Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Muted Message: Capital Punishment in the Hollywood Cinema

2012; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

10.2139/ssrn.2179186

1556-5068

David Ray Papke,

Gothic Literature and Media Analysis

Contemporary Hollywood films seem at first glance to be opposed to capital punishment. However, this article’s consideration of five surprisingly similar films (Dead Man Walking, The Chamber, Last Dance, True Crime, and The Life of David Gale) finds they do not truly and consistently condemn capital punishment. Instead of suggesting that the practice of capital punishment is fundamentally immoral and should in general be ended, the films champion only worthy individuals on death row and delight primarily in the personal growth of other characters who attempt to aid the condemned. In the end, Hollywood offers only a muted message regarding the on-going use of capital punishment.