Is It Possible To Have “Ethical” True Crime Consumption?
It’s patently obvious that our culture has a preoccupation with true crime which has now crossed into a full-on obsession. Back in the day, we’d see coverage of grisly murders or home invasions on the nightly news or in the papers; now, there are hundreds if not thousands of books, podcasts, shows, documentaries, and other media solely dedicated to the subject.
With the intersection of influencer culture, this obsession has widened into an even more popular genre, especially with the likes of makeup and true crime videos. Weirdly enough, this genre has launched the career of many influencers, elevating them from small time creators to well-known social media figures with massive followings. But fans and other consumers are finally beginning to ask: Haven’t these creators built their careers on actual, horrible circumstances – cases with real victims and real impact? This begs a bigger, broader question: Is it possible to have “ethical” true crime consumption?