Imagine tales of brutal ax murders, the horrifically gruesome sight of bloody, violent crime scenes and vivid details of assault, robberies and arson. Only one genre of art can justify the glorification of these spine-chilling crimes: true crime.
The infamous genre of true crime can be traced back to as early as the 1600s, in which town leaders of small English towns described grim tales of violence and crime in order to teach religious lessons to their community members. Despite its old age, true crime has remained as arguably one of the most popular forms of entertainment in society. Every year, dozens of new TV shows, movies, books and even podcasts are produced to effectively draw in those deemed interested in the gripping, provocative genre.
True crime continues to grow in popularity, as new research has determined that nearly 50% of all Americans enjoy the genre. Many believe that true crime is popular because of its strong ability to captivate audiences. Many find true crime “addicting,” as one’s burning desire to explore a world that seems so far-fetched invokes curiosity and adoration. People find some kind of relief within delving into horrifying crimes, often from the safety of their own sofa, in order to make themselves feel better about the terror that takes place right outside of their homes.
While this may be factual, true crime has also faced controversy over the years for its portrayal of crimes, both fictional and real. Oftentimes, these adaptations of cases inaccurately characterize people involved in the case, as well as lack a focus on the real-life victims that actually endured the horrific crime.
One major example of this has been society’s relationship with the romanticized mafia over the years. Through popular movies including “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas,” “The Irishman,” and more, the media has portrayed members of the mafia as comforting, likable characters rather than detailing the grisly crimes that they commit frequently.
“The Sopranos,” a TV show revolving around the life of Italian mobster Tony Soprano, has won 21 Emmy’s—arguably for its ability to humanize the mob. Through this glorified lens of the mafia (especially the Italian mafia), American society associates the mob more with spaghetti dinners and comedic accents rather than the violence they perform on millions of people.
Another recent source of controversy has been found within the “Monsters” TV series on Netflix. “Monsters” has produced two seasons, each about a different violent crime committed. The first season, “DAHMER,” details the horrific crimes performed by infamous American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer, sentenced to 15 life sentences in prison, committed some of the most disgusting and unthinkable crimes known to man, including murder, mutilation, necrophilia, cannibalism and more. Dahmer was convicted for brutally ending the lives of 15 young men, yet the list is believed to have been significantly longer.
Though the TV show certainly displays some of Dahmer’s psychotic tendencies, it also heavily romanticized the life of Dahmer. By giving his character a narrative platform, it allowed for audiences to feel a large amount of sympathy for him. As a result, family members of victims were furious, arguing that they had no idea about the show’s creation and that the inaccurate portrayal of Dahmer and his behavior led to a lack of focus on the victims that actually endured these crimes. Following the show’s initial release in 2022, TikTok accounts even posted romantic edits of Dahmer’s character, creating a trend of sympathy for the serial killer.
Contrasting to “DAHMER,” however, season two of “Monsters” faced harsh backlash for its inaccurate portrayal of the Menendez brothers, who famously killed their parents in 1989 after experiencing years of traumatic abuse. The case was incredibly well known in the 1990s, as not only was it one of the first high-profile trials to be publicly televised, but it also discussed harsh themes of sexual abuse towards young men, which at the time, American society struggled to accept. However, as time has allowed for society to fully grasp the idea that sexual abuse can happen to all genders, many have revisited the Menendez case in an attempt to bring justice to the two brothers who had undergone a lifetime of sexual, physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez.
Director Ryan Murphy portrayed Lyle’s character as a manipulative, irrational young man who is primarily to blame for the murders. After hearing about “Monsters” entirely false and deeply offensive portrayal of himself, Lyle Menendez voiced his strong opinions on the show’s writing, stating, “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward – back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.” Additionally, thousands of supporters in favor of the brothers have voiced their opposition to the show, vocalizing their reactions on social media.
As true crime continues to increase in popularity, it is incredibly important to educate oneself on the details of the case and keep the victims in mind. Many TV shows and movies will portray crimes inaccurately in order to gain more viewership rather than prioritizing bringing justice for the victims affected. Therefore, when indulging in your favorite true crime podcast or book, try to make an attempt to do your own research on the case, as you can truly never know the full story.
