Romanticization of True Crime
The glorification of everyday people to fit into Hollywood’s unattainable beauty standards is not a new trend.
Back in the 1950s, our grandparents witnessed the transformation of Norma Jean to the beloved icon Marilyn Monroe. She had the potential and natural looks that the patriarchy of the media were quick to change into their next leading lady. She was put on a treadmill, given a bottle of hair dye, and given her new life on a silver platter; but with some conditions.
Despite dreaming of being more than just the sexy dumb blonde her characters portrayed her as in her blockbuster films, she was never able to achieve that goal. Her life ended tragically, without much evidence or speculation- due to her nonconservative lifestyle.
But, this is not what this article is about. Within the last decade, more TV shows and movies are romanticizing true crime stories for the big screen by using attractive actors to tell the stories of real life criminals.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
The new hit Netflix show, Dahmer- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, highlights the stories of the serial cannibal’s victims, his motives during the murders, and his childhood. From my own personal binging experience, it was a thrilling show that placed some of the blame of Dahmer’s crimes on the police department, big pharma, and the parenting styles of the 60s and 70s. While the show was chilling to watch, I couldn’t ignore how physically attractive Evan Peters still was.
From studying theater and psychology during my time in college, I know casting him to play this role was extremely purposeful and vital for the show’s imminent success. Being idolized as a “scary” sex symbol is not a new type of character for Peters to play or for writer’s to create. Classic, imaginary characters such as Dracula, Werewolves, and even Frankenstein have been given hints of romance and sex appeal.
But for gruesome and real criminals, why do casting directors choose to hire more attractive actors?
It comes back to the psychology of it all. As an audience, we like to watch and enjoy forms of media that are aesthetically pleasing to us. This leads film and TV producers to add extra care into the physical appeal of their actors. Historically, it also shows that people like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy were not as hideous as their actions.
Although I do not condone forms of glorification or romanticism, true crime shows and movies shed light on historical crimes in America. Everyday in our country there are people who are affected by different kinds of crime and violence enacted by seemingly “normal” people.
How we view and tell those victim’s stories is how we grow and change as a nation. Without the media and news outlets, these “monsters” stories would never be told or shared to the world.
Strike out,
Writer: Piper Leistman
Editor: Madison Sloan
Saint Augustine
