David McGowan‘s ‘Programmed to Kill: The Politics of Serial Murder’ shakes up everything you thought you knew about serial killers. This isn’t just another crime book rehashing gory details or glorifying violence. Instead, it’s a deep dive into the uncomfortable notion that our understanding of these killers might be heavily influenced by media narratives and societal misconceptions. Intrigued yet?
Turn on any crime documentary or flip through a thriller novel, and you’ll see the same chilling profile of serial killers—cold, calculating, and ticking with a lurking madness. But I want you to think about how much of this might be a Hollywood-fueled idea. McGowan walks us through how serial killers have become almost like fictional horror villains etched into the public psyche, thanks largely to pervasive media portrayals.
Now, imagine there might be more layers to these narratives. McGowan invites us to consider the possibility of ‘hidden profiles’—facets of these killers’ lives and stories that get skimmed over or ignored in mainstream media. Why? Maybe because they don’t fit the script or because they’re too complex to digest.
Take the infamous cases McGowan reevaluates. He brings out lesser-known details and patterns that make you question everything. For instance, he doesn’t just stop at what these people did but goes further to ponder the socio-political influences and hidden motives that could have played a role.
So, what’s McGowan aiming for here? He nudges us to not simply sit back and accept what the media or so-called experts say about serial killers. We should challenge these narratives and peel back the layers of assumptions. Because in doing so, we might just alter our understanding of what drives these men and women to commit such awful crimes.
In a world saturated by not just information, but sensationalism, putting a critical lens to our beliefs is more crucial than ever. McGowan’s book acts as a guide, prompting us to rethink and reanalyze our preconceived notions about the individuals who commit these heinous acts. In doing so, we might find that there’s always more beneath the surface. link to buy book>> https://amzn.to/4jYLINx
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I’m glad to see someone taking a closer look on this level. We all know serial killers are the monsters they are portrayed as on tv. But many of their surviving victims tell a story that starts off with them meeting or knowing someone who is anything like you’d expect a serial killer to be.