Text Analysis: Comparative Response
Michael Uszynski
In both "Serial" and "Making a Murderer," the audience is positioned to view the accusers as potentially malicious through similar techniques. In "Serial," the podcast provides evidence through the use of techniques such as interviews, this is evidenced by the way the detectives interviewed Jay Wilds, who claimed to have helped Adnan bury Hae's body. Jay recounted every detail of the crime and the events before insisting that he had proof that Adnan did the crime. However, Jay contradicted himself by changing his story throughout the investigation. This is evidenced by how he told police that he had no involvement, however, he later changed his story to say that he had helped Adnan bury the body and provided a detailed recount of the events leading up to the murder. Similarly, in "Making a
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The montage consists of statements from detectives to the victim planting Avery’s name into their head; “That sounds like Steven Avery.” Furthermore, the sketch of the “assailant” was done from Avery’s picture not the victim’s description, ultimately leaving Avery to be singled out from a line-up. Overall, by highlighting inconsistencies among testimonies and presenting evidence that the prosecution’s case had malicious intent, both "Serial" and "Making a Murderer" influence the audience to question the fairness of the cases.
In both “Serial” and “Making a Murderer,” Adnan Syed and Steven Avery maintain their innocence throughout the case and are portrayed as the victim to the audience, as the filmmakers employ similar techniques to convince the audience of the accused's innocence. In
He knew exactly where Hae's car was. He claims to have helped bury Haes body. Over the course of Adnans trial, Jay retold his story on how Adnan murder Hae but many inconsistencies were found. The observations of Haes body Jay spoke about don't match autopsy reports. In Sarah Koenig podcast, Serial, she reviews Adnan's case but there are many pieces of evidence that show how the use of Jays information proves he commited the murder.
This is an example of pathos; Koenig is appealing to the audience’s emotions, always trying to display Syed’s character so the audience feels that he is a good person and isn’t capable of murder. Although expressing whether the character of a person is good or bad is generally more of an opinionated standpoint, the state’s case does use the suggestion that Syed is a ‘bad person’ to prove their
The evidence will show that the State's main witness, Jay Wilds, who was allegedly involved in the aiding of the victims murder, is an unreliable witness. Jay’s testimony has many inconsistencies and misleading information. During Jay’s interrogation with the police, he changes multiple parts of his story. The following are a few of the modifications the witness made, one Jay states to have refused to help in the digging of the victims grave but later reforms his story and states he did. Two, Jay told police Adnan informed him about his plan to murder Ms. Lee the day the murder occurred but later alters his story and says Adnan had frequently mentioned killing her.
At the age of 17, Adnan Syed was charged for the murder of Hae Min Lee, but I don’t believe he did it, and I want to tell you why I think it was Jay who committed the murder. In this case there are days worth of reading for evidence. Just in the transcripts, there’s 288 pages, some of it evidence, some of it conversations, and some of it interviews. There are so many people involved that it's very difficult to say for certain that Adnan did it, but it's also very difficult to point out anyone else that could have done it as well.
Episode 7 of “Serial” is a defense compilation that incorporates new opinions into the case. The episode begins addressing Justin Wolfe’s case, which is similar to Adnan’s case since cell records were used as well. Wolfe’s friend, who was the killer, got a deal and turned against him in court. Due to the similarity, the narrator, Sarah Koenig, talks to Deirdre (a person involved in Wolfe’s case) about Adnan’s case. Deirdre had a lot of questions about Adnan’s case concerning various small details and people involved, like Jay.
He tells the police that Adnan, did in fact, kill Hae. Jay also helped take her body to Leakin Park to help bury it; making Jay an accomplice. This was the police’s main lead in the entire investigation. The story seemed some what legit for the most part. Plus, it was the only thing they could really go on.
