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An Unusual Suspect? Unreliable Narrators In Fiction And Law, Cathren Page

Articles

This article discusses the common traits of unreliable narrators and provides solutions for those seeking to defeat unreliable narrators in legal battles. Since the unreliable narrator concept first developed and evolved in literary analysis, the article explores and compares unreliable narrators in both fiction and law.

When the audience cannot depend on the accuracy or reliable character of a narrator’s account, literary criticism deems these storytellers “unreliable narrators.” Unreliable narrators exhibit certain “tells,” which disclose to savvy or intuitive audience members that some aspect of the narrators’ tale is dubious. These unreliable narrators can be divided into two broad categories, …

Stranger Than Fiction: How Lawyers Can Accurately And Realistically Tell A True Story By Using Fiction Writers’ Techniques That Make Fiction Seem More Realistic Than Reality, Cathren Page

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This Article differs from other articles on related topics in that it focuses broadly on including specific details to establish an overall sense of reality. In contrast, in his article, This is Not the Whole Truth, Professor Steve Johansen discusses those details that can ethically be omitted; this Article, however, is about which select details to include rather than to omit. Although some articles have focused on details regarding specific objects, such as an obtuse object or an endowed object, this Article covers a wider category of details that applies throughout the narrative as opposed to details that surface only …

Astonishingly Excellent Success Or Sad! Loser! Failure: Why President Trump’S Legal Narratives “Win” With Some Audiences And “Lose” With Others, Cathren Page

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While President Trump is often called a liar and various commentators have analyzed his rhetorical approach, little has been said about storytelling's role in his wins and losses. Trump’s narratives about legal issues enjoy wild success with his supporters, amuse some critics, and terrify others. Thus far into his presidency, his legal narratives have often failed with courts. With nearly sixty-three million American voters backing Trump, scholars and students of persuasion cannot ignore his successes. However, with over sixty-five million Americans voting against him and various court’s ruling against him, scholars and students of persuasion also cannot ignore his failures. …