By: Rilynn Fluitt
True crime is defined as a nonfiction genre of literature, film, podcasts, and other media that depicts and examines real crime cases. True crime originated in America during the 1960s, following the violence of certain political events such as the Vietnam War.
It became infamous in the following decades by obsession over serial killers like Ted Bundy. The reality of these events made the common person realize that they could become the victim of a violent crime.
According to a study done by Boston University media researcher Kathryn Coduto, one reason for interest in true crime could be that we have immediate and consistent updates to every case through social media. Since we always have access to our phones, we can always go over the details of a case. “There is something unique about crime stories because crime feels like something that could happen to any of us,” Coduto said in the report.
“I think it somewhat validates people’s paranoia,” sophomore Maren Christensen said. “It makes their fears feel real.”
“Most people are attracted to true crime because it’s like an interesting story,” sophomore Anabelle Cyphers said. “They like hearing about what happens to the characters in them.”
The emergence of crime shows such as Criminal Minds and Law and Order that show the perspectives of serial killers and other criminals pique the interests of the people.
“I think it’s interesting gaining different perspectives on crime,” Christensen said. “You get to know more about it through interviews and interrogations, rather than just the victim’s point of view.”
While the majority of true crime media focuses on violent crimes, they can also include political crimes and court cases. An example is former billionaire and Silicon Valley inventor Elizabeth Holmes, who was convicted for one count of conspiracy to commit fraud on investors.
Holmes was the founder of a start-up called Theranos, where they claimed they could run many tests on someone’s blood within minutes and at a good price compared to the technology we have now.
On October 16, a documentary about Silicon Valley inventor Elizabeth Holmes hit the theaters. In just a few days, it’s already made over 15 million dollars. The documentary is the only movie in 20 years to hit No. 1 in the box office while being shown in less than 1,000 theaters.
Nathan Fielder, the director of the film, was invited by Holmes into her home to record her a few weeks before she was sent to jail.
“Elizabeth Holmes’s case is incredibly different from the normal true crime people like to watch,” Christensen said. “But Nathan Fielder makes up for this by representing the viewers in the way that he asks questions. We know nothing about high level blood tests and clearly neither does he, so he talks to Elizabeth and her husband in a very realistic way.”
