True crime documentaries have become increasingly popular, and major entertainment platforms, like Netflix, have capitalized on this demand.
Dozens of their crime shows have made it to their Top 10 list and received millions of views. Shows like “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”, “Casting JonBenet”, “Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer”, and “The Keepers” have received both praise and criticism for their depiction of the events that happened in each of the cases.
Crime enthusiasts appreciate the accuracy and details that some of these shows go into, however, critics say that many of these documentaries go too far–exploiting the victims for entertainment and monetary gain. Many documentaries over-dramatize the events that occurred, which some people find to be bothersome because real people were affected by these stories.
Another major part of the true crime community is true crime podcasts, which brings up the question, is it ethical for third-party people/businesses to make money off of the stories surrounding someone’s death?
During these podcasts and shows, the stories surrounding the trauma and deaths of these victims are often overdramatized to make them more entertaining for the audience.
It could be argued that companies and people who create these podcasts and shows–who are making a living off of the stories of people who have been victimized–are in the wrong for using the stories. On the flip side, it could be argued that all of the information is already public knowledge, so they aren’t putting any new information out into the world that someone couldn’t find on their own.
According to this study, documentary-style TV shows are the #1 most-watched genre in the United Kingdom. While not all documentaries are true crime related, a significant portion of them are about the world’s most infamous serial killers and the thousands of people who have been victimized by them.
Those that love true crime find these documentaries to be fascinating. Many of them also agree, however, that there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed when making these shows about real-life events.
The most important thing is to be as respectful as you can be when it comes to the victims and sharing the stories of their lives and deaths.
What are your thoughts on true crime, let us know on Instagram @HerCampusSJSU!