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Introduction to Twelve Angry Men

Introduction to Twelve Angry Men. Agenda:. Historical Context: Live Television Drama in the 1950s Author: Reginald Rose History on Twelve Angry Men How is the Law Involved? Law of Evidence Modern Example. Historical Context 1 : Live Television Drama in the 1950s.

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Introduction to Twelve Angry Men

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  1. Introduction to Twelve Angry Men

  2. Agenda: • Historical Context: Live Television Drama in the 1950s • Author: Reginald Rose • History on Twelve Angry Men • How is the Law Involved? • Law of Evidence • Modern Example

  3. Historical Context1: Live Television Drama in the 1950s • The decade of the1950s is known for its live dramas that were broadcast on television; known as the “golden area of television”; • During this period, television replaced radio and film as the primary entertainment for society • Live drama died out in the 1960s because new technology enabled productions to be filmed 1Prestwick House: http://www.enotes.com/twelve-angry-men-prestwick-tu/

  4. Author: Reginald Rose1 • Born on December 10, 1920 in New York City • During WWII he served in the US army, ending his career as a first lieutenant • After the war he worked as a clerk, publically writing for Warner Brothers Pictures, writing short stories and novels • He became a regular writer for CBS’s Studio One, a weekly show that produced live drama • In that same year he wrote Twelve Angry Men, his most popular work to date, that was broadcasted on September 20, 1954 1Prestwick House: http://www.enotes.com/twelve-angry-men-prestwick-tu/

  5. History on Twelve Angry Men • The play was inspired by Rose’s experience of jury service • The 12 “Angry Men” are the individuals that make up a trial jury for the purposes of hearing a legal case and interpreting the facts, and finally returning with a verdict of either guilty or not guilty for the accused

  6. Law of Evidence in the United States’ criminal justice system • Burden of Proof • Burden of producing evidence beyond all reasonable doubt(persuading the jury to believe) rests with the prosecution to prove guilt. • Prosecution: • The party instituting or conducting legal proceedings against someone in a lawsuit. • Relevance • Evidence is relevant when it has a tendency to prove or disprove disputed facts. • i.e. eyewitness testimony is relevant because it can prove an event happened 1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf

  7. Law of Evidence1cont’d • Hearsay • Statements made outside of court by someone who is not present to testify under oath at trial. • One reason for excluding this evidence is because cross-examination can’t occur, which is the opportunity for one side to ask questions to that witness in hopes of refuting his/her information/credibility 1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf

  8. Law of Evidence1cont’d • Witnesses • Nearly all persons with knowledge relevant to the case can testify. • Expert witnesses can also be called on, which are experts in their field of work and can interpret findings, examine situations, forensics, etc. • i.e. psychologist, medical doctor, coroner 1http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/twelve-angry-men.pdf

  9. Vocabulary • premeditated • thought out or planned beforehand • reasonable doubt • the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction • unanimous • (of two or more people) fully in agreement • hung jury • a jury that cannot agree on a verdict after extended deliberation and is unable to change its votes

  10. Vocabulary • slum • a squalid and overcrowded urban street or district inhabited by very poor people • defendant • an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law • coroner • A government official who confirms and certifies the death of an individual within a jurisdiction • testimony • A formal written or spoken statement given in a court of law

  11. About the Play • The play deals with the sensitive issues of prejudice and racism, relying heavily on the portrayal of stereotypes • You must be alerted to the fact that the views of the jurors, as improper as they are (mid 20th Century), did influence the jury system/decisions for many years • This influence comes from the use of Persuasive Elements • This controversy emphasizes the play’s important theme of justice prevailing, even if one person stands up for what is right

  12. Modern Example The casey anthony trial of 2009-2011 • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/us/06casey.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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