The romanticization of true crime
Crime Scene Graphic (Alana Moscoso-Mendoza/The Puma Prensa)
Written By: Alana Moscoso-Mendoza, Staff Writer
Have you ever been asked, “Who’s your favorite serial killer?” or “What’s your favorite true crime case?” If so, some popular names might have even popped into your head - criminals such as Jeffery Dahmer or Ted Bundy can be common conversation topics. But if you sit and think about the connotations of having a “favorite” crime or criminal, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that you’d realize how out of touch such a claim is.
The romanticization of criminals has been a topic discussed for years now. It is a process in which consumers of true crime stories glamorize the criminals of said stories because of attractive traits they may possess. For example, if a criminal is physically beautiful, they are often glamorized and admired despite their horrific crimes. However, in many instances, criminals are only viewed this way because the actors playing them are usually widely adored. Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, a Netflix drama series detailing Dahmer’s crimes in a way that entertains the audience, was released on September 21, 2022. It received high praise from true-crime lovers and its general audience alike. Jeffrey Dahmer is a well-known serial killer and sex offender who claimed the lives of 17 young boys and men. His crimes were horrific, and by extension, Jeffrey Dahmer was a terrible and evil man. The actor who plays him in his Netflix series is Evan Peters, who gained most of his popularity through his role as Tate Langdon in American Horror Story. Because Evan Peters is considered attractive by many fans, his role as Dahmer received high acclaim, and many individuals across the internet went on to boast about Jeffrey Dahmer’s attractiveness. His crimes were undermined, and fans threw themselves at a fictitious version of Dahmer only able to be imagined by completely ignoring the atrocious decisions he made throughout his life.
Moreover, the Netflix series was presented as an entertaining, dramatic TV show. Considering the show's popularity and success, Netflix made money from this, not an insignificant amount either. There are distinct differences between a documentary and a drama series. The most obvious one is that, in most cases, documentaries are meant to be strictly informational. They often give a detailed description of an event with first-hand accounts of those involved.
On the other hand, drama shows are often solely meant to gratify an audience. This can be applied in the case of The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, in which Netflix made millions of dollars by recounting Dahmer’s story in a way that would captivate an audience. Something significant to note is that the families of Dahmer’s victims were never contacted. Their names and the stories of their family members were utilized for profit without ever being spoken to.
The moral implications of this - using real, horrendous crimes done to real victims without even communicating with their families to make money - are evident. To put it simply, it is wrong. The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and many other shows and series made only to entertain have disrespected grieving families of victims as they attempt to heal from the real trauma of these crimes. The victims’ families may never recover. No matter the case, it is guaranteed that the thought of their loved one being brutally violated and having their life stolen from them will never leave. While this should be without question, the victims of these crimes should be allowed to rest without their murderers’ actions being excused and dismissed. Instead, murderers like Dahmer are loved and glamorized, and their crimes are essentially forgiven.
Consuming these series isn’t inherently wrong, but it is essential to understand the moral grey area they reside in. The criminals portrayed are real, their victims are real, and the hurt and trauma that resulted from the recounted crimes are real. It is essential to recognize that, even though the series themselves can be considered fictional, nothing about what they depict is fake, and under no circumstance should a criminal be praised.