert Duvall in the leading cast, this film plays with your heart strings. Robert Downy Jr. plays a newly made father and is excited to take care of his child when his father steps in to proclaim that he is not capable of being a good father so the child must be given up. Throughout the movie Robert is trying to convince his judge/father that he is fit to be the father of his child.
Megan Amft, MC4301.080 Online Class
My favorite movie relating to law is Legally Blonde. This movie is about a girl named Elle getting her education at Harvard Law school in order to become a lawyer. She finds herself and her passion throughout her time in school. Although she struggles with hardships she eventually becomes a very successful lawyer. The movie touches on ideas such as justice and equality. It also illustrates the sexism Elle has to deal with being a woman in law.
Online
My favorite movie relating to law is Snowden. The movie does an excellent job of portraying the Snowden vs State case. It's quite ironic to see how the U.S. tries to make Snowden appear as this terrible criminal. Yes, what he did was illegal in a court of law but the entire case was extremely hypocritical. The "classified" information that Snowden leaked was showcasing global surveillance programs that the U.S. was taking part in and how it was an invasion of privacy. The case sparked big debates on national security and what is private vs not private and is still something that the government, cooperations, and citizens are trying to concur on.
Lauren Liguez (online)
My favorite show relating to law is Psych starring James Roday Rodriguez and Dule Hill. The reason that I enjoy this show is the characters mainly sometimes the story line can be really interesting or sometimes its just a fun episode since this is a comedy-drama. In this show Shawn Spencer is the son to Henry Spencer a retired officer for the Santa Barbara Police Department who pretends to be a psychic after getting into some trouble with the law but really has an eye for extreme detail. Throughout the series Shawn and his best friend Burton Guster go with the police for cases no matter how ridiculous with Shawn using his very extreme details to the scene to solve them. Also throughout the show the storyline covers many things to robbery, kidnapping, bachelor themed killing, vampires, etc.
Jake Harp (Online)
My favorite show is How to Get Away with Murder. I think it is because I love Viola Davis and she play's her character well. It made me want to go to law school at one point in time. The show is about her students who become her assistants and end up being part of all the drama.
I havent had the chance to watch or read lately but i have been listening to true crime podcast. I am not 100% sure if that is what the blog is asking for but the podcast is called "Morbid". I really like this podcast because of how thorough the research is prior to an episode. I also love how quirky the host are because sometimes if not all the time, hearing about murder can be a bit unsettling.
Briana M. MW
My favorite book involving the law is called The Firm by John Grisham. This was the first book that I read by this author and fell in love with all of his books after this one. The Firm is about a lawyer named Mitch McDeere and his employment with the Bendini, Lambertand Locke law firm. McDeere graduated from Harvard law school and is a very strong individual. Throughout the book he struggles with making the right choices and by the end of the book (sorry for ruining the ending), the FBI indicts 51 present and former members of the Bendini firm, as well as 31 alleged members of the Morolto family, for everything from money laundering to mail fraud. It ends with a happy ending with McDeere able to live in the Cayman Islands with his wife.
Autumn S. Online Class
One of my favorite songs at the moment that is related to law would be the song by Lil Baby a famous rapper talking about police brutality. The song is called the bigger picture. The song shows solidarity with the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests calling for justice against police brutality and racism. In the beginning of the song it has a brief newscast of George Floyd's death then it goes into his song.
Jude M. Online Class
One of my favorite series involving law is The People vs OJ Simpson from American Crime Story. I love how the actors portray the crazy emotions of a case like this. There was a ton of media exposure as well which only added to the craziness of the situation. The show recounts the events of the OJ Simpson trial in the 90's. I'll admit, it seems like the show does have a little bias and it is acting so the drama is made even though it did happen. Still, even with the TV aspect, I feel like the show is very accurate when it comes to the events and highlighting multiple sides and how different people felt about the way the trail was handled which gives good perspective. I feel like it really showed how the assumption of OJ's guilt by many divided a lot of the country on this pop culture issue at the time.
I think my favorite law-related piece of media is Ruby Ibarra's rap album "Circa91." She raps and speaks about her experience as a Filipina first-generation immigrant. In the third song "Someday," there is a spoken word segment in which her mother recites the Naturalization Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America.
