Serial Killers: A fascination in popular culture
Serial murderers have been popular names in the mainstream and on the national level since the 1970s. The overwhelming prevalence of serial killers in popular culture reveals that not only am I intrigued by serial killers, but so are many others. Typically, a serial murderer is transformed into a larger-than-life mass culture sensation by the combined efforts of entertainment channels and news, law enforcement agencies, and the public's appetite for the ghoulish (Wilson, Colin, and Seaman, 49).
Blurring the line between myth and reality
Overstated serial killer portrayals in the media have blurred the line between myth and reality. Also, to identify the progression of fascination with serial killers and how the media portray them, it is significant to define a serial killer. Behavioral Science Unit of the FBI describes serial killings as the act in which a similar offender unlawfully kills two or more victims in separate events. Normally the categorization of serial killing goes along with the "cooling off period" or the time-span between the killings. This paper will focus on the reasons behind so much fascination with serial killers and how the media portray or sensationalize these people while giving examples from texts and films such as Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Natural born killers.
Why People Love Serial Killers
Serial killers are a constant basis for our culture's fascination, also have made it into pretty regular episodes of news shows, documentaries, and fictional roles, and it appears that the fascination of people with serial killers has continued to increase. According to Wilson, Colin and Seaman (22), a serial killer gets broad news coverage since it fascinates the public compared to a single murder. Persons in the society always insist for punishment of the crime and sympathize with the victim's family and the victim in case of single murder. Usually there lacks instantly clear reason or motive for crimes by serial killers while there exist a clear reason and motive for crimes by single murder (Jarvis,338). Compared to single murders, serial killings are always well planned.
The allure of the unknown
When people hear of events, their brain tends to want to build an immediate explanation as to how these events take place, and all rationale is defied by the serial killer. Looking at the idea of human death, tales of unnatural deaths tend to get most attention compared to tales of natural deaths since the last appears rather rational. Serial killers and their crimes are tantalizing as well as exotic to persons more like natural disasters or traffic accidents. Thus, individuals are drawn to them out of intense curiosity (Jarvis, 341).
The victims chosen in serial killing
The victims chosen in serial killing usually are likely to be a place of fascination. Although there exist several serial killers who focus on teens and children, young females appear to be the common selection amongst serial killers. Serial killers who focus on persons who participate in less popular activities are viewed as minimal violating than those focusing on individuals who are known innocents. Among the scariest serial killers, John Wayne Gacy is up to now still the scariest serial killer since at one of the local charitable events he was able to pose as a clown and he also concentrated on killing boys. The earliest scary memories were during the time when the kidnapping case of Adam Walsh appeared in media, and finally, he recognized to have been decapitated. It is not easy to view a parent searching for a kid in a store and unable to instantly think of his horrible end and kidnapping. The big catch in our fascination with this kind of killing is the reality that several killers are fueled by the idea that they will build fear and will turn out to be popular for their horrifying deeds (Simpson, 54).
Serial Killers: The mysterious and prolific
Serial killers normally murder randomly, selecting casualties on the basis of random opportunities that they are presented with or personal attraction. This aspect turns any person into a potential victim, although the likelihood of ever coming across one is almost similar to being attacked by a great white shark. Another reason for fascination with serial killers is that the serial killers are insatiable as well as prolific, insinuating that instead of murdering one person in a single impulsive act, they prefer to murder several individuals over a period of years. This is a normal pattern of killing in the United States. The behaviors of serial killers are apparently mysterious as well as with no logical motive like rage and jealousy. What drives them is their inner demons which even they might be unable to understand. Several persons are morbidly drawn to serial killers' violence since they feel compelled to, furthermore cannot understand it (Wilson, Colin and Seaman, 60).
A primal appeal
Serial killers have a visceral plea for the society the same to monster movies, for the reason that they offer a euphoric adrenaline rush. As a result, their violent stories in the entertainment media, as well as news, are addictive. Lastly, serial killers offer a means of expression for the most primal feelings of the public like anger, lust or fear. Serial killers represent a compelling, complex as well as lurid presence in the social setting (Jarvis, 338). There seem to be an inherent tendency of humans to sympathize and identify with each and everything whether bad or good as well as serial killers.
Media and Serial Killers
Carter (32) states that serial killing is intensely rooted in Western cultures, and serial killers are the subject of extensive coverage in entertainment media and news. In spite of plenty dissimilarities between serial killers and serial murder cases, a good number of depictions of mass media of these cases are likely to present two images including serial killer as a celebrity and serial killer as a monster. Media representations disclose a lot of cultures. Also, the application of extreme images such as celebrity and monster speak especially loud.
The portrayal of danger and violence
One form of monster imagery employed in the films and media is the language which proposes an all-inclusive danger in the whole geographical region. For instance, in the film Natural Born Killers, phrases and words like "I'm natural born killer" (Hanley, 335), "gun models" (Hanley, 335) shows danger and violence thus instilling fear. In the Darkly Dreaming Dexter, there are various phrases and words which have been used that portray danger, these include: "I'm a very neat monster" (Lindsay, 18), "Killing makes me feel good" (Lindsay, 25), "a savage inhuman monster" (Lindsay, 45) and many others.
The portrayal of animalistic qualities
The next form of monster imagery which is frequently used is the depictions of the serial killers which suggest a sense of animalistic and savagery qualities (Carter, 76). In the film Darkly Dreaming Dexter, Dexter Morgan is very psychologically damaged in his everyday relations with other people surrounding him (Lindsay, 39). He is out of touch with emotions of humans. However, his new emotions that he learns confuses him even more. Dexter's urge to kill is very high all through the film. Moreover, in the same film, young Dexter is also taught by Harry how to kill without leaving any clues, how to be a meticulous murderer and making sure the victim is guilty before murdering him (Lindsay, 68). On the other hand, in the film Natural Born Killer, a group of rude cowboys, Mallory and Mickey enters 5 to 2 cafe celebrating after a fresh deer kill; Mickey orders a key lime prime and Mallory his partner in crime looks part Pocahontas, part prostitute dances seductively to the jukebox (Hanley, 335). Another instance is when Scagnetti is attacked with a knife by Mickey, he had threatened to cut off the breasts of Mallory if Mickey had refused to give up the gun. Finally, Mickey and Mallory kill the last guard and steal a van (Hanley, 109).
The allure of celebrity
Use of celebrity imagery is when serial killers are made celebrities by the media. People become so fascinated with serial killers and give them star status. Simpson (65) notes that serial killers are often romanticized as well as glamorized. Also, the films reveal the popularity of the serial killers more indirectly (Wilson, Colin and Seaman, 56). In the film Natural Born Killers, Mallory and Mickey receive higher ratings from the public, this shows the fascination of the public with serial killers and makes these people celebrities (Hanley, 72). Also, Mickey refers to Wayne Gale as a media person.
Works Cited
Carter, Cynthia. Violence and the Media. McGraw-Hill Education (UK), 2003.
Hanley, Jason. “Natural Born Killers.” Postmodern music/postmodern thought 4 (2002): 335.
Jarvis, Brian. “Monsters Inc.: Serial killers and consumer culture.” Crime, media, culture 3.3 (2007): 326-344.
Lindsay, Jeff. Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Vol. 1. Hachette UK, 2009.
Simpson, Philip L. Psycho paths: Tracking the serial killer through contemporary American film and fiction. SIU Press, 2000.
Wilson, Colin, and Donald Seaman. The serial killers: A study in the psychology of violence. Random House, 2007.
Wilson, Colin, and Donald Seaman. The serial killers: A study in the psychology of violence. Random House, 2007.
