Blog post 8

Sources for True Crime Wiki Article:

1. A History of Violence by David H. Evans
   In this article, Evans describes how our country has a crime rate that exceeds other developed nations by at least five times. He claims that this is caused by the increasing amount of exposure to violence at a young age. Video games, movies, and even books encourage acts of aggression, suggesting to children from a young age that it is okay to act violently.

 

1. True Crime: The Origins of Modern Sensationalism by Joy Wiltenburg
   Wiltenburg discusses how “heavy-watchers” of television usually overestimate the rate of crime in their areas and the risk of them becoming a victim. “The fears sparked by perceptions of crime influence decisions about where to live, how to raise children, where to invest social wealth, what punitive governmental actions to support, how to view groups perceived as likely criminals—a broad range of choices and attitudes that affect the quality of a society and its political life.'” (Stephan Seplow, “Heavy TV Viewing Found to Deepen Fears”)

 

1. Babysitter Killers and Daughters of Death by Rosalind Smith
   Australia’s Wicked Women, written by James Holledge, bundles together historical and contemporary crimes of women in the 1970s. Smith explains how the relationship between women and their interest in criminal activity changes with the evolution of technology.

 

1. American Studies in Review: Killer Apps by Geoff Hamilton
   In the majority of the article, Mark Seltzer and David Schmid show concern for the increased fame of criminals and the social function that crime serves. Serial killers have been a prominent figure in society for decades now, including Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Hannibal Lecter. These criminals achieve a level of recognition from the public and are celebrities of their own brand.

 

1. Murder/Media/Modernity by Mark Seltzer
   This article shows the relationship between true crime and modern media today. True crime is the events of violent acts that report the details of crimes through the use of mass media. Events are told in such a way that seems as if it is fiction.