An evidence board (also known as a "conspiracy board," "crazy wall," or "murder map") is a common background feature in thriller and detective fiction movies and TV.[1][2] It features a collage of media from different sources, pinned to a pinboard or stuck to a wall, and frequently interconnected with string to mark connections.[3] A more technical related name for these sorts of visualizations and charts within law enforcement are Anacapa charts which are used for social network analysis.[4]

Evidence boards are associated in fiction with both detective activities and obsessional interests, including those of delusional individuals pursuing conspiracy theories[citation needed], hence the alternative names.

Evidence boards can be seen in numerous TV series, including Homeland, Fargo, Sherlock, The Bridge and True Detective.[5][3]

Evidence boards have also been used as a teaching tool.[6]

References

  1. ^ Ganzert, Anne (2020). Serial Pinboarding in Contemporary Television. Cham: Springer International Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-35272-1. ISBN 978-3-030-35271-4. S2CID 213491641.
  2. ^ Gilmore, Shawn. "Narrative String Theory (NST)". The Vault of Culture. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b Benson, Richard (2015-01-23). "Decoding The Detective's 'Crazy Wall'". Esquire. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  4. ^ Sparrow, Malcolm K. (1991-09-01). "The application of network analysis to criminal intelligence: An assessment of the prospects". Social Networks. 13 (3). Elsevier: 254. doi:10.1016/0378-8733(91)90008-H. Retrieved 8 August 2021. Use of the Anacapa charting system, as developed by Anacapa Sciences Inc., Santa Barbara, California 2, is currently the predominant form of network analysis within law enforcement. It is used particularly frequently within major fraud investigations and by Organized Crime Squads, where understanding of large and sometimes sophisticated criminal enterprises is required. Anacapa charts constitute a two-dimensional visual representation of link data (see Harper and Harris, 1975; Howlett, 1980; Klovdahl, 1981; Coady 1985). They provide a method of making visual sense of a mass of data. They are also an extremely useful tool for communicating the results of analysis (and thus are used as briefing aids as well as aids for analysis). Anacapa charts generally depict individuals by small circles, and relationships by lines (solid or dotted according to whether the relationship is confirmed or unconfirmed). The charts may also show rectangles enclosing one or more individuals as a method of representing membership of corporations or institutions. They clearly show who is central, who is peripheral, and visually reveal chains of links connecting one individual to another. To a network analyst they look like typical network diagrams.
  5. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2020-04-26). "'Homeland' Showrunner Declassifies the Series Finale". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  6. ^ Tarr, Russel (2018-02-13). "Producing "Crime Boards" to highlight connections / contrasts". Tarr's Toolbox. Retrieved 2020-08-06.

Further consideration

See also

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