Crime and killers have long captivated the public imagination, whether through sensational media coverage, true crime documentaries, or fictional depictions in books and movies. But why are we so fascinated by these dark and often disturbing topics? What drives our interest in the minds and actions of those who commit violent crimes?

In this blog post, I’ll explore some of the reasons why crime and killers have become such enduringly popular subjects and look at topics that captivate us, our fascination with the macabre, and the ways in which popular culture has both reflected and reinforced our interest in these topics.

Our fascination with killers

The public’s fascination with notorious killers such as Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer are a stark example of our captivation with the actions and motivations of criminals. These two individuals in particular, due to the heinous nature of their crimes and their widespread media coverage, have become household names and continue to be subjects of intense public interest.

Bundy’s charm and charisma, coupled with his horrific acts of violence against women, have made him a subject of fascination for decades. His high-profile trial and eventual execution only added to his infamy, with media outlets covering every aspect of his case in minute detail.

Similarly, Dahmer’s gruesome crimes, which included cannibalism and necrophilia, shocked and horrified the public. His trial, which revealed the depths of his depravity, was widely covered in the media and cemented his status as one of the most notorious killers in modern history.

The ethical dilemma

When my mum (an avid reader and a fan of gory dramas) read an early draft of ‘Justified’ she said to me, “How did you come up with such a grisly murder?” It made me think. Not so much about where the idea came from, but about the concept of murder as entertainment and the ethical dilemma faced by murder mystery and crime writers.

Recently, the same question has been raised about the glamorisation of true crime following the huge success of the Jeffery Dahmer series. True crime is one of the fastest growing genres of entertainment and its followers are insatiable, demanding more stories about humanity at its darkest.

“Serial killers tantalize people much like traffic accidents, train wrecks, or natural disasters,” Scott Bonn, professor of criminology at Drew University and author of Why We Love Serial Killers, wrote at TIME. “The public’s fascination with them can be seen as a specific manifestation of its more general fixation on violence and calamity. In other words, the actions of a serial killer may be horrible to behold but much of the public simply cannot look away due to the spectacle.”

But true crime is about real people, in real, terrible situations, and that comes with real consequences. Some insist true crime exploits victims and their families, while others argue that it helps people to process their greatest fears, that it gives an insight into our culture and norms as well as our anxieties and values. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, ethically, true crime blows through our lives on a precarious breeze.

Our enduring fascination

The enduring fascination with crime and killers is a phenomenon that has captivated people for centuries. The media is awash with true crime shows, books, and podcasts, all catering to our insatiable appetite for the dark and disturbing. But why are we so drawn to these stories of murder and mayhem?

Some might argue that people are interested in crime and killers simply because it’s human nature to be drawn to sensational or dramatic events. After all, tales of violence and wrongdoing have been part of human storytelling for millennia, from the ancient Greek myths to Shakespeare’s tragedies. However, this argument alone does not fully account for the enduring popularity of these topics.

The appeal of true crime content, in particular, is not simply due to its sensational nature. True crime often involves detailed and often graphic depictions of real-life crimes, which can provide a sense of realism and authenticity that fictional crime stories may lack. It allows us to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche and understand the motivations behind heinous acts.

Another counterargument might be that our fascination with crime and killers is a result of media sensationalism, with news outlets and entertainment companies exploiting our fear and fascination with violence for profit. While it’s true that media coverage can shape public perceptions of crime and violence, our interest in these topics long predates the rise of modern media.

For instance, newspapers in the 19th century reported on sensational murder trials, and crime fiction has been popular since the days of Edgar Allan Poe.

So what are the cultural and psychological factors that drive our fascination with crime and killers?

One possible explanation is that it provides a way to explore the darker side of human nature in a safe and controlled environment. By consuming true crime content, we can satisfy our curiosity about these topics without actually putting ourselves in danger. Additionally, it may allow us to feel a sense of superiority or moral superiority, by exploring the actions of those we consider to be deviant or immoral.

Fascination with death

As I mentioned earlier, as human beings our fascination with killers, murder and all things death related has been around for centuries.

The paradox of violence and enjoyment dates back as long as human society and recorded history, from the prehistoric period and later Roman gladiatorial games.

The Victorians were fascinated by death which extended to the production of a range of Memento Mori, objects designed to remind the owner of the death of a loved one and indeed, their own eventual demise. Photographs of dead relatives became an increasingly popular feature of family albums. Not entertainment as such, but their approach to violent crime was much more recreational:

• The public would explore crime scenes before the arrival of the police following a murder.
• This allowed them to view the gory scene in its entirety; dead bodies and all.
• Funerals were attended out of curiosity and were quite often public events, especially if the deceased had been murdered.
• Accused murderers would be executed and then potentially carried down through main street for all the spectators to see.

In a completely morbid sense death is compelling, yet we fear it. You’d think that as we’re all so open about death –  reading about it, watching people die on TV and in movies – that the process of dying shouldn’t be a taboo topic. But, as soon as death becomes personal the discussion ends. Suddenly, it’s completely unreasonable to talk about death. A guy’s head being skewered on a spike in Last Kingdom – not a problem. Talking about your own death – no thanks.  

The origin of murder investigation in fiction

To bring this back to fiction, it’s perhaps no coincidence then that the first modern detective story is generally thought to be to Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” written in 1844, the Victorian era. In the story, Auguste Dupin solves the mystery of the brutal murder of two women in Paris. Poe’s Dupin isn’t a detective but he decides to investigate the murders for personal amusement. He displays many attributes which became literary conventions in later fictional detectives, including Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot.

The genre has increased in popularity ever since. A quick search on Amazon for ‘murder fiction’ brings up 100k+ results.

Why is crime fiction so popular?

Crime fiction usually gives us a resolution along with an insight into what makes people tick. One of the reasons crime fiction is popular is because people are fascinated by human behaviour. Sometimes we’re warmed by the actions of others and at other times horrified and appalled by it. In fiction we can safely read about the darker side of humanity, and most of us enjoy the neatness of a crime solved and a criminal brought to justice. That doesn’t always happen in real life, but crime novels usually restore balance.

Plus, we like puzzles and piecing together the parts of the mystery. Can we solve the crime before the detective in the book?

We grow up reading stories which follow the same pattern; the big bad wolf eventually gets his comeuppance for terrorising the three little pigs. The fact that he ends up boiled alive is a whole new subject altogether, but it demonstrates two things; firstly, the parallel between children’s and adult’s stories, and secondly that we’re exposed to violent death from an early age. Bambi broke my heart!

For me, a good crime novel is always about the characters, their motivations and their relationships rather than the actual murder. Yes, I enjoy the pace and suspense, but ultimately, I want to know what makes the characters tick.

Because a crime scene is fascinating, but the human mind is infinitely more intriguing.

In conclusion, our fascination with crime and killers is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that can’t be reduced to any single explanation. While human nature and media sensationalism may play a role, they do not fully account for the enduring popularity of these topics or the specific appeal of true crime content. Rather, a variety of cultural and psychological factors, such as our desire for justice, our fascination with the darker aspects of human nature, and our need for narrative resolution, all contribute to our ongoing interest in crime and killers.

Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast, a casual consumer of crime-related media, or simply curious about this enduring cultural fascination, I hope this blog post has given you some insights into the many factors that drive our interest in this topic.

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See you soon.

Wendy

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