White Bear, a disturbing episode from the series Black Mirror, advocates justice for criminal actions. In my opinion, White Bear shows that criminals should endure extreme punishments as consequences for their actions. Victoria, the main character, serves as an accomplice to a grueling murder of a kidnapped little girl. Specifically, she videotapes the act that is carried out by her fiance. Her penalty is to relive that experience daily. Throughout her punishment, people are watching and actors appear to be helping, but are part of the torture. Victoria is disoriented and confused because her memory is erased every day. This is done in order that she never forgets her participation in this heinous crime.
Initially, there aren't any explanation for Victoria's confused state. The picture begins awakening and she is not familiar with her surroundings. Later, she finds a picture of the kidnapped girl and sparks her memory. As a result, I became sympathetic to her situation. The film gave the impression that she is the victim and was affected by a terrible event. Yet, it turns out that Victoria is the perpetrator and not the victim as believed. Even though she suffers, I believe that this punishment exceeds humane treatment. I feel that the crime did not justify the type of punishment that she had to endure. This punishment had no meaning. She constantly experiences torture as if it's the first time, but she has no recollection of her actions which makes it a senseless and indifferent act.
Considering that we are human, no one has the inherent right to make the remainder of someone's life miserable. However, I do believe that there should be consequences for one's actions. Since society dictates that we are governed by rules, regulations, and laws, it's imperative that we abide by those guidelines. Without those laws in place, our world would be more barbaric than Victoria's. I personally wouldn't want to live or experience such an environment.
Altogether, White Bear makes one consider the true meanings of justice and injustice. Victoria's situation as a whole is an eye opener because of the cruel and unjust punishment. Since we live in a male dominated society, I question if Victoria's punishment would have been different if her fiance had survived? Would he have been charged with first degree murder? And Victoria charged as an accessory? Would her circumstances be lesser or greater? The final judgement lies inthe realm of our Creator.
4 comments:
"She constantly experiences torture as if it's the first time, but she has no recollection of her actions which makes it a senseless and indifferent act." So do you believe that if she had her memories it would be full just or slightly more just?
I do agree with you when you say we live in a male dominated society, if it were a man being tortured instead of a female we probably would not feel as bad for him as we do for Victoria.
Do you think that it would have been okay the way they punished her if it had only been once or do you think the whole situation was unjust? Also, you say you wouldn't want to live in a world where crime goes unpunished, what would you suggest would constitute as justice in your ideal world, and do we have that in the United States?
Do you believe the actors that participate in the White Bear Justice Park routine or delivering a just punishment, or do you believe that they have stepped overboard and are, in a sense, performing the same crime that Victoria had performed?
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