Film 12 Angry Men and its characters from a communications perspective
analize the film 12 Angry Men and its characters from a communications perspective.You must watch the film in its entirety, take notes and answer the specific questions posted in the Week 5 Discussion Board forum. You may want to have the questions with you as you watch the movie.Go to Just Watch It to rent the movie for $3.99 in most streaming services. You can choose which service you prefer.Pay close attention to the plot and the characters in the 1957 film. While the group communications methods are in person and may seem old-fashioned, the exchanges are valuable as guides of what is effective and what is not in a group environment. The setting in the film may not be viewed by all as a professional setting, but it is. The men who gather are strangers to each other. They must (or should) be professional using all tips noted in the Week 4 lecture, they must (or should) show respect, and they must work toward one, unified goal. Enjoy the film. NOTE:Although 12 Angry Men is still considered a standard for depicting what happens inside a jury room, it is not without its problems. For instance, you will notice the jury is made up of all men. The play on which this film is based was written in the days before women were allowed to serve on juries in most jurisdictoins.
BackgroundIn England before the 15th century, juries were chosen among people who actually knew something about the customs of the people and the locale in question. The modern jury dates from the 15th century when English Common Law judges began to instruct juries on the law and restrict them to finding the facts from the evidence presented at the trial. Under the U.S. Constitution, a person is entitled to a jury of his peers.
Sample Solution
The film 12 Angry Men illustrates the dynamics of group communication in a jury setting. The film follows the deliberations of a jury made up of twelve men as they try to reach a verdict on the case of an 18-year-old Hispanic boy accused of murder. As members debate the guilt or innocence of the defendant, their individual biases and experiences influence their views and shape their opinions. Some argue for conviction; others for acquittal. Prejudice, experience,
and logic are used to sway opinion in either direction. Throughout the movie there are examples of verbal and nonverbal communication that demonstrate how each member influences one another through persuasion and manipulation while still showing respect for opposing points-of-view.
Q1: How is groupthink evident in this movie?
Groupthink is evident throughout the film as several jurors cling to their initial opinion without considering other perspectives or evidence presented by fellow jurors. The most prominent example can be seen in Juror 3’s refusal to change his vote from guilty despite compelling evidence from other jurors that suggest reasonable doubt exists about the defendant’s guilt. His main justification for not changing his vote is his unwillingness to ‘look bad’ if he changes his mind later on down the line (i.e., outside pressure). Additionally, when all but two jurors have voted not guilty, Jurors 7 & 10 resist even though it is clear that reasonable doubt exists simply because they do not want to appear weak or foolish by being outnumbered by those who favor acquittal at that point in time (i.e., peer pressure).
Q2: What communication methods were used effectively in this movie?
Throughout the movie we see many effective forms of communication being employed by characters such as nonverbal cues like facial expressions and body language which help convey emotions and feelings more clearly than words alone could ever do; active listening which shows respect towards different opinions; empathy which allows individuals within a group to better understand where someone else is coming from so that they can better articulate their own thoughts/perspectives; constructive criticism which helps ensure all viewpoints are heard without aggressive behavior taking over; consensus building which encourages compromise between conflicting ideas or interests; emotion regulation which enables individuals within a group conversations stay focused on facts rather than letting feelings get out of hand; as well as open dialogue among members allowing everyone involved an opportunity present questions/comments regarding various topics related to discussion at hand without interruption nor disrespecting anyone else's views/beliefs etc.. All these elements work together toward creating an environment conducive for productive discussion based upon mutual understanding where everyone feels comfortable expressing themselves fully without fear consequence or judgement .