Much ado about Dahmer

 

Evan Peters as Jefferey Dahmer. photo credit: Netflix. 

I think that Ryan Murphy is a god when it comes to telling incredibly complex stories based on true-life occurrences. From FEUD, to the OJ story on his AMERICAN CRIME STORY series, to DAHMER. Ryan has mastered the art of conjoining these complexities and intricacies to deliver a spellbinding all round look into the histories of these people he's exploring and the lessons he wants us to pick up and learn from them.

 Having read opinion pieces about the victims’ families reliving the hurt before first watching the 2022 Netflix show, the first 3 episodes ticked me off badly as I thought the series was going to follow the trope of Hollywood's horrible history of "idolizing" criminals and serial killers but thank God as the show progresses, you begin to realize it's rather a cautionary tale that forces its viewers to look beyond the surface storytelling of the titular character.

 To me, this show was more informative and reflective than anything as it offers so much insight no matter how speculative, into incidents surrounding the birth of a serial killer, his upbringing, growth, and eventual death.  Subtly exposing us to certain family dynamics and the nature/nurture arguments of what can engender psychopathy and many other topics that can be expanded upon such as:

(I) The over drugging menace of big pharma and medical misdiagnosis i.e., Jeffrey's mom's pregnancy and depression.

(II)The effects of certain hobbies on "neurodiverse" minds i.e., taxidermy on young Jeff.

(III)Parental negligence i.e., Jeffrey's teen years and his mom's absconding and father's deflections.

(IV)The concept of forgiveness, absolution, and true justice i.e., Jeff's last days in prison.

(V)Treatment of society's minorities. i.e., the disinterest in the security of less privileged individuals and sexual minorities.

(VI)Rehabilitation vs. Incarceration.

Richard Jenkins and Molly Ringwald as Lionel and Shari Dahmer. 

If there's anything this show has reinforced in me, it's the ideology that Psychopathy is "genetic”, and nurture is what enhances/molds its manifestations and limits. The show also makes me grateful for the advancements in modern medicine at the same time, sad for people who lived before now and those currently in countries where there are no adequate tools to properly investigate crimes and misdiagnosis, under/overmedication largely looms and is still ruining lives till this day. 

Unfortunately, despite these positives, the show has been critically panned all over with people calling out the capitalist nature of Netflix for using this story that has been repeatedly told as a "cash cow" which begs the question. How humanely do we tell stories like these?

 What parts of a victim's stories should be considered off limits and how much is enough as compensation to help ease the sensibilities of family members and or individuals whose stories might appear too sensitive to tell? As researchers and storytellers, how do we take liberties with picking parts of a story we deem important, and how does this affect its authenticity?

How do we gauge the intention of the medium and appreciate the bigger picture; that all stories are important for generations to learn from? 

Niecey Nash as Glenda Cleveland. Photo credit: Netflix. 

I think while we scrutinize the processes of the creation of art/media, consumers should take full responsibility for what they consume for entertainment and consider entertaining. 

Why People expect a story about people's lived traumas to be exciting. Why people make "funny memes" out of criminals, and critique those who make these despicable people icons and go as far as wanting to look like them or recreate the crimes they've committed. 

Ironically, the show highlights this in episode 9 where Dahmer's lawyer and Lionel bitterly show contempt for comic books writers whose contents recreate graphic details of serial murders.

 Sexual minorities resident in first and third-world countries where there's little to no regard for their rights would find this show very triggering especially those who have been survivors of sexual violence themselves and or know other victims who getting justice for is impossible.

I'd rate the show a 9/10 and viewer's discretion is very much advised. 

written by God'sown M