EGMT 1540: Trials of the Century

The American courtroom has been the setting in which Americans have grappled with moral panics, racism, sexual anxieties, social tensions, celebrity scandal and political violence. High profile criminal and civil trials of people ranging from Ethel Rosenberg to OJ Simpson remain potent cultural touchstones, shaping popular understandings of the justice system. Their stories continue to be told over and over again in film, television, books and podcasts. We will examine the relationship between law and storytelling, reflecting upon our own engagement with these “trials of the century.” But what is a trial? How do they deliver justice to a wronged party—or to society at large? How do they reveal facts and processes otherwise hidden from public view? Should trials be entertaining? What exactly are we consuming when we consume TV, movies and podcasts about famous trials? We will strive to understand how trials work as exercises in storytelling, and, in turn, how trials shape the stories we tell about justice.