Ethnographic interpretation
An ethnographic interpretation of the Damien Echols incident
WHAT IS ETHNOGRAPHY?
Ethnography falls under the paradigm of interpretivism, which states that reality is subjective, stable and can only be known through interpretation. Ethnographic research can be focused on an entire group or as is the case in this study, on the reality experienced by a particular individual within that individual’s culture, environment, values, beliefs and society.
In this video, it can be seen that the reality that he was convicted on, was actually challenged by other peoples’ perspectives of reality. They don’t share the same culture and beliefs and therefore the same reality.
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Damien Echols came from a poor background, dropped out of high school and spent some time in a mental institution for hallucinations, lack of insight and mood swings. He lived in West Memphis in what is known as the “bible belt” – so called because protestant fundamentalism is the prevailing culture – suggesting social conservatism. He was previously arrested for vandalism and shoplifting.
During his death penalty sentencing hearing Echol’s psychologists reported that Echols claimed that he obtains super powers by drinking human blood
In 1994, Damien Echols and two other teenagers, were tried and convicted of the killing of 3, 8-year old boys, allegedly as part of a satanic ritual. Despite pleading ‘not guilty’, Echols was sentenced to death on the basis of ‘expert’ testimonies by several experts such as a psychologists statement that Echols claimed he obtained super powers by drinking blood. Despite several retrials and appeals and controversy over jury misconduct and questionable expert witnesses, he spent a total of 18 years in prison, 10 years in solitary confinement and 78 days on death row. After new evidence came to light including DNA evidence and retraction by a witness, Echols was released from prison. What follows is a truncated form of participant observation in the form of a virtual ethnographic analysis of an interview given by Echols to Katie Couric, 3 years after being released.
THE INTERVIEW
In Mr Echols’ case, there are clearly four cultures involved. These cultures are the culture of the Bible Belt where he grew up, the judicial system in America including his conviction and the prison culture and the culture he finds himself in as a free man.
BACKGROUND ENVIRONMENT
Coming from a small town in the Bible Belt, anyone not adhering to the rules or local ideology was suspect, including the music you listened to, the books you read, or the way you dress. Being different led to Mr Echols and two other teenagers, of which one was his close friend and the other a friend known from school, to be targets of the police which later led to their arrest and prosecution for murder in 1994 based on circumstantial evidence and a suspicion that Satanism was involved. He came from a poor background which is perhaps echoed in his description of a computer as a “glorified typewriter for rich people”.
Mr Echols mentions his accusations of Satanism as being proven by the fact that he read Stephen King novels. He mentions this almost derisively as being a ridiculous accusation.
THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND PRISON
When the verdict took place it felt like an outer body experience, choosing a violent analogy to describe the feelings he had at the time. He talks about being sentenced to die three times while fiddling with his fingers, suggesting that this was a very emotional experience for him. He accepts what has happened to him as being ‘ordinary’ but acknowledges that the fact there were cameras in the courtroom saved him from a sure death. He is very articulate throughout suggesting that he has accepted what has happened to him and the fact that he had support from celebrities in getting his conviction repealed adds to the confidence he expresses. The support he received by various people in an attempt to overturn his conviction once he had become a celebrity in his own right due to a film about his life, suggests that the American culture of the time did advocate the support of causes that they perceived to be unfair.
Mr Echols does not mention much about his prison environment, but does emphasise that he was sentenced to die three times, “I was sentenced to die over and over and over again” – a statement that shows a certain amount of trauma and indicates that the prison culture is one of inconsistency. He also mentions his health and his realisation that unless he agreed to an Alpha Plea which he describes in a matter-of-fact way as being an agreement to plead guilty and at the same time maintain your innocence, he would not escape the prison environment. This indicates a desire to keep on living. He describes the Alpha Plea as being ‘bizarre’ and “nonsensical” in contrast with an earlier statement where he states that his conviction was not out of the ordinary. This statement is followed by a justification why the Alpha Plea exists, justifying this bizarre and nonsensical situation in the judicial system of America. Solitary confinement is only mentioned in juxtapostition with his release into a different ‘environment – that of a free man in America.
A FREE MAN
In answer to the question of what his life was like in the three years after his release, Mr Echols emphasises that his release was an adjustment. He indicates that he experienced shock, trauma related to his release in addition to relief and happiness. His release was an adjustment from the culture of the prison to life in American society where technology had advanced to beyond his basic experience. The fact that he mentions computers, internet, cellphones and ATM s suggests that these aspects of American culture were of relevance to his adjustment to the society he found himself in. Adjustment is a word he repeats, indicating that there was a marked difference between prison life and his life as a free man.
References
John, E. Arkansas Executions: Damien Echols, Ex-Death Row Inmate, Will Speak for Condemned, The Guardian, 26 May 2018, retrieved on 30 January 2018 from https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-injection/arkansas-executions-damien-echols-ex-death-row-inmate-will-speak-n744471.
McCausland, P., Damien Echols: how I survived death row, 11 April 2018, retrieved on 30 January 2018 from https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/lethal-injection/arkansas-executions-damien-echols-ex-death-row-inmate-will-speak-n744471.
Penguin Random House, 21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read, retrieved on 30 January 2018 from https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/230978/damien-echols