Sep 16 2017

SYSK Selects: How Handwriting Analysis Works

Selects 41 min 2 movies discussed
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In this week's SYSK Select episode, one of the fields of forensic investigation, handwriting analysis is based on the principle of uniqueness - that each person writes in their own peculiar way. Learn about this interesting area of crime fighting and how it's worked to advance itself as a real science.

AI Summary

# Stuff You Should Know Episode Summary

Josh and Chuck dive into the forensic science of handwriting analysis, exploring how investigators compare writing samples to solve crimes and catch forgers. They explain the difference between the pseudoscientific graphology and legitimate forensic handwriting examination, break down the methods analysts use to identify unique characteristics in people's penmanship, and share wild cases like the Hitler diary hoax and the Jon-Benét Ramsey investigation. Along the way, the guys discuss everything from how cursive is basically dead to Chuck's high school forgery skills and the ongoing efforts to make handwriting analysis more scientific and less subjective.


Movies Discussed

American Beauty
American Beauty
1999 2h 2m
★ 8.0
"You know? Remember American Beauty? Yeah. — Chuck mentions American Beauty in reference to collectors of Nazi memorabilia, suggesting the film depicted such characters." — Chuck
Gandhi
Gandhi
1982 3h 11m
★ 7.6
"I like to do it with Gandhi, remember that movie? Oh, yeah. Made him look like a saint. — Chuck references Gandhi as an example of a biographical film that embellished the subject's character to make them more heroic." — Chuck

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