In Black Mirror’s White Bear, a victim of sever
psychological torture, Victoria, experiences extreme fear, confusion, shame,
and heartbreak on a daily basis. She undergoes this cruel and unusual
punishment in a Justice Park, where people pay to get in on the trick and
celebrate the reveal together. After they wrap up the party, Victoria is forced
to watch the crime she is accused of committing and then has her memory
cleared. The punishment is not only a form of entertainment for society, but
also insightful in understanding its perception of humanity.
People believe criminals are unchanging; that what they did
is part of them. Social stigmas ensure that no one can separate their identity
from any one part of their life. My mom always told me, “once a cheater, always
a cheater” after my first breakup, but now that person is happily married to
the girl they cheated on me with. People do change, so why is there resistance
against investing in rehabilitation? We don’t like to get tricked or hurt, so
it’s easier to keep those that hurt us in a box. To dismiss our fears of
betrayal and pain, we create structural and social barriers that keep criminals
in their place—under our thumb. From post-breakup smack talk to a privatized
prison system, we all invest in the punishment and isolation of criminals. To
be human is to be dynamic and multifaceted, not rigid and defined by one aspect
of character or a single action.
2 comments:
Actions are what make out a person's visible character, not one action. Humans do change, and they change constantly. It is in human nature to change and adapt to the situations we place ourselves in, yet that does not always mean we change willingly, effectively, and/or efficiently. I agree with this post, that humans are capable of change and that most people need it to make it through the day; some, on the other hand, try to avoid change as much as possible. Those that do so usually find themselves in trouble one way or another.
I find it interesting that you comment on how we (humans) are dynamic and multifaceted, yet you also highlight the social view of keeping criminals "in their place." With the rest of your post in mind, do you think that criminals actually have a "place"? Do you think that their actions will always make them an outcast? How do you think we can progress.
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