Crime media as cinematic “freak show”: Ableism and speciesism in retelling Dahmer

Abstract

Grounded in an analysis of the Netflix series Dahmer-Monster, this article offers a theory concerning mass consumption of crime drama. Refracted by scholarship on ableism and speciesism, I argue that Dahmer-Monster (and comparable shows) can be understood as mediated “freak show.” Crime drama offers images of “abnormality” that provide a surface upon which conceptions of normalcy can be (re)inscribed. Audiences are assured of their normality via this process. The article speaks to critical criminologists and critical disability studies scholarship. Consistent with nascent “crip criminology,” it suggests that there is much scope for further dialogue across these areas. As a cultural site, crime media is saturated by ableism, yet it has not been subject to much scrutiny by critical disabilities studies scholarship. And, while much criminological attention is devoted to cultural portrayals of crime, ableism and speciesism have not been central categories to such analyses. This article contributes to efforts to connect critical criminologies with scholarly interest in ableism and speciesism.