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Title LINGUISTIC ALCHEMY AND CRIME NARRATIVES: DECONSTRUCTING ROMANTICIZATION IN SERIAL KILLERS' DOCUMENTARIES

Author(s) Amara Naseem

Abstract True crime documentaries have become increasingly popular, but they have also been criticized for their potential to glorify and romanticize the lives and crimes of serial killers. This study attempts to deconstruct the potentially romanticized portrayals of serial killers in true crime documentaries. The literature review examines the evolution of the crime genre, its impact on viewers’ perceptions, and prior research on the romanticization and glorification of serial killers, concluding with a theoretical discussion. Fillmore's (1982) theory of semantic Frames is adopted as a theoretical framework for the present study. The data sample includes subtitles of 5 Netflix serial killer documentaries within a time frame of 2019-2022. Coding categories were developed to easily manage a huge amount of data. An approach to semantic frame analysis is used to analyze the linguistic units which evoke semantic frames. The broader communication frames are then discussed to explore romanticized and glorified depictions intended for the viewers. A comparative narrative analysis is also performed to identify the recurring themes and narrative patterns which produce romanticized and glorified constructions of serial killers across these documentaries. The qualitative data analysis showed that almost all the serial killers were portrayed as media celebrities by highlighting their cultural appeal, attributing physical and personality-based charms, adding to their allure. Inclusion of backstories emphasized their internal struggles and issues, thus inviting sympathy and identification with these criminals. Lastly, the minimum and marginalized representation of victims further casts the killers in a better light. This imbalance shifts the attention and sets the stage for potential romanticization, which calls for balanced storytelling along with proper ethical framing. Future narratives should be victim-centered and serve some educational purpose rather than being solely entertainment-oriented.

Type Thesis/Dissertation

Faculty Languages

Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2025-11-11

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