The prosecution case against Adnan Syed was mainly based on the testimony of Jay wilds, who said he helped bury Hae Min Lee's body. Jay's testimony was supported by the cell phone records that placed Adnan on the site on the Day Hae Min Lee disappeared. According to the prosecution, the evidence sayed that Adnan had a motive to Kill Hae, because he was jealous and possessive of her. However, there are inconsistinces in Jay’s testimony, which has changed multiple times over the years. Some people also claimed that He was pressured into providing false testimony by the police.
Serial is a true-crime podcast narrated by Sarah Koenig. In this podcast, Koenig goes through the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, and whether Adnan Syed, Lee’s ex-boyfriend who was convicted of the crime, is guilty of Lee’s murder. As she narrates the podcast, Koenig presents evidence to support both views and offers her opinions as she navigates through the evidence. In the podcast, Koenig’s narration is clearly biased toward Adnan Syed’s innocence. In the podcast, Koenig shows a clear bias towards Adnan Syed’s innocence, as she did not accurately portray Asia McClain’s letters, did not fully evaluate the other potential suspects, did not objectively evaluate Jay Wilds’ witness statement, and had outside influence.
“I just sometimes wish they could look into my brain and see how I really felt about her. Whatever the motivation is to kill someone, I had absolutely-- it didn't exist in me,” Adnan said (Koenig, “The Alibi”). He explains in a way that will make people pity or sympathize him. He wants people to look past the bigger picture and believe he never could’ve done this act by being strategic with his word choice. Adnan believes since the case faded out “No one ever has been able to provide any shred of evidence that I had anything but friendship toward her,” (Koenig, “The Alibi”).
By appealing to the audiences’ emotions, Koenig is able to grab the listener’s attention and make the audience feel for Adnan, “ I’m explaining all this just to say that, the simple fact that he was found in Lincoln Park, for a lot of people that alone made Adnan look innocent. ‘What’s a nice boy like you doing in a park like that?’” Koenig makes sure to reference the fact that Adnan was viewed as a kindhearted guy, who would never do anything to hurt someone, multiple times throughout the podcast. She uses quotes from his friends and family to prove this, each admitting how fond they were of Adnan. This taps into the listener’s emotions, making it harder for us to believe that this kid, who everyone views so highly of, is capable of committing first degree murder.
People are convinced that Adnan committed the crime and that he is the killer. However, throughout the trial, there is a lack of evidence and also a lack of DNA evidence proving that Adnan did commit the crime. Syed was recently released from prison in September 2022 after serving 23 years. He is an alibi in the case meaning that he was accused of a crime while being elsewhere and being accused of a crime. There is a high possibility that Adnan is found guilty quickly because of his lack of emotions for Hae’s death and also since everything that happened throughout the case is pointed at Adnan for the blame.
Plus Adnan gets his lawyer through the prosecutor, and the lawyer doesn't even try hard enough to protect Adnan’s rights. Jay Wilds was a key suspect in the Hae Min Lee case. He testified against Adnan Syed, Lee's ex-boyfriend, claiming he helped Syed bury the body. His testimony was a key piece of evidence used to convict Syed. The possibility of Jay lying about Adnan is always present, as Jay may have a motive or incentive to portray Adnan in a negative light.
Jake is out to see if a fair trial can be held in the south, were racism is large. Camera angle is a technique used to clearly label and display the good from the bad, and the one sided affair. Carly is found not guilty due to insanity therefore winning the trial. The book and film differ in the outcome of the trial.
The most difficult thing an author can do when telling a story, is attracting an audience, and maintaining the audience’s engagement. In Serial, while telling the story of Adnan Syed, Sarah Koenigs attracts the audience with her purpose which is proving that Adnan Syed was wrongfully convicted and isn't completely guilty. Sarah maintains the attention of her audience by using emotional, and logical appeal, while also establishing credibility. In other words she uses the rhetoric made up of Pathos, Logos, and Ethos.
However, the beginning ends with detectives interviewing Jay, an acquaintance of Adnan, who claims that Adnan repeatedly spoke about murdering Hae, and called him when he had supposedly