The speech is the final step of the Naturalization process in the United State as established by Congress. As stated in Boundless.com, it is done after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves your Application for Naturalization (Form N-400). In Article 1, Sect. 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which states that Congress has the right to, "establish a uniform rule of naturalization." The inclusion of this segment is an artful and powerful representation of the shared experience of many immigrants or immigrant children in the United States. When I hear Ruby Ibarra's mother recite the oath, her accent heavy on her tongue but her words strong and clear I think of my mother who did the same for her 3 daughters and me, her son, to secure our future in the American Dream and the reason I am taking class here at Texas State.
Angelica J. Online Class
One of my favorite forms of entertainment that has to do with law is probably this podcast called "My Favorite Murder". Although it focuses on murders and superstitious moments, the speakers often discuss the legal procedures that any crimes bring about. I will say that as interesting as I find learning about these crimes and the psychology, I tend to get really paranoid after a while and have to stop listening for a couple of days or weeks.
My favorite movie that has to do with the law is The Departed starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg. This masterpiece by Martin Scorcese explores the deeply complicated world of law enforcement through a criminal who works for Jack Nicholson who is posing as a cop, who's in turn trying to expose a cop who is posing as a criminal in Jack's mafia (not confusing at all). This movie does a great job at showing how complicated the law can get because different people make conflicting decisions based on what they personally desire. I love this movie because it has a raw street feel to it, the directing and acting are obviously incredible, and the story gets more tense and complicated until stuff inevitably hits the fan. The pacing and dialogue create an experience that's hard to replicate in another movie.
One of my favorite books, although it is a dark one is , "A child called "It"". The reason I found this book so intriguing is because my mom once told me I wasn't allowed to read it. Once I read it I could understand why, but I still find it to be a very interesting story. Although it is a tragic story about an abused child it shows the struggles in social work and family law. There are numerous amounts of court scenes portrayed in this book. Definitely an inside look towards the court system regarding children.
One of my favorite shows is The Blacklist. It is about a criminal who is given immunity in order to give the FBI other criminals. The catch or one of them was that he requested a certain agent to work for this special task force. I thought it was interesting because although they knew he was using it to build his criminal empire they made it excusable because of the many criminals he was bringing them in return. They as agents even broke the law at times in order to help him or get what they needed. They always knew there was a reason he was bringing specific criminals for his own selfish reasons. However they didn’t always know what that reason was.
As a couple of other people with stellar taste have said, my favorite show is Law & Order: SVU. Even if we didn't have to pick a law-related show that would still be my answer. The show is much more than a series of crime stories. It speaks on current events, from COVID to the internal struggle of police reforms, and offers a variety of perspectives on complicated crimes. The depicted investigations usually unpack post-traumatic behaviors, psychiatric complications, and the constant struggle within the legal system to deliver moral justice over legal justice.
Mallory Ritch (Online)
My favorite show that relates to law would have to be How to Get Away With Murder. It's a whirlwind of mystery and suspense following the instructor/lawyer and her students as they find themselves in pretty precarious situations in which they need to find legal loopholes in order to save themselves. The show dives pretty deep into some morally incomprehensible actions and has the characters (who are all practicing law) defy the very things they're taught to defend. Pretty ironic and has you gripping the edge of your seat to see how the honorable (read: not) Annalise Keating and her gang of first year law students can get themselves out of the hole and literally getting away with murder.
One of my favorite shows connected to law is NCIS. It follows around a group of NCIS detectives(Navy Cops). I like how they have to follow United States law, but also international law. I also really like when they have to work with organizations outside of the United States because they keep secrets from each other even if they are on the "same side."
Laryssa Osyka, LO, MC 4301.080 (Online)
I have a hard time picking which show is my favorite and related to law, however, my top four are: Law and Order: SVU, NCIS, Criminal Minds and BONES.
I like all these shows because they show the different styles of law (FBI, Navy, NYPD, etc) and their different styles of crime investigation.
For example, Bones, they are a fictional bases forensic lab that is partnered with the FBI. They use anthropologists, forensic artists, entomologists, and psychologists to aid the FBI agents to identify victims that are either too badly decomposed or damaged for normal crime labs to solve.
However, with shows like Criminal Minds, you get to watch how an FBI team gets requests for help to solve crimes and catch serial murderers. You see the complex dynamic of how the media personal (JJ/ Agent Jareau) is a big part of getting information out to the public for them to stay safe.
