True crime content is massively popular across media yet is often met with resistance or judgement. Unfortunately, certain pieces of true crime media such as Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story distort the genre by over-empathizing with the perpetrator.
True crime content is massively popular across media yet is often met with resistance or judgement. Unfortunately, certain pieces of true crime media such as Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story distort the genre by over-empathizing with the perpetrator.
It would be naïve to pretend that all true crime content can produce a positive impact.
Similarly, I find it equally naïve to disregard the entire genre rather than consuming it responsibly and in a victim-honouring way.
True crime, at its best, can provide us with a greater sense of awareness about our own society. The genre lends itself to raising awareness of the dangers that we can encounter, or even highlight how efficient—or inefficient our justice system is.
The origins of true crime
Originating circa 1550 in Great Britain, the first publications reporting on capital crimes quickly gained popularity among literate people. These publications were typically circulated as pamphlets. Other forms of crime narratives, such as ballads or trial accounts, were also prevalent in the creation of the genre.
Notably, the tone used in these pamphlets came in a spectrum. While some publications relied on remaining strictly informational, others relied on sensationalizing the criminal’s actions and psyche. Similar to modern true crime content, the lack of a uniform tone throughout the genre remains.
True crime’s Achilles’ Heel
True crime content often fails to be meaningful when it is created to become sensational and shocking to audiences. It is impossible to defend pieces of true crime media that display gruesome recounts of murder or violence without caring for revictimizing those affected by it.
As said by Sarah Stern from The Varsity regarding the entertainment industry and true crime:“It is clear that the entertainment industry has no interest in respecting victims of violence. Instead, the industry cares more about romanticizing violence so that it can line its own pockets.”
If the public passively allows media companies such as Netflix to produce sensationalized true crime content, the genre will continue to fall flat amongst those who hold higher standards for the content they consume.
Issues that originate from true crime content, when it is not made considerately, are not to be underestimated. Still, the flaws prevalent in the genre should not prevent one from seeking content that can remain respectful to the victims and their families involved.
Where true crime shines
The true crime genre is so distinguishable from other genres of storytelling for its ability to help the audience empathize with unfortunate, yet real life circumstances. Sure, many fictional stories may be able to generate empathy from the audience towards the characters, but never to the degree of true crime.
The greatest expression of true crime can balance detailed recounting of crimes without stripping victims and their families of their human dignity. Many independent true crime content creators ensure that they have the victims’ families consent before telling their story, while others donate to the victims’ families directly. In doing so, they show the upmost respect for victims, and make an effort to always honour their legacy.
True crime stories that are told respectfully and without romanticizing or excusing the perpetrator’s behaviour bring awareness to the most heinous injustices in our society. The genre serves as an avenue to highlight the darkest sides of people, and in many cases the equally heinous negligent behaviour that the justice system often engages in. While tragic and shocking to hear about victims’ lived realities, it should serve to empower the audience to be vigilant of the world around them and to ask more of their justice system for the victims in their own community.
Many may gravitate towards the genre for morbid human curiosity, but I argue that long-time followers of true crime cases have a greater motivation—to hear the stories of those who have been left voiceless and to demand more from our justice system to prevent others from becoming victims themselves.
