True Crime, True Punishment:
Who Murdered Marie-Joelle?
Living Room Fest
Conceived, Written, + Created by Andrew Child
Conceived, Written, + Created by Andrew Child
|
Music Composed + Performed by
Emily Politi & Juliana Joy Child |
Supported by
Brandeis University Creative Arts Division |
Featuring: Ethan Child, Percy Child, Liz Eacman, Sara Kenney, Francis Xavier Norton, Jamie Semel, and Karina Wen
"Jared Povitsi, an undergrad student from a prestigious Connecticut college (it starts with a 'Y'...), has his interest piqued by the murder of six-year-old pageant queen Marie-Joelle Birdie. He takes a journey to the Birdies' home in Briley County, West Illihoma, to interview locals, family friends, and an intense pageant coach to try and solve this case—and make his first podcast. With a pending arson case in the county, a community theatre vying for local press, and a whole lot of Evangelical influence, Jared quickly gets wrapped up in the chaos of the mystery and the ways it has changed the people of Briley County. A parody of and commentary on our national fascination with the true crime genre, this three-part serial is conceived, written and edited by Andrew Child."
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Thoughts on creating True Crime, True Punishment...
True Crime, True Punishment: Who Murdered Marie-Joelle? stems from a meditation on our cultural fixation with true crime stories and how they define (or rely upon predetermined definitions of) justice and absolute truth. Where do those of us with qualms about our national justice system fit in the audience of a general public that is grotesquely fascinated with the macabre and unknown? How has our penchant for gruesome podcasts or television shows inherited the frenzied, widespread blood-thirst of the gladiators' duels or the Grand Guignol? Is there an ethical way to consume this media? Is there harm done when we turn murderers and their victims into celebrities or follow their lives as though they were on a favorite soap opera? These are all questions that I wanted to explore and am thrilled to have the opportunity to share the product. Thanks to the friends and family who contributed and advised.
