Voyeurism fuels morbid fascination, whilst the fictionalised narrative within my work subconsciously forms a safe space for the viewer, through the knowledge that there is no real killer at large. But why do we feel safe through the knowledge that what we are viewing is either fictionalised or read through the columns of a newspaper?
'If a protected context exists - such as a TV programme designed to bring up conflicting emotions - then it means that its morbid nature is encompassed within an acceptable, safe sphere, the media situation establishes the 'respectability' boundaries and can transform an originally 'sick' feeling into good morbidity.'
(Binik, 2019)
These subconscious boundaries created between the 'safe sphere' of the TV or newspapers or any other type of media, helps fuel people's morbid fascination as they do not feel fear from what they are watching or reading. This in a sense, although with possibly some exceptions such as the viewer living close to the vicinity of a crime, applies for both fictional and true crime reports. Even with true crime, a reader feels a sense of safety with the knowledge that they neither witnessed or came close to the morbid events.
Binik, O. (2019). The Fascination with Violence in Contemporary Society. Springer Nature.
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