Whereas a show like Law and Order: SVU you get to see the NYPD Special Victims Unit, work with not only balancing a work/ personal life dynamic with the horrible bodily crimes that they see. But also you get to see more of the criminal in the integration rooms and them being interviewed. This show is more centered around the police force versus the forensic labs or national teams like the FBI. I also would chose this show because it easily relates real world issues such a police reform and the blow back from the internal and external sides. Along with how police officers don't always get the win that they are after because the case may be weak, the defendant may be too smooth talking or there may be a bigger case that has a bigger fish to catch so deals are made.
Gabriela Solis (MC 4301, MW)
My favorite law-related film would have to be Legally Blonde. I love it because it's very empowering for women, whether aspiring to become a lawyer or not, and also comically smashes the "dumb blonde" stereotype in such an entertaining way. The film is about a blonde fashion student and sorority president, Elle Woods, who decides to attend Harvard Law in order to win back her boyfriend, who broke up with her because she was "too blonde." While at Harvard, she overcomes many obstacles, such as her classmates doubting her intelligence and her professor taking advantage of her because she's a woman. In the end, she -- spoiler alert -- ends up graduating top of her class at Harvard and wins an important case, thanks to her knowledge of hair perms. If you're able to look past its early '00s overload and look a little deeper into its meaning, it's actually a very inspirational film with lots of admirable characters.
Hallie Hausman (MC 4301.080 Online)
One of my favorite TV shows that has to do with law is how to get away with murder. It is about a law professor who picks students to work with her for a project and they get to be involved in the court room. It quickly escalates and has many plots that have to do with the law like framing people, and ways to make the jury believe your case. It is not totally accurate of-course, but it is very interesting and suspenseful!! Legally blonde is another one of my favorite binge worthy movies that have to do with law for she was a law student at Harvard and many teachers did not think she would make it, but she ended up defending someone at court and won!
Dylan Roddy (MW 3:30)
One of my all time favorite shows regarding law is Judge Judy. It is a reality based court show hosted by former Manhattan family court Judge Judith Sheindlin. Each episode, Judge Judy presides a real small-claims case in a courtroom studio. Judy's no-nonsense attitude and eccentric behavior is always fun to watch. Every time I tune in, there is always something new and interesting. Personally, I find the proceedings of small claims court interesting because it's focused on everyday interactions and problems. Hidden in the drama there is always something to take away from Judy, Whether is be legal knowledge or common sense.
One of my favorite TV shows related to the law is "Law and Order". The show would always come on while I was flipping through channels growing up, but one day I watched a whole episode and fell in love with the show. The show shows two different perspectives, one side is the investigation of crimes, while the other shows the prosecution in the courtroom. I find it very interesting that the shows allows viewers to see all the steps leading to the prosecution.
One of my favorite movies that is related to law is Sicario directed by Denis Villeneuve, starring Emily Blunt. Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan and Daniel Kaluuya. Sicario and its sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado are favorites of mine because they are good (although extremely dramatized) depictions of the interactions between U.S. Governmental agencies and the various Mexican Drug Cartels. The story of Sicario follows FBI Special Agent Kate Macer (Blunt) who runs a tactical hostage/crisis response team. After stumbling into the middle of a war between rival cartels, Kate is recruited to be part of an inter-agency task force to push back against the cartels. The other agencies in the task force include the C.I.A., and elements of the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (also known as Delta Force and CAG). With the aim of "shaking up the cartels", the task force pulls Kate further into the rabbit hole of illegal/black operations both in US border cities as well as in Mexico itself. The events that follow shake Kate to her core and test both her commitment to the mission, and to following the rules and procedures of the FBI/DOJ.
The events and interactions depicted in the film are realistic, and grounded in the true brutal and violent history of the Mexican cartels.
Anayah M.(Online class)
My favorite show that is related to law is "How to get away with murder". A very talented actress by the name of Viola Davis plays "Annalise" in the show who is a law professor; she hand picks some of her law students to work for her under her firm. The show quickly caught my attention by the development of the characters and certain unexpected plot twists throughout the whole series. And as the title suggests, it shows how they get away with very serious crimes.
