The Face of Criminality
What do we see when we try and picture a criminal in our mind? Understandably, many cannot help but think of mug shots, which are invariably tied to the criminals they portray. But what characterizes these glimpses into the criminal mind? One can only conjecture that every person’s story pressures their very visage in the shots so etched in our brains. There is a long history of mug shots, supported by a wide range of character portrayed in the subjects, which all culminate in creating a “mug shot culture.”
A quick history of mug shots could not be complete without Alan Pinkerton. Credited with creating the concept in the days of the “Wild West,” Pinkerton would go on to collect the largest single collection of booking photographs of the time. Most of the pictures of this era came in the form of “Wanted” posters. As the times changed, so did the standards for mug shots. Nowadays, mug shots are taken mostly with digital cameras, and have some guidelines to follow since a change in policy in 1995. But more important than history and procedure, is a discussion on the character of those portrayed in mug shots.
So what do criminals really feel when they are placed in front of the glaring eye of the police photographer? They sneer, they cry, they laugh hysterically, but what does it all mean? Some over-exaggerated mugs, or faces, were often used in earlier pictures to obscure an identity. More saddened shots can be seen as seeded in guilt, or possibly utter surprise. Those intoxicated are not without their own exuberant portrayal, and their pictures seep into every other category of faces. One of which is celebrities, brought down from their usual place of Godliness, wrecked for all to see. Women and children are also susceptible, and their photos are sometimes more frightening simply due to our perceptions of the world. And what could be more shocking than a picture of a man bloody and beaten posing for the police? While this is all interesting, it is surprising to learn that all these niches of mug shot photography make up a minority. For the most part, these pictures are almost a catalogue of normalcy. Most subjects are not looking to have their picture be sensational. And what is so amazing is that even so, every subject still takes on a life of their own when we look at them.
After looking at rows and rows of mug shots, as well as reading endless analysis, it is clear that mug shots have created their own culture. They are sensationalized in every form, especially on the Internet. All of this has been spurred on by celebrity, and the search for some form of immortality. The public is invariably fascinated by these simple pictures, as they support and build our notion of what a criminal is, or the “criminal culture.”
So as history brings new meaning to these samples, it is imperative we see them as what they are. Whether they are incredible shows of character, or mysteriously blank slates, all mug shots remind us of the fallacies of humankind. They teach us that there are consequences. They teach us that life is not a free ride. But most importantly, they teach us that anyone, even one of us, could be susceptible to a life of crime.
Blog Questions:
Please do number 1 and your choice of numbers 2-4.
1. Regarding the presentation and research summary, is there anything that is unclear or should be elaborated on? Any thoughts you have would be much appreciated.
2. What do you think the connection is between a person’s mug shot and whether they are guilty or innocent? Is guilt shown in the pictures?
3. What do you think the cultural purpose is of mug shots? Why are many people so fascinated with them?
4. Write a short police report to go along with the mug shot picture above (in blog). Then tell what happened through the point of view of the accused in a creative piece.
In regards to your presentation, I would have been fascinated to hear more about how the social stereotypes that we as viewers have impact how we look at a mug shot of a woman, child, or someone of another race. Some other questions I would have liked answered were: As viewers of this “art,” how does our judgment on the subject reveal our character? For example, if someone quickly judges the face captured in the split second it was taken, what does that make us? Do we somehow think we are better than the people, guilty or innocent, in these mug shots? How do mug shots bring out the true character of the viewer? On a side note, I was kind of disappointed to see that the mug shots in your presentation focused mainly on Caucasians in America. I think there should have been a wider range of subjects.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated how you made the point that a mug shot was capturing a split second of a person’s emotion. Mug shot portraiture isn’t grade school photos for the yearbook when you could spend hours on your hair or practicing your smile. The subject of a mug shot probably doesn’t have time to think about how they look or how they will smile or frown…Click. These photos capture the subjects with true emotion written on their face. To me this is fascinating because in other types of portraiture the subject or artist can choose how to portray themselves in the picture. They can choose if they want to appear elegant, strong, powerful, or even beautiful. Mug shots are probably one of the least deceiving types of portraiture.
