When I was reading the articles about the Jody Arias Trial,
all I could think of was that I was reading a script from an episode of Law and
Order or Criminal Minds. I think the
trial became such a spectacle because it had all the elements of a
crowd-pleasing TV show: sex, scandal, uncertainty, and violence. Between the trail itself, the juror
dismissals, the jailhouse interviews, the diagnosis of various disorders and
environments, and all the sex and violence, this is a crime-based reality
show. The media and some people within
the trial, including Arias herself, took off with this idea. I couldn’t believe when I read that Arias
asked if she could spruce herself up before going in front of the public! I’d
think she would be more worried about her sentence decision and not her makeup.
I think one big part of the trials that made it appealing
for the public was the constant change and up and down of it. Arias provides
three totally different defenses. Various doctors and psychologists come up
with numerous diagnoses including: borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and
suffering from mental and physical abuse. One doctor on the stand is said to
have had relations with Arias, and her lawyer is judging a singing competition
in the jail.
Another big part of the attraction by viewers is the crazy
sex stories and scandal within the trial. A red-riding hood fantasy and Mormon anal
sex…its like a crazy porn! People are
infatuated with other people in any sorts, and people get weird into others’
sexual relations.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the trial having everything it could to gain people’s attention. I was shocked when I read that she was worried because she wasn’t wearing any makeup. You would think that thought wouldn’t cross your mind when you could be faced with the death penalty. Reading the different articles made me feel like she was an attention seeker and was not fully aware of what was happening to her. If she was innocent like she claimed, her behavior may have been different. People crave this kind of stuff, and it may be why crime shows are so popular.
I totally agree with you. I felt the same way when I was reading about the trial, that it was coming from a Law and Order script. It is has the right dynamics for a television show - girlfriend/boyfriend, stalking, sex, cheating, and killing. As the trial keeps going on there is more and more information that is being shared and that is adding to the interesting plot. I cannot wait to see the final verdict of her sentencing. I will be interested to see what evidence will be brought forward and if there were any secrets that haven't be shared about Travis or Jodi. Jodi is trying any way possible to justify her killing her ex, like you stated.
ReplyDeleteEmily I should have copy and pasted yours to mine because even though I wrote other words, I couldn't have said it better than you. Yes, the whole thing was partially painful to endure. The same old American late night crime show. Like you mentioned, all the highlights were there, the sex, the religion, the cup doll look, the murder x3 styles, the camera shots before and after, the lies.... just the same old stuff that sadly the public loves to lick its chops over. Sadly routine. Great words and post!
ReplyDeleteThe one quote I live by is “ all the worlds a stage” and the courtroom is no different. I feel that a trial it equal to the stage when performing a play. I’m actually surprised that I have never seen a play that involves an extensive trial. I really enjoy how you compared it to one of the many crime show on TV. Maybe that is why people were so hooked to it. They may have thought it was just a show at first and once they saw it was really became even more enthralled in what was happening. I feel we can easily be entertained.
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