The White Bear Justice Park is where most of the episode is centered, this facility (probably one of many, seeing the general culture surrounding the facility) is dedicated exclusively to the psychological torture of its only prisoner. Whilst Victoria’s aiding and abetting of her fiancé’s actions clearly should be subject to criminal punishment, this does not strip her of her human rights and entitle others to torture her. But this exact issue is even encountered in modern society, particularly in the American correctional institutions, yet there exists a key difference. Prisons, at least on paper, serve the purpose of rehabilitating the inmates housed within the facility. White Bear “Justice” Park does not seem to care about rehabilitation, instead centering its activity on psychologically torturing Victoria for as long as her sentence lasts.
How Victoria is treated at the park is not only an example of inhumane conditions in an institution under the government’s jurisdiction, but also how society reacts to such crimes. It seems that as a collective, the visitors who come to the park relish in the actions they see when they visit the park. They seem to enjoy the role of bystanders regardless of how these actions effect Victoria’s psyche. The people see this as a proper punishment for her actions, a very “eye for an eye” mentality. And using the cliché quote, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”, one can see how this “Justice” Park is flawed at its core.
No betterment can come to the condition of people if the only focus is to ensure that retribution is as severe as the action that came before it. By subjecting Victoria to daily life in the park, the ultimate betterment of society is null. Especially considering how she can’t even reflect on her actions, due to the fact that her memory is wiped every day. What this park becomes is nothing more than an attraction for the general public, a sadistic source of entertainment for the masses. Merely the façade of Justice, rather than an actual dispensation of just punishment.
And to sweeten the deal, not only is the public partaking in the park’s activities every day, but they are charging visitors. This sundae of human rights abuse is topped off with a wonderful cherry, profiting off torture. Profit sourced from unethical action has been a common, but underlying topic in both episodes of Black Mirror. How far from ethical and moral guidelines will companies or governments stray from in order to make a profit?
Attached is a very smart comment found on YouTube
2 comments:
I like how you bring into account the whole "eye for an eye" idea.I also agree that "Justice" park is flawed at its core. I also think that she should reflect on her actions and that the torture is over the top.I also like the comment from youtube that you attached.
In reference to your question in the end, I believe that people who solely have profit on their minds have no limits. We live in a society that is shaped to be more and have more than others regardless of how they achieve it. Daily we see situations that question our values and in the end those same values fly out the window when tempted with enough money. That is why many say "everyone has a price", whether we believe it or not. Overall, I do agree with what you had to say and your evidence was right on point.
Post a Comment