The Polanski Problem

An English assignment, examining the case against Roman Polanski:

The Polanski Problem

On September 26th, Swiss police at Zurich Airport arrested Oscar winning film director Roman Polanski. It was an event which has sparked debate on both sides of the Atlantic, and is but the latest dramatic chapter in Polanski's remarkable life. Considered a flight risk by Swiss authorities, Polanski is currently being held in Zurich where he is likely to remain during what may be a lengthy battle against extradition to the United States.

His arrest is due to events 30 years in the director's past. Accused of drugging and raping 13 year old Samantha Gailey at the Los Angeles home of actor Jack Nicholson, Polanski was arrested and charged with several offences in relation to the incident. After agreeing a plea bargain, the greater charges were dismissed with Polanski pleading guilty to “engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor” and reporting to Chino State Prison for a court ordered 90-day psychiatric evaluation from which he was released after 42 days.

A sentence hearing was to follow, but Polanski failed to attend having fled the country. The documentary film 'Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired' alleges this was in response to the prosecution's coaching of the judge and the fear of a lengthy prison sentence, instead of the probation they had been promised in the course of the plea bargain.

In the intervening years Polanski has not returned to the United States. When he was awarded the '2002 Academy Award for Directing' for his film 'The Pianist' he could not attended the ceremony for fear of arrest. It was revealed that Polanski reached a $500,000 settlement with his victim in 1993, an amount which had increased through non-payment to nearly $605,000 in August 1996.

Clearly there are several legal aspects within the saga, which are likely to take several years to resolve. They begin with Polanski's current incarceration in a Zurich cell. The United States have 60 days from his arrest to apply for his extradition, which they are expected do so well within their allotted time. This seems the most clear cut of the legal challenges, the treaty between the US and Switzerland and Polanski's status as a convicted felon who has fled, both weigh heavily against the director's case. I see no reason to expect Polanski should not be returned to the United States to face the more serious charges.

In December 2008, Polanski's lawyers sought to the case against him dismissed due to the allegations of judicial and prosecutorial misconduct. The request was dismissed at the time due to Polanski's reluctance to appear in Los Angeles court, where he would have been subject to arrest. If extradited, this request will undoubtedly be resubmitted.

A victory for Polanski in this battle would not necessarily free him, as he could potentially still face charges relating to his having 'fled the jurisdiction'. An outright defeat would leave him facing the sentencing hearing he avoided over 30 years ago and the possible imposition of a weighty sentence due to his guilty plea and his attempt to avoid punishment. There is however a third option, in which Polanski could find himself, for the first time, facing a trial in relation to the initial charges from which this circus has grown.

While Polanski agreed to plead guilty as part of his plea bargain, it may be argued that he only did so in fear of the consequences should he lose a trial. It is unlikely this scenario will ever arise and so we are unlikely to ever have the trial, which would make clear the events from 30 years ago.

Polanski, like other infamous public figures, clearly seems to be guilty of something, but what charge (if any) he will receive punishment for, is yet to be seen.

English - Comparison of 'Gin Lane' and 'Beer Street'

A recent assignment for English:

A Comparison of Hogarth's Prints 'Gin Lane' and 'Beer Street'

Issued by William Hogarth in 1751, the prints 'Gin Lane' and 'Beer Street' served as his contribution to the debate on the evils of gin. His position was made clear by the shocking differences between the two pieces.

With the two placed side by side, it's the print of Gin Lane which contains the more eye catching imagery. its depictions of a society ravaged and ruined by gin are in stark contrast to the partnering print, with a warm collection of amiable looking souls enjoying homegrown, wholesome, British beer. The overall impression of the prints is their depiction of opposites. The inhabitants of Gin Lane are shown struggling in a world of despair and decay, while their neighbours live in peaceful prosperity.

The characters are given a detailed backdrop to play against. In both, businesses and buildings provide insight into the economic situations the societies are in. On Gin Lane, businesses cater to the demand for gin or the consequences of its presence. We see the gin cellar with the inscription upon its lintel “Drunk for a penny, Dead drunk for twopence, Clean straw for nothing”, calling patrons into its subterranean depths. Above is the aptly named Kilman distillery, the source of the surrounding misery. We are shown the undertakers hard at work, their services in great demand with new customers in abundance. Among them is the unfortunate barber who has hung himself from the rafters in the decrepit room above his shop. The people of Gin Lane seem to have little use for a shave and haircut.

