Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture

240 Pages·2018·1.966 MB·English

by  Carmen M. Cusack

Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture plays with iconic representati ons of fusion, limin- M
ality, dispossession, and development. Mutati ons embody life because they illustrate phases U
T
and progression. Mutati ons and mutants fascinate the public. They are depicted by arti sts, in-
A
cluding James Franco, Cary Elwes, Sara Bareilles, The Smashing Pumpkins, Quvenzhané Wallis, T
E
Pablo Picasso, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Debbie Reynolds, Maddie Ziegler, the Olsen twins, Mark
D
McGrath, and Paul Simon. This book discusses physiological manifestati ons of mutati ons, such

S
as beauty and specialness (e.g., white ti gers); aestheti c (e.g., redheads); innovati on (e.g., Mor- Y
monism); and prowess (e.g., tuxedos). Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture focuses on M
B
strata that are popularly contemplated in culture and by the law; for example, primordial states
O
(e.g., sleep); supranatural physicality (e.g., bionic); irresisti ble impulse (e.g., psychopath); queer
L
semanti c shift (e.g., “gay”); and class (e.g., Leo). S

I
Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture interweaves interdisciplinary analyses because mu-
N
tati ons exceed defi ned ranges. For example, symbology and culture evocati vely synergize in
L
consti tuti onal law. A symbol becomes legally protected if it is intended to communicate a A
W
parti cularized message that is likely to be understood by observers. This book demonstrates

that mutati ons may not be suffi ciently protected as speech. Even though the symbolism of A
N
mutati ons is the subject of study, the meaning of specifi c symbols may not be understood by
D
the public. Symbols of mutati on may identi fy cultural desires, embrace zeniths, and transform

P
mundane or worn events into fantasies. Perhaps as a means of preserving, defending, and O
protecti ng mutati ons, culture has exhibited and spotlighted them. P

C
U
CARMEN M. CUSACK, J.D., Ph.D., has published several books discussing mutati ons. She em-
L
phasizes the importance of examining progress, and her works include arti cles and studies, T
U
among them “Saving Capti ve White Tigers: An Assessment of an Animal Law Treati se” (2017),
R
“Save the White Tiger” (2016), and Animals and Criminal Justi ce (2015). Her interest in mu- E
tati ons advances politi cs and art, such as veganism and shock. Dr. Cusack’s pro bono work
.
includes Mr. Clucky’s evicti on and Tilikum. She teaches courses on sexual off enders for Nova
C
Southeastern University’s Criminal Justi ce Ph.D. program and on animals in the criminal jus- U
S
ti ce system, which she originated for the Master’s degree program. Dr. Cusack has worked for A
C
celebrity clientele, including Lawrence Taylor (LT). As a yoga instructor, she taught inmates at
K
Women’s Detenti on Center and children at Camillus House, a rehabilitati ve center for women.
www.peterlang.com P
E
T
E
R
L
A
N
G
Cover image: “Mirror,” by King Zulu and Carmen M. Cusack. CARMEN M. CUSACK
Copyright © Carmen M. Cusack.
Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture plays with iconic representati ons of fusion, limin- M
ality, dispossession, and development. Mutati ons embody life because they illustrate phases U
T
and progression. Mutati ons and mutants fascinate the public. They are depicted by arti sts, in-
A
cluding James Franco, Cary Elwes, Sara Bareilles, The Smashing Pumpkins, Quvenzhané Wallis, T
E
Pablo Picasso, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, Debbie Reynolds, Maddie Ziegler, the Olsen twins, Mark
D
McGrath, and Paul Simon. This book discusses physiological manifestati ons of mutati ons, such

S
as beauty and specialness (e.g., white ti gers); aestheti c (e.g., redheads); innovati on (e.g., Mor- Y
monism); and prowess (e.g., tuxedos). Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture focuses on M
B
strata that are popularly contemplated in culture and by the law; for example, primordial states
O
(e.g., sleep); supranatural physicality (e.g., bionic); irresisti ble impulse (e.g., psychopath); queer
L
semanti c shift (e.g., “gay”); and class (e.g., Leo). S

