True crime narratives

Peters, F (2020) 'True crime narratives.' Crime Fiction Studies, 1 (1). pp. 23-40. ISSN 2517-7982

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Abstract

This article investigates the contemporary fascination with true crime narratives, an subject which is fast becoming a central area of interest in crime fiction studies. As the overarching genre of crime fiction itself becomes the most read literature genre, not to mention its growing popularity in other popular cultural mediums – TV, film, documentary, podcast, blogs, etc., true crime – which has always been a popular sub-genre – is arguably moving centre stage aligned to our recent obsession with the real life figure of the serial killer. The usual discussions of both individual and collective obsession and fascination with such topics, is generally limited to arguments within conscious parameters of ethical choice, This paper will explore an alterative reading that introduces the Lacanian psychoanalytic concepts of the sinthome and jouissance, and argues that any reading of these topics cannot be contained within conceptions of rationality and ethical choice.

Item Type:	Article
Note:	Professor Fiona Peters is also the co-editor of 'Crime Fiction Studies' with Dr. Eric Sandberg and Dr. Ruth Heholt.
Keywords:	serial killer, true crime, fascination, obsession, evil, sinthome, jouissance
Divisions:	School of Writing, Publishing and the Humanities
UoA:	English Literature & Language
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3366/cfs.2020.0005
Date Deposited:	28 Feb 2020 09:38
Last Modified:	15 Aug 2021 09:54
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/13119

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