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An episode of
Black Mirror called "White Bear" has brought up many questions concerning the topic of justice. The main character Victoria wakes up remembering nothing and journeys in a dystopian world only to discover that she committed a horrendous crime. She is then forced to forget the trials she underwent to only wake up the next day, memory completely blank. In this post, we are assuming that Victoria truly is guilty of the crime committed. In other words, Victoria indeed is the lady who videoed the murder of a young girl, not a replacement criminal unable to remember otherwise. This new form of punishment is unlike what is society has currently. Prisons allow inhabitants to think on their crimes and pay in time. The death penalty is more of an "eye for an eye" policy, taking for criminals what they have taken from their victims. What is seen in Victoria's case is arguably much more horrible. She is forced to be chased by those who wish to hurt her, unable to find help from the general populace, all of which are too busy on their phones to help her. Once her crime is revealed to her, Victoria is paraded before a hateful crowd. Her mind is then wiped blank in an extremely painful process, preparing her for the next round tomorrow on minimal food and drink. She pays her time, but also goes through pain each day, unable to end it. Viewing through a modern lens, this form of justice comes in the form of a "double punishment" and thus seems unfair. Victoria's physical suffering as a means of compensation for the parents' mental suffering or for the horrible but short torturing of a little girl might be a cruel and unusual punishment.
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Visitors role playing at White Bear.
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Moving to another idea, it is interesting to ponder why such a facility as White Bear even exists. I think it would be even more interesting to consider how the facility might function more to bring a sense of justice to the people rather than to Victoria. White Bear can be thought of as a theme part. Theme parks play off of what people enjoy. There are rides and experiences that thrill and cannot be found anywhere else; White Bear is just more of a niche market. "Have you ever been driving and saw someone who was speeding, swerving in and out of the lanes. Didn't you want to see a police officer pull them over and give them a ticket." White Bear offers this slogan: seeing justice in action. There is the aspect of thrill involved in role playing, and the park seems relatively safe. Parents were bringing their children to the park, and the facility seemed to have Victoria under its control. In this world, it probably also functions as lesson to kids. Parents can literally point to Victoria and warn their children to not break the law. Maybe the question of justice does not consider Victoria because the rest of the world enjoys justice being served in the form of a fun game.
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Merchandise for a New Type of Theme Park?
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1 comment:
This is an interesting take on the social implications of a White Bear Justice Park; however, I am unconvinced that a justice system like this would actually lower crime rates. There is no scientific proof that capital punishment deters people from becoming criminals and I do not believe that this form of punishment would either. Imprisoned criminals today can act as a similar example to follow the law but people still commit crime.
I do; however, agree that White Bear Justice Park is effectively an extreme theme park. An event such as White Bear would cause an adrenaline high, similar to skydiving, and would definitely appeal to a niche market. Publicity today has a lot to do with standing out in the crowd and being extreme, which White Bear definitely is. While it may not be morally right, it would sell a lot of tickets while it lasted.
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