Can an instantaneous moment captured on film decipher a person’s guilt from innocence? Looking at mug shots I do think some guilt can be seen. For example, when a person knows that they are guilty, sometimes a true repentance can be seen in their eyes. Another example of guilt would be the hardened criminal whose face says “I did it. What’s it to you?” Personally, I think innocence is harder to see than guilt. An innocent subject could be looking angry, perturbed, and annoyed for the false accusation; however, when captured on film this look makes them appear more guilty than innocent.
Although I think guilt, not so much innocence, can be seen captured in mug shots, I do not want to be one to judge any of these people. A mug shot is one second in time that captures a true emotion. However, as merely a viewer we do not have the insight into these people’s life stories. The irritation in their eyes may not be because they are angry to be going to jail for what they did, it may be that they are mad that their mother did drugs during the time they were in the womb causing their addiction to crack. The people in the mug shots may just be victims of society: victims of abusive fathers, victims of rape, or victims of drug addiction. The normalcy of these people can cause a gut wrenching feeling: this could be your aunt, brother, cousin, or mother. What saddens me is that the subject in a mug shot probably has a mother, brother, sister, or father that will be let down when they see the face of someone they love and know better than anyone. I think these are these are the people who can truly see the innocence or guilt in a mug shot. Although mug shots capture emotion that is uncensored and free, I do not think I am one to judge innocence versus guilt unless it is someone I truly know.
By: Alicia Tremaine
I think that it would have been interesting to include some research on the psychology involved. It would also be helpful if you could include more interpretations of mug shots beyond your own personal thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMug shots are for identifying criminals, but more than that, it is for labeling them. Americans have an obsession with crime and those who commit it. We like to highlight who they are and hold them up for all to see. It can be seen as a shaming device or a source of entertainment. After all, we see it everywhere in the media. Turn on the television, and every other show is a crime scene investigation or city cop series.
On one level, it is a morbid fascination, one that runs through human history. From sacrifices to public execution, we like to see people hurt, especially if we believe they wronged us. It is a natural inclination, if an unpleasant one. Revenge is one of the most compelling ideas, and this can be seen as a diluted form of it.
Another inclination is resentment, which can be seen in our fixation on celebrity crimes. There is a whole, complex psychology in our star obsession, but at least some of it can be blamed on envy. And where envy lies, there is some anger. Seeing the high and mighty fall delights us on some level. We like to see the famous as mortals with flaws, and we like to see them suffer for their crimes.
However, there is another aspect to this fascination. We want to understand criminals. When people commit atrocious crime, it boggles us. We don’t get it, and we want to know what could make someone do such a thing. Every crime show spends at least some time within the minds of the criminal. Motivation is a powerful theme. We need to know people had a reason to commit a crime to accept it. If there was no reason, we lose faith in humanity.
The cultural fascination with mug shots and crime encapsulates all that is morbid about the human condition: the fascination with wrongdoing and the desire to see people suffer. At the same time, it exemplifies the deep empathy people are capable of. We are fascinated with those who go against the norm, because we want to understand them.
The concept of the mug shot and all of its social undertones is very interesting. I believe the presentation and summary could benefit from discussion of what the stereotypical criminal looks like in society’s eyes. Also, what does the viewer look for that they feel is indicative of the type of crime the subject has been booked for? Is there a connection between the type of crime committed (violence, theft, etc.) to the way the subject poses in the mug shot (i.e. looks of remorse, proud, blank)? Overall I think both the presentation and summary were well thought out. The statement that a mug shot is a split second capture of a person, without allowing them time to gather themselves definitely helps bring character into perspective.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a connection between a person’s guilt (or innocence) and his/her mug shot. However, it is nearly impossible to tell by looking at the mug shot alone. Except for in extreme circumstances, the subject knows whether they committed the crime or not. As hard the subject may try to hide it, this knowledge can still show through in their mug shot. The way a person show’s their guilt could be completely different than another’s, especially with different personalities. However, given the same situation, but innocent, the subject’s mug shot would look quite different than if they were guilty. Due to the almost inexistent nature of this hint of guilt, it would be impossible to ever convict a person solely on the fact that they looked guilty in their mug shot.
