Expert explains crime genre’s appeal ahead of 'Dexter: Resurrection'
From true crime to scripted dramas, audiences’ appetite for crime-related entertainment continues to expand.
Despite a saturated genre, one character has fascinated viewers since his 2006 television debut in the namesake series “Dexter.” Based on books by Jeff Lindsay, the show follows forensic analyst Dexter Morgan, who is also a serial killer and, in his mind, a vigilante. He returns to the small screen July 11 on Showtime in “Dexter: Resurrection,” the third spinoff since the original show ended in 2013.
Ingrid Johnson, advanced instructor in the Department of English, teaches a true crime course at Virginia Tech. She considers the lines between fact and fiction and why audiences’ obsession with the macabre endures.
What drives audiences’ fascination with true crime — and how does that compare to their interest in a fictional character like Dexter?
"One explanation is that we desire justice, and a crime story that has a conclusion fills that need. Other scholars suggest that consumers of true crime aim to be more aware of the types of criminal activity that may befall them, pushing them to be more diligent in their self-preservation. Either way, humans have always been interested in spectacle, and true crime offers that in droves. In terms of a character like Dexter, he exists to 'serve justice,' albeit through criminal means himself. But as a fictional character, he can be written in a way that appeals to audiences — there is no reality to guide who he is perceived to be. We often have difficult relationships with “bad” fictional people because we are instructed — by their authors — to respond to them in particular ways."
Has the popularity of morally complex fictional characters like Dexter influenced how audiences perceive real-life criminals in the true crime genre?
"This is a bit of a chicken/egg question, as the genre of true crime is far older than 'Dexter.' It might actually be the other way around, that true crime has influenced how people romanticize or villainize fictional characters. The great separation between the two genres is, obviously, that one is focused on real events and real people’s tragedies, whereas the other is fiction. Perhaps knowing that Dexter isn’t real — and his crimes are fabricated — offers audiences a 'safe' environment for enjoying the show; the true crime genre offers no such relief."
Audiences tend to empathize with Dexter. Does that type of empathy ever extend to real-life perpetrators?
"We know of several cases where people become infatuated with or mesmerized by violent criminals. How many people convicted of heinous crimes end up getting married in prison to partners who are not incarcerated? While that may seem bizarre or far removed for many, we can also turn to our news over the past seven months. Luigi Mangione is a good example of how a large group of people could empathize with a murder suspect."
Mangione has been charged in connection with the killing of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
True crime often centers victims and facts, while “Dexter” centers the killer’s perspective. What effect does this narrative shift have on audiences?
"One of the more prominent criticisms of the true crime genre is that it doesn’t center victims enough, with some content creators now focusing on telling victims’ stories instead of perpetrators’. Still, there is great interest in trying to understand people who commit crimes since the general public finds them to be enigmatic, but there is certainly the risk of forgetting that actual people were involved. In a show like 'Dexter,' that narrative is meticulously crafted so that audiences refrain from judging him as they would a 'regular' criminal."
What does the revival of “Dexter” suggest about our cultural appetite for crime narratives?
"We are always hungry for crime narratives, whether they be true crime or crime drama. This, of course, is evidenced by the number of shows, podcasts, and movies centered on violence that are produced and distributed every year. The revival of this show, in particular, suggests that the writers 'got it right' and tapped into something that audiences crave."
About Johnson
Ingrid Johnson is an advanced instructor of English who teaches the Crime Stories in American Culture class. She’ll be teaching another class on the topic for the Lifelong Learning Institute at Virginia Tech in the fall. She also teaches composition and literature classes as well as the English department’s first-year experience course for new majors.
Schedule an interview
To schedule an interview, contact Jenny Boone in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at jennykb@vt.edu, 540-314-7207, or contact Margaret Ashburn in the media relations office at mkashburn@vt.edu, 540-529-0814.
