The Netflix documentary Making a Murderer brought the Steven Avery murder trial into the public spotlight. Viewers were outraged, believing Avery was falsely convicted.
But was he actually guilty? Some key facts were left out of the series that point to his guilt. This raises important questions about how documentaries can manipulate our perception of guilt and innocence.
In the US legal system, you’re innocent until proven guilty. When you serve on a jury, you must assume the defendant is innocent until the state proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
However, our minds can be easily manipulated depending on how information is presented. My own experience serving jury duty showed how indignant jurors became in their judgements, regardless of the actual evidence.
Making a Murderer left out critical evidence against Avery. Another documentary, Convicting a Murderer, highlights what was omitted and makes a strong case for his guilt.
Watching both films back-to-back is an interesting exercise in seeing how your mind can be swayed. At first Avery seems wrongly convicted. But the full facts paint a very different picture.
In this episode, I discuss:
Talented filmmakers can control the narrative and make anyone appear guilty or innocent to suit their agenda. This shows the importance of looking at all evidence yourself before making judgements.
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The episode Manipulating Perception: What Do You Believe You See? first appeared on The Successful Mind Podcast.