The true grit behind true crime

- Introduction

● Imagine a world where horrifying crimes become captivating entertainment, and serial
killers are portrayed as charismatic figures, even gaining sympathy from the audience

● Looking at the movie posters on the screen, raise your hand if you have ever watched
any of them or heard of them. All these movies have one thing in common. They are
portrayal of different serial killers and their stories

● I personally have watched ¾ of them and I will admit I did enjoy them while watching
them. I understand the fascination of wondering why serial killers can act like the horrific
killers on my screen. I can assure we are all guilty of this feeling but today I want to
explore the reason why.

● Is the fascination harmless, or does it have a darker side? Does making these figures
romantic and interesting make us less sensitive to violence?

● While some argue these portrayals are just fictional escapism, I want you to think about
the consequences.Does making serial killers glamorous chip away at our empathy for
the victims?

● By discussing this, I hope you can begin to think about the responsibility of the
entertainment industry and its potential impact on how we see the real world, where the
consequences of violence are anything but fictional.

Argument 1: Understanding Human Fascination with Serial Killers**

I. Introduction
A. Thesis statement: The fascination with serial criminals portrayed in the film industry is
driven more by human instinct for survival and a need to understand potential dangers in our
environment than by promotion from the industry itself.
II. The Roots of Fascination (Logos)
A. Evolutionary perspective
1. Dr. Scott Lilienfeld's research on "morbid curiosity"

● To better understand our fascination with serial killers, we first need to understand our
evolutionary relationship with predators.
● "Why We Are Fascinated by Serial Killers" by Dr. Scott Lilienfeld, highlighting his
research on "morbid curiosity."
● “...tendency to seek out information about dangerous circumstances.”
● To best understand morbid curiosity, Imagine a zebra living in the wild, and there are
lions around. Running away from lions all the time would tire you out, so instead, you try
to figure out when the lions are actually hunting and pose a real threat. This behavior is
called predator inspection.
● Now, humans, even though we're not dealing with lions daily, have a similar thing going
on with dangerous people. We have this curiosity about understanding the minds of
dangerous humans who could do us harm.

2. Analogizing predator inspection behavior in animals to human curiosity about dangerous

individuals

B. Beyond the Media (Ethos and Logos)(INTRODUCTION-QUICK)

1. Historical examples of true crime fascination before the film industry
2. Folklore, ballads, and public executions as early mediums for true crime narratives
3. Acknowledge the influence of the film industry but prioritize inherent human curiosity
4. Refute the counter-argument using historical evidence

C. Historical Evidence
1. Folklore and Ballads
● a. Example: "The Gosport Tragedy or the Perjured Ship-Carpenter"
● Ancient Origins explains “was written in the 1560s. In this gruesome tale, a carpenter
gets a woman pregnant, spends an evening digging her grave, then murders her
under the guise of a meeting to plan their wedding. Her ghost then haunts him in
order to get justice for her death.”

2. Public Executions
● a. Example: Execution sermons among Puritans
● “Popular amongst Puritans, execution sermons were composed to be delivered before
the execution of a criminal. Those who attended the execution would hear the sermon
and learn in great detail the circumstances which led the guilty party to this fate, and how
they could have acted differently to avoid execution.”

b. The role of pamphlets and the printing press in the 1600s

 ● “The origin of written true crime coincides with the advent of the printing press, first
developed in Germany and later spreading across Europe and England. Initially, true
crime writing was accessible mainly to the wealthy due to low literacy rates among the
lower classes. In the early 1600s, pamphlets detailing local crimes emerged in England,
responding to changes in the justice system and often motivated by religious beliefs.”

CONCLUSION
1. Acknowledge the film industry's role in modern day but acknowledge morbid curiosity and
how crimes were spread back then
2. Prioritize human curiosity in understanding danger and dark human nature

**Argument 2: Consequences of Romanticization in Film**

I Introduction
A. The Problem: Romanticization and its Consequences

II. Romanticization (Logos & Pathos)

A. Defining romanticization in film- in this context refers to the act of portraying serial killers in
a way that downplays the severity of their actions, elicits sympathy, or even presents them as
charismatic or intriguing figures.
B. Films like "Dahmer" and "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" as examples

What do these films focus on?

● extensively on the killers' backstories and motivations, dedicating significant screen time
to exploring their childhood experiences or mental states,
● while giving minimal attention to the victims' lives, experiences, and the emotional
turmoil their families endure (Logos).
● A 2021 study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence found that films focusing
on serial killers dedicate only 10% of their runtime to the victims' experiences,
● focusing primarily on the killers' motivations and narratives.
● This reinforces the societal tendency to sensationalize the perpetrators and overlook the
human cost of their crimes.

III. The Human Cost (Pathos)

A. Victims and their families' suffering- One of the consequences of romanticizing serial killers
in films such as Dahmer is that it causes the victims' families to go through the traumatic events
once again, causing severe emotional distress.

B. Quotes from victims' families and their perspective

One Striking Article by forbes explained: The mother of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims
spoke out against the hit Netflix series Dahmer—Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story after
its lead actor won a Golden Globe this week, saying the depiction of murderers in pop
culture “keeps the obsession” with killers going, making her the latest family member of
a Dahmer victim to criticize the series.

IV. Ethical Concerns (Logos & Pathos)( ANALYSIS)

● A. Desensitization

- Use exaggerated portrayals, showing intense violence and making the stories more
dramatic, all for the sake of entertainment (Pathos).
● This kind of storytelling plays with viewers' feelings, making them morbidly curious and
fascinated by the criminals, rather than feeling empathy for the victims and
understanding how serious the crimes are.
Repeated exposure to graphic details and dramatized portrayals can gradually numb our
emotional response, desensitizing viewers to the gravity of these crimes (Logos).
● A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology [cite the study
here] found that individuals exposed to graphic depictions of violence exhibited
decreased emotional response over time, highlighting the potential for desensitization
and slowly chipping away one of the most important emotions, sympathy.

V. Responsible Storytelling (Logos & Pathos)

A. Shift towards responsible storytelling and Focus on victims
- It is crucial to emphasize the importance of focusing on the victims and their experiences
(Logos). Giving voice to the voiceless and ensuring their stories are told with respect and
empathy is not only an ethical imperative but also a vital step towards understanding the
full impact of these crimes.
B. Advocate for accurate portrayals
- It is essential to strive for accurate and non sensationalized portrayals of perpetrators
that avoid glorification (Logos & Pathos). Factual representation without sensationalizing
their actions is crucial to maintain objective storytelling and respect for the victims.

VI. Conclusion (Logos & Pathos)

In conclusion,

● Be a discerning viewer: Engage critically with media, questioning narratives,

seeking diverse perspectives, and fostering healthy discussions.
● Remember the victims: Prioritize their stories, honoring their experiences and
advocating for their voices to be heard.
● Conduct your own research: Seek out reliable sources, learn about the victims
and the complexities surrounding these cases, and contribute to a more informed
and responsible understanding

● The exploration highlighted how skewed narratives can overlook the real suffering
caused by these crimes.
● Victims deserve our empathy, and our entertainment choices should show awareness of
the human cost.
● Knowing why we're fascinated, we hold the responsibility to make thoughtful choices.

● Let's prioritize narratives that balance curiosity with compassion in the world of true
crime entertainment.
● Choosing content that respects the gravity of these crimes and acknowledges unheard
voices is a small yet impactful way to navigate our consumption.
● In doing so, we demonstrate understanding of the lasting impact on lives forever altered
by tragedy.