Why do we love the Crime Genre?

Why do we love the Crime Genre?

Crime is the most popular genre in fiction. It spawns many hybrid genres, crossing often with the equally popular romance genre. In books, films, graphic novels and podcasts, crime continues to grow. Scandi-crime, Noir, Australian Noir, Cosy, Manor, Hard Boiled, Procedural, Ensemble..it doesn’t end. As a former Detective working on some of the most heinous and unforgettable crimes in NSW, I was fascinated by the fascination. As I studied my Masters (Writing) I delved into the ever broadening appeal of crime, especially true crime. 

LIterature allows us to live vicariously through others. It is vital learning for children, and age targeted fiction always involves characters 2 years older than the reader group. This allows us to consider similar scenarios as we grow, in the hope that we will be better equipped with a similar situation. Crime is the adult version. Faced with danger, injustice and the darkest corners of the human mind we challenge ourselves as problem solvers, whilst also considering the societal and personal implications of being involved in such a crime. Occasionally, we ask ourselves “Is there a villain in me?”

The basis of any novel is solving a problem. Whether Rom-Com, Thriller or otherwise, there is a problem or question that requires answering. The amygdala in our brain wants to solve it, wants to be right, and rewards us when we are right. It can be overpowering and addictive, which encourages obsessions with the genre, and where life imitates art, Detectives can become consumed with securing a prosecution regardless of evidence…Noble Cause Corruption. So why is the fascination different from our everyday lives?

We all make important decisions. We make decisions that could impact our lives, wellbeing, family and finances, but they lack the romanticised elements that crime fiction does. I work with organisations who are spellbound by ‘war stories’ from an old Detective, whilst I am captivated by their own stories. It is simply a point of difference and familiarity. Most people do not come face to face with murders and rapists, draw firearms, engage in pursuits and interview hardened criminals for hours on end. But we are all solving problems, we simply see greater value in the unknown.

Crime fiction took a turn to the darkness of the Hard Boiled Detective after our world wars. Generational innocence was smashed with the reality of death and the ‘cosy-Manor’ crime was superseded by harsh reality of dark villains and equally dark Detectives. Deeply flawed, Machiavellian ‘ends justifies the means’ law enforcement, the genre reflecting our experiences. Throughout the century crime fiction has changed with the times, not more so than the past decades with the advent of technology in forensics. The procedural narrative was popularised as we looked into “mass spectrometers","centrifuges”, “trace elements”, and of course, “DNA”. It was part medical, part Sherlock deduction, and it allowed crime detection to better reflect the reality of a team event. The ‘lab geek’, a cross section of male/female personnel and a cross section of harmonious and counterpart personalities. Now that is a detective's office!

By accident or design, having additional characters allowed a more diverse range of readers/viewers to empathise, hence more readers. The best example of this is ‘Bones’, the Hart Hanson depiction of Cathy Reichs forensic anthropologist that brings “squints” together with a hard boiled FBI agent. It also reflects the increasing reliance on ‘non-sworn’ Police personnel, who simply bring their scientific acumen to solving crime without pounding the beat as a street cop. This is a huge fascination for female viewers who love the mental challenge of solving crime.

Violent and twisted psychological crime has increasingly pushed boundaries. I struggle with the remoteness from reality and the suspension of disbelief. So why have we demanded this increase? Perhaps it is because we have not had war, mass casualties and evil for a generation. Are we testing ourselves with horrors from which we have been spared? Do we create darker minds as our world becomes increasingly sedate, living comfortably in our first world surroundings? Does solving the seemingly unsolvable make our own problems simpler, or do we not transfer the same mental energy to our everyday lives? Or do we just need increasingly higher levels as we become accustomed to the norm?

Over the next few weeks I will explore why females are so drawn to the True Crime genre, and humanity's desire for justice.