Our society’s obsession over true crime
In television, now more than ever, crime pays.
A search for “true crime” on Netflix produced 300 titles. Nearly half of Apple’s top 20 podcasts in the U.S. are devoted to true crime, and the internet is chockablock with recommendations for the best new true crime books.
As I type this, Paramount+ is announcing that Dennis Quaid will play the real-life serial killer notoriously called “Happy Face,” based on the “Happy Face” podcast from iHeart. And Village Roadshow Entertainment is announcing both a scripted series and a two-part documentary based on the story of convicted serial killer William Dathan Holbert, better known as “Wild Bill,” who is currently serving 47 years in prison for five murders.
Why are Americans drawn to this genre more than at any time in TV history? Some people suggest the trend is linked to the continuing perception of rampant crime in American cities (a politicized issue whose statistics are debatable). But real-world crime is perpetrated largely by gangs, drug dealers and street thugs — none of which is central to most true crime dramas on TV.
Hollywood’s favorite theme concerns white females who were harmed by strangers, described by the late journalist Gwen Ifill “Missing White Woman Syndrome.” Surprisingly, Pew Research found that 43% of true crime fans are Latino, and 36% are Black, and 34% are white.
Dr. Chivonna Childs of the Cleveland Clinic believes, “True crime appeals to us because we get a glimpse into the mind of a real person who has committed a heinous act. We want to see how they tick, and that’s totally normal and healthy.” However, University of Colorado professor Amber McDonald says a “dopamine dump” occurs for many viewers of true crime programs, along with an adrenaline rush. “So there is a physiological component with these shows that gets people hooked beyond just the story.” This, she says, can lead to “secondary traumatic stress.”
“I’m concerned about the trajectory we’re on,” said Glenn Sparks, a professor at Purdue University who has studied the effects of media violence. “If I worked at Netflix I might say, ‘Well, this is what people want.’ But that doesn’t mean it should be provided,” he added. “Research shows that escalating violence on-screen can make us more tolerant of it in real life. It can leave lingering fear that can cause sleep disturbances and other problems.”
“Because Netflix bases so much on technology, when something works, you’re going to have a lot of different versions of that same thing. I think that’s what’s happening with this kind of violent content,” said Gina Keating, the author of “Netflixed: The Epic Battle for America’s Eyeballs.”
True crime drama has been part of tabloid media for over a century, but its modern exploitation is often traced to Truman Capote’s 1966 book “In Cold Blood,” covering the deaths of four family members on a Kansas farm. In the era of streaming television, the genre has exploded, beginning with “Making a Murderer,” the landmark Netflix program from 2015, with its story of a man accused of murder and sexual assault.
Regardless of how politicians spin the statistics, many Americans are concerned about safety. And Hollywood’s eagerness to exploit it is, indeed, a true crime.
Copyright 2024 Peter Funt distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. nPeter Funt’s latest book is “Playing POTUS: The Power of America’s Acting Presidents,” about comedians who impersonated presidents.
