The criminal world is a terrifying reality; that’s no secret. But it does, in a sick way, make for entertainment in the form of crime dramas and documentaries. There’s no doubt that society has a fixation on what can be considered the ‘dark’ side. Whether it’s a character involved in something they really shouldn’t be or the twisted mind of a criminal, viewers can’t seem to look away.
From the long-running “Criminal Minds” to the somewhat newer “The Cleaning Lady,” dramatized crime can be considered a weeknight television staple. The approach, though, is always different. While “Criminal Minds” gives us FBI investigations, “The Cleaning Lady” shows what happens when someone gets involved in criminal activity, continuously digging themselves into a deeper hole.
Crime documentaries cover a vast array of horrific events. Aside from narration and reenactments, they involve interviews with victims, law enforcement, and sometimes the perpetrators. While heartbreaking and sickening, it’s also strangely captivating. We can’t look away even though we know how terrifying it is.
While different forms of media, the two are similar in that they never glamorize the criminal lifestyle. “The Cleaning Lady,” while extreme, emphasizes the very real dangers of the criminal world: risking yourself and loved ones, losing people, and making enemies constantly. As the main character gets deeper into the underworld, she continues to lose herself. The show doesn’t portray her as innocent, and the consequences she faces show this.
Crime documentaries send a variety of messages to the audience. “Signs of a Psychopath,” for example, provides information on such people using commentary on confession tapes. “Fear Thy Neighbor,” additionally, acts as a warning of what can happen when conversations fail, and petty fights escalate. Many guests also advise the viewers, telling them how they can help themselves or others before it’s too late.
With the information in documentaries being useful to practically everyone and subtle warnings in dramas (if you look deeply into them like I do), I’d say our interest in such things is just that. We don’t know much about what they portray, but we’re enticed enough to check it out. So long as no one is getting hurt, or the wrong message, there’s nothing wrong with binging the latest crime drama or documentary. So, if you want to, go for it.
