Serial Killers in pop culture PDF

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How serial killers are represented in pop culture assignment...

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Critically analyse how popular culture shapes our understanding of serial killers CRIM333 Unit coordinator: Jenny Wise Hannah Delhaas Student number: 220139701 Word count: 450

How serial killers are perceived has changed through the evolving stereotype portrayed in popular culture. The 'simple' or legal definition of a serial murder involving “three or more separate events, and most importantly, are repetitive sequential homicides of any nature” (Mouzos & West 2007) is no longer enough. They have to behave a certain way, have a particular physical appearance and must be a monster-like representation of evil to be a true serial killer, according to popular media. According to Epstein (1995), offenders have been released from police custody as they did not meet the serial killer stereotype created by popular media. The fact that even police and criminal justice professionals are making decisions based off stereotypes created by media is concerning and shows just how much influence popular culture has on our understanding of serial killers.

Serial killers are a part of all sorts of popular culture. There are video games, board games, music videos, art, trading cards, movies, theme park rides, books and television shows all dedicated to serial killers, During the 1980's and 1990's, “dozens of serial killers were featured on popular magazine covers, and films about them were instant box office smashes” (Campbell 2002). It is suggested that serial killers have become a new 'monster' or 'supernatural being' in popular culture which blurs fiction and reality for the audience. This image intrigues the audience, creating a fascination and interest for a person who commits such horrible crimes. Fantasy creatures such as vampires reflect the actions of serial killers (Greek & Picart 2003) and yet some people obsess over and idolise vampires whilst overlooking the fact that they are serial killers. This attention drawn to serial killers has encouraged people to murder and mimic their kills from popular media. Real life murderers John Muhammad and Lee Malvo, who murdered all over the world, got their inspiration from the fictional movie 'The Matrix' (Helfgott 2008). It is not just fictional accounts that influence us but also the news and media coverage of real-life serial killers. Dennis Rader and Gary

Ridgway who are two notorious serial killers, stated in their police interviews how they were “following other serial killers in the media” (Helfgott 2008). These facts prove how much people are influenced and shaped by popular culture. Serial killers can be seen as a celebrity rather than how they should be perceived as, a sick criminal with a twisted mind. Popular culture is largely negative in this situation as it has blurred the line between fact and fiction which ultimately encourages serial killers to murder so they can be this 'celebrity' that gets attention and can be featured in popular media.

References Bonn, S. (2017). Our Curious Fascination With Serial Killers. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/wicked-deeds/201710/our-curiousfascination-serial-killers Helfgott, J. (2008). Criminal behavior (pp. 384-385). Los Angeles: Sage. Mouzos J & West D. (2007). An examination of serial murder in Australia. Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice No. 346. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi346 Picart, C., & Greek, C. (2003). The Compulsion of Real/Reel Serial Killers and Vampires. Journal Of Criminal Justice And Popular Culture, 39-68. Retrieved from https://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol10is1/picart.html Simpson, P. (2017). Serial Killing and Representation. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.117 Wiest, J. (2016). Casting Cultural Monsters: Representations of Serial Killers in U.S. and U.K. News Media. Howard Journal Of Communications, 27(4), 327-346. doi: 10.1080/10646175.2016.1202876...