Final Project/ Justice and Popular Culture

RUNNING HEAD: Justice and Popular Culture 2

Justice and Popular Culture 2

Amber Porter

Justice and Popular Culture

Law and Society Section E01

Professor Mai Mills

University of West Georgia

November 7, 2020

Justice and Popular Culture

“Popular Culture influence the way the general public views law, and how might it shape the expectations people have for what “the system” can do for them (Tejani, 2019)?” Today’s society have many different opinions about our laws and societies criminal justice system. The criminal justice system has changed tremendously over the years, but not all the changes are positive. For instance, the system faces many challenges, that include: reoccurring violent crime, cybercrime, and drug addictions. There are several processes to go through when handling different crimes and cases, and proving that someone is guilty. Unlike many TV dramas, where crimes are solved within 60 minutes, crimes in reality go through a process in order to be solved.

“Popular culture seems to have arisen with the advent of mass media; in its earliest days this took the form of print formats like newspaper and novels (Tejani, 2019).” Newspapers and novels play a big role in entertainment, that they developed “high and low culture”. “High” culture is defined as the cultural forms being enhanced and embraced through the wealthy. As for “Low” culture, it’s the complete opposite, is embraced by an audience that needs distraction or entertainment. Many people in the pop culture partake in “high” culture on a regular basis. For instance, celebrities enjoy buying expensive gifts and embracing the fact that they are very wealthy. People that associate with high culture and wealth also enjoy the luxury of being able to indulge in exclusive things. As far as cars, purses, jewelry, vacations, shoes, etc..these things bring them joy and sometimes district them from reality.

“Legal culture describes the symbols, practices, and values pertinent to a society’s conception of rules, institutions, and dispute resolution (Tejani, 2019).” Back in the day rappers and hip-hop artists would make music, that talked about their feelings and angry towards law enforcement, the court system, and prison/ jail organizations. This music displayed a lot of frustration for the black community, especially black men and the way law enforcement would treat them. They felt like the criminal justice system and law enforcement could not be trusted. “It reflected a legal culture full of ambivalence, injustice, and speaking “truth to power” (Tejani, 2019).” The only way African Americans were going to be respected and not taken advantage of, is by sticking together and making a living so they could get out of those communities. African American directors and writers even started making more films that represented our society and what “we” as black people face on an everyday basis.

In 1962, a film was developed “To Kill a Mockingbird”, which was a spin off of a novel by Harper Lee. This film was about an poor African American man in the rural South, being defended by Atticus Finch during Jim Crow. During this film Atticus Finch gave an extraordinaire closing statement about racism and prejudice humanity, and the mistreatment that needs to stop in black communities. African American communities deserve to live in a community with other races and not be harassed or judged, because of their skin color. Today in our society, there are many poor black men and women that are going through obstacles; that the African American man went through in the movie. These people need help and someone to stand up for them, just like Atticus Finch stood up for that young man. No, they do not have the same story but they do have some resemblance and deserve for our society to learn compassion.

This chapter displayed many different components of Justice and Pop Culture, and how it relates to our Society each and every day. The Criminal Justice System are improving in many ways and making a difference to improve the black communities, black lives, and all lives around the world. As we know, this change does not happen over night but we as the people have to continue to make a difference. So that it’s not impossible for our Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement agencies to make a difference. Films and TV shows have been created that display Justice and Pop Culture, and exactly what it stands for today.

Reference

Tejani, R. (2019). Law and society today. Oakland, CA: University of California Press.