APA Paper: “The Making of a Murderer”
Description
You need to select either a movie, documentary, or docuseries of a serial killer to watch (You can’t use Youtube videos, Television shows/series). You can also chose to read a book about a serial killer instead. You need to pay close attention to how the killer is portrayed and then compare and contrast this to what you have learned about serial killers. All of the following topics need to be explored and discussed in your paper; You must provide concrete examples for each.
1. Romanticized
(to describe in an idealized or unrealistic fashion; make (something) seem better or more appealing than it really is). Therefore, examine the killer’s looks, intelligence, personality (i.e. charming, nice, caring, etc.), the way the killer is dressed, the music used in the film, the overall setting, etc. Sometimes they are even glorified and made to look like the hero. How and where is the romanticization apparent? Often, women have become obsessed and attracted to serial killers because they are romanticized in the media. Ted Bundy received marriage proposals when he was in prison. There are actual fan clubs for people attracted to killers. It is astonishing the number of fan mail that people send to killers in prison.
2. Manipulation-
As we know, serial killers are great at manipulation. How is this portrayed on the screen or in the literature?
3. Aggression-
Is the killer viewed as aggressive (unable to control his or her emotions). Is aggression given as the reason the killer murdered. In what ways do they show aggression in the killer (if at all). Did it show the victim as “setting off” the killer? Is it precipitated by something; drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. Was the aggression glorified?
4. Mental Illness-
Is mental illness addressed? Is a psychological diagnosis given to the killer? What terms might be used to describe the killer’s mental state; i.e. psychopath, sociopath, disturbed, crazy, mentally unstable, etc. Is the killer’s mental illness sensationalized or accurate?
5. Modus Operandi-
The method or procedure that a criminal uses when committing a crime. For example, the type of restraints used on the victim, wound patterns, type of weapon used, other objects used (tape, shoelaces, rope, etc.), how they gain entry to victim’s home, time of day, etc. I don’t want you to write in detail how the killer attacked their victims. Instead, I am looking for you to describe how the movie or book emphasizes the killer’s modus operandi. Is it glorified? Exaggerated? Accurate?
6. Killer’s Signature-
The distinctive behaviors that help to serve the criminal’s psychological and emotional needs. For instance, level of injury to the victim, personal items taken from victim, type of victim targeted, anything left at the crime scene, did the killer ejaculate, urinate/defecate at the crime scene, etc. Again, I’m looking for how the killer’s signature is portrayed, not an in-depth description of the signature.
7. Victims-
How are the victims portrayed? Their looks, way dressed, are they shown as weak/strong, their personalities, are there any stereotypes associated with the victims, etc.
8. Pick one other area of a serial killer to examine.
Requirements:
1. Paper is to be a minimum of 5 full pages, but no longer than 8, NOT counting the title page, abstract, or reference page.
2. It must adhere to APA format, 7th edition.
3. It must contain at least three professional references
4. You must include in your paper the title of the movie/book that you analyzed
It is important that you do NOT write a biographical paper. You are critically analyzing myth versus reality in Hollywood’s version of serial killers. Serial killers love the way they are often represented in movies, books and the media.
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|