Evelyn D, MC 4301 (MW)
My favorite movie regarding law would have to be My Cousin Vinny. Although this movie is goofy, it does a fantastic job of portraying the reality of a trial. It shows aspects of deception at the hands of the officer, (I shot the clerk?!) and deeming a key witness to be no longer fit to testify (magic grits, those are some thick glasses!).
The best part of the movie is towards the end during one of the last trials when Vinny is very much unprepared, and looking like he will lose the trial. It becomes apparent that a good lawyer is not someone who memorizes all the rules, but rather someone who knows how to convince others of their reason.
Fernando F, MC 4301 Online
This may be a slightly odd answer but one of my favorite pieces of media that involve law is a video game, and it's the Ace Attorney series of games. In this franchise, you play as a lawyer called Phoenix Wright where you spend your time finding evidence to defend your clients.
A game that I played recently that is related to law was Detroit Become Human. Not only is one of the androids you play as a detective but there is also a lot of social politics and human rights laws that are imbedded within the game. The game itself had a lot of controversy due to all of the politics within the game.
A movie I really enjoyed was called "The Devil All the Time". In this Netflix film, there's different story lines with flashbacks that intertwine at the end. But it becomes interesting because a cop is involved in this story, where he's involved with two very important characters. He's involved with his sister, who he finds out is working alongside with a serial killer, but yet hides the evidence he found solely to be reelected as sheriff and keep his name clean. He's involved with the main character Alvin as well, but they go way back from an incident that occurred to him as young child. All in all, this movie is brilliant, even with a little seasoning of the law.
My choice of a show I love that relates heavily to Law is How To Get Away With Murder!! The show is based on a Law professor that has a group of selected individuals (all chosen for specific reason) and the group helps the Professor handle class action suits and a series of other law related issues that arise as the seasons go on. Its a thrill-seeking series with a lot of drama involved, romance, and even with sprinkles law terms and sporadic bits of law concepts & politics throughout the episodes.
Autumn Atkins (MC 4301.080 Online class)
One of my favorite movies that pertains to criminal law is "Silence of the Lambs". The first movie in the series follows a young student in the FBI's training academy. She is thrown into the lions den when she is used as bait to get information out of the infamous cannibal (who also happens to be a genius). There are several other movies in the series that cover his life before his capture and after his escape. I think these movies are made well and keep the audience on their toes. Although these movies aren't based on a exactly true story, the author drew inspiration from real life events and people. The backstory of Hannibal's life is enough to keep watchers interested throughout these films. It is also interesting to want to take both the FBI's side and the side of the killer (after getting to know why he did the things that he did). Overall, these movies are a great example of a criminal law series done very well.
Reilly L. (Online Class)
One of my favorite TV shows that has to do with the law is NCIS. NCIS follows the navel crime team based in Washington D.C. as they arrest people who commit crimes against the navy and terrorist crimes. I like this show because it also embraces the struggles of being a special agent. They struggle with what is morally right versus what the law tells them to do.
Adaeze I ( MC 4301 Online class )
A favorite show of mine that deals with law would have to be Law & Order special victims unit. This is my favorite because I loved the dynamics that the characters how eloquently they are able to tell stories of things that happen everyday in courtrooms. The show depicts heinous crimes and really allows the viewers to see a fleshed out version of court cases from the beginning in where they’re presented with the crime to the end in which a verdict is reached in the courtroom.
Ethan S. (online class)
My favorite movie that had to deal with the law would have to be Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey. The story is of Lawyer Mickey Haller dealing with the conflict of having a knowingly guilty client who committed murder and a not guilty past client behind bars because he is correlated with the current client's case. This scenario creates tension in his personal life and the law that Haller practices. The drama and suspense in the courtroom of this film are what make for such an entertaining experience. You get to see a lawyer having to do his job even though he really doesn't want to for his client, but yet he delivers all the way till the verdict.
Khameyah Taylor (Online class)
I don't think I have a favorite movie about law, there are just so many to choose from. I did find simple justice (1993) quite interesting. I saw this movie in 2019 as part of my African American history course. This movie was quite intense considering the movie was based on the civil rights era and discuss the law by which "negros" must abide. I found this to be interesting because growing up I would hear stories of my great-grandmother having to learn the law in order to stay out of trouble as a black woman during that time. When watching this movie these conversations became visual. They were no longer stories to me but a reality that not only my great-grandmother but many of my ancestors had to go through. not only did this movie go into debt about specific laws and amendments that stripped away the rights from African Americans during that time it also discusses the laws in which they were fighting in order to gain respective rights.
