Report on the Cancellation of “Happy Face” and its Intersection with Sustainable Development Goals
Executive Summary
The Paramount Plus streaming series “Happy Face,” a fictionalized drama based on real-world events involving serial killer Keith Jesperson, was canceled after its inaugural season. An analysis of this event through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals significant connections to goals concerning justice, health, gender equality, and responsible production.
Background of the Series
The series, which premiered on March 20 and concluded on May 1, was inspired by the life of Melissa G. Moore, who discovered as a teenager that her father was the notorious “Happy Face Killer.”
- Protagonists: The series starred Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa Moore and Dennis Quaid as Keith Jesperson.
- Source Material: It was based on the “Happy Face” podcast and Moore’s autobiography, “Shattered Silence.”
- Real-World Connection: Keith Jesperson is currently incarcerated at the Oregon State Penitentiary for murders committed in the 1990s, gaining his nickname from smiley faces drawn on letters he sent to media and prosecutors.
Relevance to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The core subject matter of “Happy Face” directly relates to the objectives of SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
- Access to Justice: The narrative inherently explores the consequences of extreme violence and the failures and functions of the justice system in addressing such crimes.
- Violence Reduction: The depiction of serial violence serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in achieving Target 16.1, which calls for a significant reduction in all forms of violence and related death rates.
- Institutional Accountability: The original case, involving Jesperson’s taunting letters to The Oregonian and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, highlights the critical role of media and law enforcement institutions, whose effectiveness and accountability are central to SDG 16.
Implications for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
The series’ focus on the killer’s daughter provides a powerful lens through which to view the broader societal impacts of violence, aligning with SDGs 3 and 5.
- Mental Health and Well-being (SDG 3): By centering the story on Melissa Moore’s trauma, the series underscores the profound and lasting psychological impact that violent crime has on the families of both perpetrators and victims, a critical aspect of public health.
- Gender-Based Violence (SDG 5): The victims of the “Happy Face Killer” were women. The story is a case study in the extreme consequences of violence against women, directly opposing the aim of SDG Target 5.2 to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls.
Connection to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The creation and subsequent cancellation of a true-crime drama like “Happy Face” can be examined as a case study in responsible media production and consumption patterns.
- Ethical Production: The entertainment industry’s practice of adapting true-crime stories for profit raises ethical questions about the commodification of trauma and its alignment with sustainable and responsible production principles.
- Market Signals: The cancellation of the series, despite the popularity of the genre, may indicate a shift in consumer preferences or a re-evaluation by production companies of the social and ethical sustainability of such content. This reflects the dynamic interplay between consumer demand and responsible corporate behavior envisioned in SDG 12.
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
The article’s subject matter is a true-crime story about a serial killer, Keith Jesperson, who committed multiple “murders.” This directly relates to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peaceful societies, providing access to justice, and building effective institutions. The text highlights severe breaches of peace and safety and the subsequent response from the justice system (“serving a life sentence at the Oregon State Penitentiary”).
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
The article explicitly states that the killer confessed to “killing women from Oregon.” This detail connects the crimes to SDG 5, which includes the target of eliminating all forms of violence against women. The gendered nature of the violence described makes this goal highly relevant to the issues discussed.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article’s focus on a “serial killer” who committed “murders” is a direct reference to the lethal violence that this target aims to reduce.
- Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The mention that the perpetrator is “serving a life sentence at the Oregon State Penitentiary” illustrates the application of the rule of law and the functioning of the justice system in response to the crimes.
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. The article’s specific mention of “killing women from Oregon” is a clear example of the most extreme form of violence against women, which this target seeks to eliminate.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
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SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
- Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age. The article’s discussion of “murders” and a “killer” directly implies the data for this indicator. The specific reference to “killing women” points to the importance of disaggregating homicide data by sex, as this indicator requires.
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Indicators 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 (Implied): While the article does not provide specific statistics, the act of “killing women” is the ultimate form of gender-based violence that these indicators (Proportion of women subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence) are designed to measure. The events described would be counted in data related to femicide, a key concern of Target 5.2.
4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions | 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. | 16.1.1 (Implied): The number of victims of intentional homicide is implied by the article’s reference to “murders” and a “serial killer.” |
| 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all. | The functioning of the justice system is implied by the fact that the killer is “serving a life sentence.” | |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. | The act of “killing women” is an extreme example of violence that indicators like 5.2.1 and 5.2.2 measure. |
Source: oregonlive.com
