Weblog Part Two

Weblog Part Two

Chapter Four: The Law of Desire

Sherwin discusses how notorious trials become either reflections of the culture of society or an influence of it. When talking about the John Brown trial, he does not focus on the trial or the facts themselves, but how John Brown, even though found guilty and hung, became an idol of culture. Sherwin talks about how the Romantic Movement made Brown into a hero who fought for more than himself but for morals that he represent, and became a symbol. While the leader of the abolitionist movement, such as Fredrick Douglass said he did not do anything to benefit the enslaved, but just gave white northern something to be proud of that was easier than actually progress. Sherwin talks about the cultural cost that forward movement would cost, and how it is easier to just make someone into a symbol that makes society feel better.

Chapter Five: The Postmodern Challenge

Sherwin talks about how law is not a black or white subject, whereas there must be lots of depth involved. He talks about how Morris just tries to make the Adams case into simple common sense whereas there is a linear historic path to follow, that shows corruption in the legal system, and a complex nonlinear background that bring doubt to the whole case. These two factors provide a half-truth that can only produce one answer, that Adams is innocent. Sherwin has much disdain over how people like Morris convert law into a story that can be twisted to promote either side, and can prevent justice from being served.

Chapter Six: The Jurisprudence of Appearance

The most important part of this chapter is the rule of thumb that Sherwin gives in the first few lines, "Whatever the mass media touch bears the mark of reality/fiction confusion." Sherwin believes the media ruins the purity of law, when law firm use public relations and new channels to promote strong images for their side. An example is the husband who is crying in the graveyard because of his wife dying because of a medication. This is powerful because the imagery is so strong, but the text of what the husband is saying has little to do with the legal trial and more to do with making you feel sympathy for his great loss. When lawyers can use the media more than facts to sway opinions, Sherwin views this as a tremendous problem that is only getting worse.