I
Mutated Symbols in Law and Pop Culture interweaves interdisciplinary analyses because mu-
N
tati ons exceed defi ned ranges. For example, symbology and culture evocati vely synergize in
L
consti tuti onal law. A symbol becomes legally protected if it is intended to communicate a A
W
parti cularized message that is likely to be understood by observers. This book demonstrates

that mutati ons may not be suffi ciently protected as speech. Even though the symbolism of A
N
mutati ons is the subject of study, the meaning of specifi c symbols may not be understood by
D
the public. Symbols of mutati on may identi fy cultural desires, embrace zeniths, and transform

P
mundane or worn events into fantasies. Perhaps as a means of preserving, defending, and O
protecti ng mutati ons, culture has exhibited and spotlighted them. P

C
U
CARMEN M. CUSACK, J.D., Ph.D., has published several books discussing mutati ons. She em-
L
phasizes the importance of examining progress, and her works include arti cles and studies, T
U
among them “Saving Capti ve White Tigers: An Assessment of an Animal Law Treati se” (2017),
R
“Save the White Tiger” (2016), and Animals and Criminal Justi ce (2015). Her interest in mu- E
tati ons advances politi cs and art, such as veganism and shock. Dr. Cusack’s pro bono work
.
includes Mr. Clucky’s evicti on and Tilikum. She teaches courses on sexual off enders for Nova
C
Southeastern University’s Criminal Justi ce Ph.D. program and on animals in the criminal jus- U
S
ti ce system, which she originated for the Master’s degree program. Dr. Cusack has worked for A
C
celebrity clientele, including Lawrence Taylor (LT). As a yoga instructor, she taught inmates at
K
Women’s Detenti on Center and children at Camillus House, a rehabilitati ve center for women.
www.peterlang.com P
E
T
E
R
L
A
N
G
Cover image: “Mirror,” by King Zulu and Carmen M. Cusack. CARMEN M. CUSACK
Copyright © Carmen M. Cusack.
Mutated Symbols in
Law and Pop Culture
This book is part of the Peter Lang Media and Communication list.
Every volume is peer reviewed and meets
the highest quality standards for content and production.

PETER LANG
New York  Bern  Berlin
Brussels  Vienna  Oxford  Warsaw
Carmen M. Cusack

Mutated Symbols in
Law and Pop Culture

PETER LANG
New York  Bern  Berlin
Brussels  Vienna  Oxford  Warsaw
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Cusack, Carmen M., author.
Title: Mutated symbols in law and pop culture / Carmen M. Cusack.
Description: New York: Peter Lang, 2018.
Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018015412 | ISBN 978-1-4331-5193-4 (hardback: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4331-5197-2 (paperback: alk. paper)
ISBN 978-1-4331-5194-1 (ebook pdf)
ISBN 978-1-4331-5195-8 (epub) | ISBN 978-1-4331-5196-5 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Symbolism in law. | Symbolism. | Sociological jurisprudence. |
Law and art. | Culture and law.
Classification: LCC K195.S95.C87 2018 | DDC 340/148—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018015412
DOI 10.3726/b14176

Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data are available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.

© 2018 Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., New York
29 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY 10006
www.peterlang.com

All rights reserved.
Reprint or reproduction, even partially, in all forms such as microfilm,
xerography, microfiche, microcard, and offset strictly prohibited.
Thank you to King Zulu, King Rex, and Charaka.

contents
List of Figures ix
Introduction 1
Chapter 1. Wedding 15
Chapter 2. Sleep 41
Chapter 3. Bionic 55
Chapter 4. Psychopath 71
Chapter 5. G-Word 89
Chapter 6. Redheads 99
Chapter 7. Church of Latter-Day Saints 123
Chapter 8. Leo 143
Chapter 9. White Tigers 151