Jurisdiction as an object of frivolity

The chapter first describes the theatrical nature of jurisdiction and then considers, if “justice must not only be done, but it must also be seen to be done,” that there is always also an intrinsic potential of the spectacular in this “showing.” After exploring the principal differences between theatre and spectacle, the chapter then considers the ways in which currently court cases have become the object of spectacle. With respect to this, the chapter re-assesses Guy Debord’s analysis of the “society of the spectacle” by proposing to see the current dynamic in terms of spectacle-cultures. This is illustrated by a legal case related to the German NSU (National Socialist Underground). Its criminal activities, involving theft, arson, and ten murders, had to be claimed publicly at some point. They confessed to their series of politically motivated murders “playfully” via a self-made movie clip narrated by the Pink Panther, a popular cartoon character. By means of the clip the NSU aimed to reframe the judicial handling of its actions culturally , through an appeal to a larger audience that would make fun of a police force and a judiciary that had been too clumsy to find them out, that had time and again been a step behind, and that anyway spoke in antiquated language. Via a popular meme the NSU not so much challenged the judiciary, that is, but made clear it did not care much for an authoritative, independent judiciary.