One of my favorite shows i've seen related to the law is a docuseries on Netflix called Heist. This series covers three criminals, each getting two episodes detailing their crimes. The three cases are completely unrelated, so it is almost like watching three different movies. I really enjoyed the format of the series because it featured the criminals themselves and people around them at the time which gives you a detailed look into their thoughts and motives. The episodes also showed reenactments and real footage of the story to provide visuals and give viewers a better sense of what it was like. This series was so fascinating because the criminals were incredibly average people living average lives and yet they committed some of the most serious and complex crimes. Each individual story was interesting because they were so different from one another. For example, one story was about Heather Tallchief who was just 21 years old when she stole $3.1 million from Vegas casinos and managed to hide for 12 years, only being caught when she turned herself in. Another story was about Toby Curtsinger, a married man working at a distillery in Kentucky who stole an estimated $100,000 of Bourbon and reselling it to a network of wealthy and respected members of the community.
This series offered insight on famous criminals and showed just how easy it is for a normal person to get involved in such major crimes.
Beverly Hills Cop comes to mind when I consider my favorite movies related to law. The limited jurisdiction of police officers is attempted to be enforced but the laws are continually broken by the main character, which makes for an entertaining movie. The process of communication and authority among police forces is displayed as the main character embarks on his crime-stopping adventures in a different city. Although breaking the law may be the result that saves the day in this storyline, the movie shows aspects of the law being applied in a funny way.
Avery O
MC 4301.001
My favorite show that is related to law in previous years would have been "Law and Order: SVU." However, I recently watched the show "Criminal Minds" and really enjoyed it. One of the reasons I like the show so much is because it is a little different from what I was used to when it came to crime shows. Rather than following detectives, it follows FBI profilers who travel to different places around the United states upon the request of local officials. The agents analyze a case and use their ability to get into the minds of the culprit in order to anticipate their decisions and solve a case.
Trinity T
MC 4301 Online Class
One of my favorite shows related to the law is Cold Case. The show follows a Philadelphia Police Department that focuses on solving cold cases. Some of the cases they would have to investigate dated back to the 1910s. In almost every episode, someone would give the investigators new evidence that would help with the cold case. The investigators would then go down the rabbit hole of finding out who the murder or murderers were, ultimately serving justice to the victim. I highly recommend this show but be prepared to shed tears on certain episodes!
Freya C. M/W MC 4301.001
My favorite TV show related to law would have to be "House of Cards." I love it for the character that is Francis Underwood. He is an extremely volatile Congressman who makes his way from a Democratic House Majority Whip to President of the United States. This show follows how he ably deceives people to get what he wants, while exposing his frame of mind. It's excellent in the fact that it is also extremely informative. I learned a lot about the government and its inner workings by watching this show, which was really interesting!
I've read through these responses, and there are many categories of law that are pretty interesting. I'm not sure if I didn't look through all the way, but I think a very good example of law in a show is in Grey's Anatomy. This is my 3rd time rewatching the series, and there is quite a bit of law involved in this show. From ignoring legally signed DNR's to administering a new drug that is not FDA approved or tested in order to save a someone's life. Hospitals often get sued for malpractice and are notoriously known for incredibly high bills for healthcare. This is one of my favorite shows that I put off for a while because of the hype, but it is really awesome to watch. I also think it's interesting that hospitals have their own legal teams for issues like malpractice, getting sued, or settlements.
One of my favorite movies is The Wolf of Wall Street, which features a slew of crimes being committed such as security fraud and money laundering. The film features amazing performances as well as an inside look at how Jordan Belfort hid money from the government as well as took advantage of investors. Additionally, the film shows how the FBI went about building a case against Belfort.
Isaiah DeAnda- MW class
I have a favorite artist by the name of Eminem that has had to deal with his share of media controversy throughout the years. I consider Eminem the greatest of all time when it comes to rap, and maybe even music in general. He has the whole package when it comes to rap: cadence, metaphors, style, flow, delivery, and so much more areas where his skills are unmatched. For as long as I can remember, Eminem has had to fight to get his words heard and feelings conveyed, because the media would try to censor him in many of his early songs. I feel that while yes he can have crude and outlandish lyrics, he does still have a right to express himself without being threatened and censored by the FCC. But even now with millennials trying to cancel Eminem, he has too much influence and fans that will not let that happen- me included. Eminem will continue to only somehow get better, and continue to battle the media for his right to free speech. This is another reason I perceive him as a powerful and influential person, which I idolize him for.
