Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The virtuous man is content to dream what the wicked man really does. ... all of us possess these dark taboo forbidden unacknowledged fantasies and impulses. And true crime allows civilized law abiding people to ventilate those things in some kind of safe, socially acceptable way." — Harold Schechter
"I've come to think that a lot of the fascination with serial murders and true crime, because there's a weird quasi religious quality to it. ... it confronts you with that age old question, you know, the nature of evil, you know, the source of evil, the existence of evil." — Harold Schechter
"You know, whatever is the most shameful guilt-ridden thing you can say about yourself, you know, something you would never reveal even to your most intimate friend is not the shadow. The shadow is something that is so abhorrent, you know, to everything you, you know, consciously think and all the values you hold that you can't even admit it's part of yourself." — Harold Schechter
The podcast episode features an in-depth discussion with true crime historian Harold Schechter, exploring the persistent cultural fascination with crime and its artifacts. Schechter posits that this interest, extending back centuries, serves as a societal mechanism for confronting and ventilating dark, taboo impulses in a safe, vicarious manner, drawing parallels to Plato's observations on human nature. He contrasts this with the more recent explosion in true crime's mainstream appeal, attributing it partly to technological advancements in media dissemination and the increasing normalization of discussing such topics.
The conversation delves into the concept of "murderabilia," objects associated with notorious crimes and criminals. Schechter discusses the historical roots of collecting morbid souvenirs and argues that these items, like religious relics, possess a unique power, representing the "shadow side" of human experience and serving as a tangible connection to the nature of evil. He theorizes that this fascination, especially with serial killers, has a quasi-religious quality, compelling people to confront fundamental questions about the origin and existence of evil.
The interview also touches upon specific cases and figures, including Albert Fish, HH Holmes, and Ed Gein, and explores how true crime narratives and their associated objects reflect broader cultural anxieties and historical periods. Schechter's latest book, "Murderabilia," is highlighted, which examines this phenomenon through a collection of 100 objects, providing a unique lens into cultural history and the enduring human psyche's engagement with the macabre. The discussion concludes with Schechter's anticipation of his upcoming book, "50 States of Murder," focusing on lesser-known but significant crimes from each U.S. state.