The School of Humanities created a chill with its annual Horror in the Humanities series. The event started in 2023 with a short story writing workshop and a Shakespeare panel. This year’s delved into deeper topics, tackling ethical issues with the consumption of true crime media.
Assistant English professors Vanelis Rivera and Jaleesa Harris hosted these sessions, raising questions about the morals surrounding real-life tragedies.
Rivera’s introduction to true crime began with the popular podcast “My Favorite Murder,” which sparked her interest in examining how true crime is portrayed in media. Her discussion tackled how many shows and podcasts often turn the stories of victims into characters, disregarding the victims’ families. True crime media tends to spotlight the killers rather than tell the story of the victims.
“I never considered the impact these shows have on the victims’ families,” sophomore toxicology major Emerson Collins said. “It really opened my eyes.”
Rivera emphasized the importance of staying vigilant as a woman and gave advice to ensure personal safety while navigating these realities.
Students shared their thoughts on the dilemmas surrounding true crime media.
“I’ve always been interested in true crime, but this PowerPoint made me rethink getting into [true crime],” sophomore computer information systems major Aiden Gager said.
The event also examined the limits of ethical storytelling. Not every family wants its story broadcast, as sophomore toxicology major Gwendolyn Abadie pointed out.
“There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t want their loved one’s story shared, and no amount of care will fix that,” Abadie said.
The Horror in the Humanities series will continue with two more events as Halloween approaches.