Diego Lopez- MC4301-080 (online class)
One of my favorite shows that is about law is ‘Suits’. The show follows the life of 4 big New York corporate lawyers: Jessica, Harvey, Mike, and Louis.
I really like the show because it shows how they deal with cases, including: litigation, negotiations, and even pro bono cases. I feel that the way they display all these negotiations is really close to reality, since it shows all the different problems they go through and the different ways to bend the law.
It’s one of my all time favorite shows.
Brett R. MC 4301-0.80 (Online)
Better Call Saul is my favorite TV show related to the law. Better Call Saul is a spin-off of the hit series Breaking Bad, and it's my favorite because I love the characters and the plot of the story. In season 1, low-level lawyer Saul Goodman winds up with a case where a state treasurer is accused of embezzling over $1 million from the state treasury, and the rest of the season is following along their situation which eventually turns out to be a pretty wild ending. I would suggest this show to anyone, even if you haven't seen Breaking Bad!
Avery B. MC4301.001 MW
My favorite show is White Collar. Its is about a FBI agent who takes on a con- artist named Neal Caffrey. They go on missions, and pull some impressive cons, trying to recover stolen art pieces.
I love this show, because I love to how each con is played out. Every episode there is a new con that you really have no idea how it will end. Some of my favorite episodes are the ones when you think the people they are conning are on to them, then they have to quickly think of a way to save the con. This show is also my favorite because it has introduced my favorite tv show character called Mozzie, who is played by Willie Garson.
Alondra Hernandez, MC4301.080 Online Class
My favorite tv show related to the law would have to be Law and Order SVU. Growing up my siblings would always watch this show and I would occasionally join them. Leading me to get hooked on and like the show. I still watch SVU today because it’s a classic and each episode is a different story.
Tristan Rose MC4301 (Online)
I really enjoy watching true crime tv shows on Netflix but most of the time I have my nose in a book. A good book I have recently read that follows law in some way would be You Are Not Alone. It follows these three women, two of which are sisters, that own a PR firm and they basically manipulate this other girls life in order for her to be friends with them. It is a really crazy story about this girl trying to fit in and there's murder involved, PR scandals, and media being used to manipulate and blackmail the main character. I don't read a lot of books that have to do with media law per say but I do read a lot of thrillers and true crime books.
Ashlyn Trokey - MC 4301.080 (Online)
When I am not doing school work, I enjoy relaxing with my husband and three pets. We recently binge-watched Brooklyn 99, and we absolutely loved it. However, the final season that is being filmed now took a more political turn since it is a police show and they wanted to address the events that took place during 2020. The show not only wanted to address the COVID pandemic but also address police brutality. One of the lead detectives, Rose, quit the BPD to become a private investigator who helped victims of police brutality. Even though the show was set up to be a comedy sitcom in previous seasons, the current episodes definitely portray a different tone
Alison Sullivan MC4301.080 (online)
My favourite movie that has to do with law would have to be Legally Blonde. I love that Elle stays true to herself while moving across the country to go to Harvard, and that she uses her knowledge that everyone underestimated her for in order to win the big trial and to help her friend get her dog back. Seeing her go through hardships to become the top graduate of her class is inspiring, and seeing the guy that thinks he's too good for her realize his mistakes and that she's actually too good for him doesn't hurt.
Noah Lightfoot MC4301.080
My favorite show that involves anything with the law is "Suits". It follows a corporate law firm in Manhattan. I love the chemistry between the characters. They mix genius content with hilarious banter. Most of the show revolves around a lawyer who is a fraud but is very good at what he does so he is trying to make it big at this law firm. Only a select few know he is a fraud so it makes some of their interactions a bit dicey.
Reed H, Media Law and Ethics Online 4301.