The most prosperous fellow we see on Gin Lane is Mr Gripe the pawnbroker. Unlike the barber, his trade is very much in demand by the denizens of Gin Lane and he is busy dealing with two customers at once. The desperate souls have been driven to selling their essential possessions to fund their addiction.
In contrast, on Beer Street it is the local pawnbroker Mr Pinch who finds himself fallen on hard times. His is the only property in disrepair and no customers await his attention. Outside his door is a scene of prosperity and wealth. There is a feeling of happiness on Beer Street with smiling faces and flirtations in evidence. They certainly seem well fed with plump faces and bulging stomachs.

Rounded bellies are not in evidence on Gin Lane. Instead we have the emaciated figure in soldiers garb, dead or dying at the foot of the stairs. Above him a dog and boy fight over a bone. There are none of the baskets of fresh produce which are shown on Beer Street.

The blacksmith is shown brandishing a leg of ham or mutton, although in earlier issues it was instead a depiction of a Frenchman being ejected by the more muscular man. Professor Ronald Paulson suggests that this amendment was made to avoid confusion with the ragged sign-painter.

He is a lone figure, towering above the corpulent fellows below as he paints a sign advertising gin. Why his appearance is so different is unclear. Perhaps there is so little demand for the spirit here that he makes little money advertising it for sale? He may also be a harbinger, quite literally a sign of things to come where the perils of gin could be visited upon the unsuspecting population he surveys.

The images of the children of Gin Lane are arguably the most horrific. The sight of the baby as it begins its fatal tumble into the stairwell below is the focus of the piece. The mother seems unaware of its fate as she sits half clothed and sore ridden reaching for a pinch of snuff. More sickening yet is the madman brandishing the body of a babe impaled upon a stick, while yards away sits a crying newly orphaned infant, its mothers body being placed into a coffin.

If these are the strongest of the images used there are also subtler workings in evidence. Take the contrast of the sedan chair, conveying its passenger in relative comfort through the busy Beer Street. On Gin Lane the transport is a little less refined, as we see a woman being wheeled in a barrow, another female feeding her gin.

Although it may not be apparent at first glance, there are similarities within the scenes. The majority of characters in both are depicted with a drink close to hand. There are also very few persons captured in the act of working, the exceptions providing a stark contrast. The sign-painter completing his sign for gin on Beer Street and the industrious few on Gin Lane who profit from the suffering around them. While both locations contain a pawnbroker their situations differ greatly and if the inhabitants of either locale choose to raise their eyes from their busy surroundings, they will see the spires of churches looking down upon them. A reminder perhaps that God watches over rich and poor alike.

One Day Down

Heading home at 3pm? It's been a long time since I last kept those kind of hours.

My anxieties were building last night and on into this morning but it didn't take long for them to disappear once we got started. Our usual Monday morning Sociology class was replaced today by a general introduction to the course. We went over the structure and objectives and things got a little less scary.

I've learnt that I'll need a bigger breakfast (with some coffee) to make it through the morning classes, by 10:30 I was stifling yawns as my stomach rumbled. Luckily our tutor Yvette wrapped things up with an hour to spare so it was a chance to grab a discounted latte and get to know some of my classmates for the year ahead.

It turns out one of my fellow students, Ricardo, was a couple of years below me at school and is best friends with my cousin. It's a small world isn't it? As for the others on the course, it's a good mix of people in the class with a lot of different backgrounds and experiences. I'm not the youngest by any means but I'm not the oldest either so that's one worry assuaged.

After our long lunch it was time for English with Steve Fitzpatrick, complete with our first writing assignment. Admittedly it was just a short piece giving some background about ourselves. It seems we'll be doing a lot of work in groups and pairs so there'll be an emphasis on discussion over dictation, which suits me perfectly. We've got four English units during the 33 weeks of the course, with our grades dependent on the successful completion of three essays and an oral presentation.

A little light homework covering some of the most common spelling mistakes topped of the end of a great first day. Tomorrow I'm facing a hard morning of Maths with a Study Skills session after lunch.

The Night Before

At 09:30 tomorrow morning it begins...

My first class in nearly ten years is a two hour Sociology lesson, and while I'm not expecting it to be too challenging, I've never studied Sociology before so it will be a new experience for me.

My second class is after lunch, two and half hours of English and this is where I think the struggle will begin. I always found it a challenge to stay focused in classes dealing with topics I felt I already had a good understanding of. I need to set aside any arrogant belief in my superiority and be open to retreading old ground in the hopes of discovering something new.

While the college provides courses for those aged 16 and upwards, my course is for mature students only so it shouldn't feel too old. Four and half hours isn't an overly strenuous workload for my first day but nonetheless I'm approaching it with a degree of trepidation and nervous energy.