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12 Angry Men Analysis

Decent Essays

I believe the ideological message this film conveys is that our criminal justice system needs to do a better job instilling fairness and justice in the court system. Therefore, social status or social conditions will not be the determining factor for conviction based on inequality beliefs. I think this film being made in the early 50’s, is still in line with the issue of race relations as we encounter discrimination even today.

5. Using concepts developed by Rafter, was there a justice figure in “12 Angry Men”? How did the plot focus on a typical courtroom film theme: the difficulty of achieving justice?
Viewing the concepts developed by Rafter, I believe the first member of the jury that voted not guilty in favor of the young boy was the first justice figure that appeared in the film. The difficulty of achieving justice was a factor because many men were voting but not fully giving the defendant a chance. Eleven out of the twelve mainly voted on inequality beliefs that obscured their ability to fairly convict the young man. But throughout the film, you see the role of the justice figure try to influence each member of the jury to dismantle the guilty pleading members of the jury.

7. Did the defendant have a jury of his peers? (Contrast this to the short story “A Jury of Her Peers”
Unlike the defendant in the short story “A Jury of Her Peers”, the young boy did not have a jury of his peers. In the short story, the defendant had women equal to her and on her side doing things in their best hopes to save their peer. But in the film “12 Angry Men” it was the opposite, a younger man with his life in the hands of much older “angrier” men. But regardless of the jury not being his peers, they still were able to remove social conditions and other inequality beliefs off the table to give a fair decision.

10. Think about how racism, gender bias, and other kinds of discrimination surface and occur as one has contact with the criminal justice system. Be able to discuss several of these points and their implications for carrying out the principle of equal justice under law. Where have some of these issues surfaced in films we have viewed? (e.g., “Do the Right Thing,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “12 Angry Men” etc.).
The

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