I am a huge movie guy, I would watch them all of the time if I could. So when reading this prompt, the movie that instantly comes to mind is "A Few Good Men. This is a movie that my mom showed me when I was 12 and I loved it. It's one of my favorites because it has an all star cast and truly has some great acting. Jack Nicholson's infamous line "You can't handle the truth!" is one of the most iconic quotes of all time, even if you haven't seem this film, i'm sure you have heard this line. This movie is about a military lawyer named Lt. Daniel Kafee (Tom Cruise) who usually aims for plea bargain with his cases but is tasked with defending two Marines who are charged with killing a fellow marine at Guantanamo bay. He decides to go all in with this case thanks to some convincing from Lt.Cdr JoAnne Galloway and accuses the marines Colonel Nathan R. Jessep of giving the order that killed their fellow Marine.
Dulcina Trevino MC 4301.001
The original "Law and Order" series was always played in the background at home for as long as I could remember. This show is in one of my opinions the best law-based TV show. I think it truly represents crime and the work that lawyers and detectives do. I love that this show could be based on actual events and cases that could happen
Ashley Brooks MC 4301 (online)
My favorite law show is called How To Get Away With Murder. It’s about a law professor with about 5-6 fellows who she mentors. They get very intertwined into each other’s personal lives, which creates many fires in the lane that they have to constantly put out. It’s one of my favorites because they main star is Viola Davis who is an amazingly talented black actress who has starred in many movies.
Grace Adams MC 4301 (online)
True crime television shows are one of my favorite things to watch! Growing up, Legally Blonde was my favorite. She inspired me to live up to my potential and gave me a good idea as to how going to law school might be and she was a great representation in the courtroom. She worked hard and won the case through her knowledge of beauty and hair products. Another one of my favorites is Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. It has to deal with intense sexual murder cases and gives us an inside look at the rules and protocols in a courtroom and the process of an investigation.
Maria Aguado (Online Class)
My favorite show is "Money Heist." In this show, a criminal mastermind known as "El Profesor" recruits a group of select individuals who have a criminal background to pull off the biggest heist in history. They take over the Royal Mint of Spain and successfully steal 2.4 billion euros. The inspector for the National Police Corps that was in charge of the investigation (Raquel), joins the professor's gang after she was forced to resign for failing to stop the robbery. After one of the team members (Rio) gets caught by the authorities, the professor's gang came out of hiding to execute another heist at the Bank of Spain in efforts to pressure the government to give him back. At the Bank of Spain, the team has many hostages all while they steal the bank's gold. The crazy part is that the inspector who was in charge of this second investigation (Alicia) also joined the professor's gang after the department made her take the blame for what they did to Rio to keep the system’s image intact in front of the public eye. A new season just came out, but the show isn't over yet and so far the team hasn't gotten caught. The authorities are doing everything in their power to catch them but we'll see what happens!
Nicholas Martin (MW)
My favorite show regarding law is Law & Order SVU. The site is surrounded by Olive Benson and her fellow detectives. They deal with something new every episode from assault to kingpin shakedowns. At first when I was introduced I said “it sucked.” I began to realize how in tune I was with every episode after the first one.
Daniela Mejia MW
Recently, my roommates and I have started watching Law and order Special Victims Unit. I never wanted to watch this show because I love criminal minds and thought I couldn't betray them like that, but I like how Law & order SVU focus on the victim and they go into detail about the victims life. Every episode is a different case, but a similar crime.
Megan H. MW 3:30
One of my favorite movies that I saw recently that relates to Law is called "On the Basis of Sex" and it's about young Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her involvement in the Moritz v. Commissioner case. It's one of my favorites because it also shows the different types of discrimination and challenges that went on during the 60's and how Ginsburg overcomes them and becomes one of the most influential woman today.
Jose Hernandez 4301 (Online class)
My favorite show that is related to law is called "For Life". It is based on a true story of a man who is wrongly convict of a crime and while he is in prison he becomes a lawyer to try to clear his name. He also helps other prisoners with there cases. Its my favorite show regarding law because its very informational and has a compelling story that makes you fall in love with the characters.
Kalen H. (MW)
My favorite TV show that relates to Law is "True Detective". I specifically love the first season. I love it because all the elements of the show just work so well together. The storyline keeps you intrigued the whole time, and all the characters are so fleshed out. The cinematography and editing help create an eerie mood for the show as well. The show follows police detectives that are trying to unravel unsolved cases. Each season is a different story with different characters. The first season is about two detectives trying to find a serial killer that's been hiding for 17 years.
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