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Since it began airing live on Court TV in April, the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, which took place in a courtroom in Fairfax, Virginia, has been the hottest show ever. broadcasting. It has been the subject of countless TikTok clips, hashtags, catchy fan posts, and “Saturday Night Live” skits.
A captivating audience member analyzed every quote, trait and idle redirects (e.g. Depp’s doodles) as a sign of innocence or blame in a case involving detailed allegations of physical and sexual abuse. The word “perform” came up over and over again – as if it were a surprise.
Of course.
As Heard stood for the last time this week in a striped three-piece, and Depp looked at her in a dark three-piece that almost matched his own – when the trial ended scheduled for May 27. – it’s rarely obvious that a courtroom is a theater and a trial is an ultimate drama, complete with high emotions, props and of course, costume.
It was as if, for a viewing world steeped in “American Crime Story” and “Inventing Anna,” the future show’s source material was being intentionally created in real time for everyone watch.
From the first step in, Depp and Heard were looking for their part: not as colorful magnets, but as respectful members of a society sensitive to the seriousness of the moment, to tradition. of court and the weight of truth. Have you heard about dressing to impress? This is the outfit to suggest.
Both appear remarkable…sober, at least judging clothes. In a trial for drug and alcohol abuse and related extremist acts, including physical violencethat’s not a coincidence.
So in a corner: Depp, a man who tends to be the king of rock stars, in a navy, gray and black three-piece suit, always fully buttoned up, tie, a square silk pouch is displayed in the left breast pocket. Silver skull jewels that his signature is reduced; desert scarves and boots were left behind.
It’s not exactly old Wall Street – the dark shirts and abstract printed ties speak to another cinematic stereotype – but it’s pretty close to the prosperous thief. Even his hair is neatly pulled back ponytailas if to emphasize the fact that he has nothing to hide: not his eyes or his face or his truth.
Actress Amber Heard, center, arrives at High Court in London, Monday, July 13, 2020 (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
A rager, as the defense suggests, with some uncontrollable “monster” (as the text messages sent as proof call it) inside? As if.
On the other side: Heard, the same goes for the classic navy and gray tones. She wears grandma’s clothes or skirt to midcalf; full button down blouses, often with ties or pussy bows; belts and pumps. Elegant, but inexpensive to telegraph. Her makeup is subtle; Her jewelry, small. Her hair is done with an intricate series of buns, braids and buns from the 1930s, sometimes the tassels just come out of its links.
Her vibe isn’t victimization or innocence or madness, which is often a tactic for female defendants. (See Anna Sorokin, who sometimes wears a white doll dress when appearing at her trial, or Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, who carries a diaper bag.) Instead, Heard suggests the modest girl and capable on Friday, from an era when women struggled to be heard – and when they came to support the homeland front and show their bravery.
Not okay, in the prosecutor’s words? An imaginary person? Obviously not.
Acknowledging the role of image making on human prejudice when it comes to justice, right and wrong, simply recognizing all the ways each side is trying to make its case – way party are appealing not only to those in the room, who actually decide the legal outcome, but also to the court of public opinion.
We who are also the reviewers and the jury when it comes to public redemption stories and career arcs. Fans of both actors have clarified their point of view social mediathough Depp’s more and more vocal.
There is a reason why the Supreme Court wrote, in Estelle v. Williams in 1976, that “the state cannot, consistent with the 14th Amendment, compel an defendant to appear before a jury while dressed identifiable prisoners.” The costume alone is likely to cause the jury to understand guilt. (However, the court later ruled that if the respondent had not objected to such dressing in a “timely” manner, the subsequent trial could not have been found unconstitutional.)
The right to wear what you want in court is part of the right to a fair trial. And since clothing can affect perception in a negative way, it can also benefit an individual. It allows you to continue to show your position, even when you are not taking a stand; when you just sit silently in place. As a result, an entire sub-specialty of the barbering profession has evolved centered on the courtroom.
Despite a lot of speculation on social media at the start of the trial that Heard was trolling Depp by wearing reflective clothing. fashion choices – he wears a bee tie, she wears a bee tie; he wears a gray suit, she wears a gray suit – and while that is certainly possible, a more likely explanation is that both legal teams have come to the same conclusion.
Specifically, to combat the stereotypes of star players as hysterical celebrities arguing with distorted value systems and distorted morals, they have to disguise their beliefs. The clothes we associate with adulthood, responsibility and reliability.
In a word: the suit.
“Defense attorneys try to use appearances to their advantage,” wrote Laurie L. Levenson in a 2008 article in the Missouri Law Journal that still holds up to this day. “They tweaked the language, dress, and general style of the courtroom to please the jury, while trying to alter the client’s appearance. Criminal defense guidelines encourage clients make up – every defendant needs the perfect, matching outfit hair style and lessons on proper courtroom manners. ”
In the court, as well as in the Supreme Court Wardrobe Department. In the past, according to Lyn Paolo, costume designer on “For the People,” “How to Get Away With Murder,” and “Inventing Anna,” on-screen courtroom appearances were often highly realistic. of fiction, but now that reality is also being transmitted to screens everywhere, the lines are increasingly blurred.
“We tell stories by how people dress and how they want to be treated,” says Paolo. “There are so many adjectives you can refer to the clothes you wear.”
In the end, this is partly an experiment in visuals, and how things appear on the outside compare to what goes on behind closed doors. Natural prejudice – about Celebrity and what does it represent, privilege, of sex role – and how such stereotypes can be changed through appearance and influence.
Did Heard play some role, as Depp’s attorney suggested? Of course. So is Depp. (So are their attorneys.) Not just because they’re professional actors, but because that’s what testimony requires: a convincing portrayal of honesty, credibility, using all of the available resources. tools available to create character.
In every sense of that word.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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