I believe the cultural purpose of mug shots is to protect the public. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 60% of criminals released from prison re-offend within three years. If there is a warrant out for this person’s arrest, a mug shot can be an invaluable tool in the search. Mug shots also allow for comparison to other criminals to determine whether or not a person has been living under one or more aliases.
I think there are many reasons that people are so fascinated with mug shots. One reason is self protection. If you have a strange feeling about the neighbor that just moved in next door, the first thing you do usually is do a web search for their name. If nothing comes up, scrolling through the mug shots taken at the local precinct will either ease or confirm your suspicions. Another reason is the fact that the general public does not see criminals every day. Looking at mug shots is almost like going to the zoo. The shots of criminals fascinate people since the face of a person who can commit such crimes. It is no secret that celebrity mug shots are quite popular, as you said in both the presentation and summary. I feel the popularity of these shots is a testament to the competitive and self-righteous nature of people. They can look at these people who have made millions of dollars and acquired fame throughout the world, who have gotten caught committing a crime. The viewer can then feel that even though they aren’t rich and famous, they haven’t stooped to commit any crimes. They can feel that their life of lesser means is better since it taught them right from wrong.
Jared, I thought you made a very thorough presentation. I cannot recall any moment when you were unclear. You did a very good job.
ReplyDeleteThe mug shot is a significant part of the criminal justice system and popular culture. One can search for these simple pictures on Google or in databases and they are so popular that there are television shows that count down the top celebrity mug shots. A booking shot does not mean the defendant is guilty; just that they have been arrested and booked at the police station. However, one problem with the wide availability of booking photos is that people often make up their mind about the guilt or innocence of the accused from viewing their mug shot alone. I do not believe it is possible to discern guilt or innocence from a mug shot, but many people try to do this subconsciously.
From a mug shot, the viewer can read many different emotions on the accused person’s face. Because these photos are taken when the person reaches the booking station, they are not able to collect themselves or prepare, so whatever they are feeling is often obvious. Sorrow, confusion, fear and embarrassment can be read on many faces as they are caught off guard. But, these pictures can be misleading because of the situation in which the subjects find themselves. Many of these emotions can be a direct result from being arrested and the possibility of facing charges rather than guilt from committing a crime. Sorrow, anger and confusion are all common emotions after someone is arrested. Fear is also very common; not the fear of being caught, but the fear of not knowing what is going to happen. For this reason, it is very difficult to decide that a person is guilty or innocent simply by looking at their mug shot.
However, one mug shot trait is a dead give-away that a crime has been committed. Often, when a person looks like they are drunk, they are most likely drunk. Mug shots of people accused of driving under the influence, being drunk and disorderly and similar charges are plastered all over the internet. This includes those of celebrities. Some signs of drunkenness are smeared makeup, messed-up hair and a dazed look as if they do not really understand what is happening. This also applies to people in strange outfits (like the naked man wearing silver body paint) and often, to people who appear naked. One can almost always guess whether that a person is guilty of a crime from a mug shot with these characteristics.
It is impossible to know if a person is guilty or innocent from looking at their mug shot unless they appear to be very drunk, and a mug shot does not imply guilt or even that a crime has taken place. However, this does not stop people from speculating on the guilt or innocence of the person in the photograph. This can be damaging because this kind of speculation can sway the jury one way or another if they are exposed to the pictures through the media. But, mug shots are an important way of keeping a record of people who have been arrested in case they ever commit another crime, so people will continue to speculate about them until society finds a better way.