(Slide to see all pics)
I think there is a fine line between being curious and glorifying this stuff, and I don’t know where that line is or if we true crime lovers sometimes cross it.
I have been watching true crime for many years. Recently, I randomly decided to consume it a bit less because it was consuming too much of me.
When I first heard about this exhibit, I was very curious to know what it would be about and how it would be presented, and so I decided to go because it seemed like a cool experience.
I knew what kind of exhibit I was walking into. I knew some of what I was going to see would be disturbing. What I didn’t expect was how different it would feel to stand in front of the recreated scenes and victims.
I want to start off by saying that the artwork and recreated scenes were absolutely fantastic, in my opinion. The artists did such a great job that even though you knew it was fake, it was still really disturbing to look at. I couldn’t take pictures of most of the victims. I felt as if I was disrespecting them and their families; it felt like a violation. I understand that one of the goals is to bring awareness to the victims, but at the same time, I thought about what it would feel like to have a family member or friend on display in a serial killer exhibit, and it made me feel eerie and uneasy. I wouldn’t want that. I couldn’t help but think about the family members.
At one point, some of the victims’ names were displayed on the floor, almost cemetery-style. Seeing all those names laid out in front of me almost made me cry. In another room, there was a recreated scene of a body hanging and another body on the couch with a plastic bag over their head. In that same room, there was a table with framed pictures of the victims. That was really brutal to see. Knowing that the scene was recreated didn’t changed the fact that the people in the pictures were real.
I love how they start the exhibit off by going through detective work and profiling first. There is also a QR code you can scan to hear the audio while you walk through the exhibit, but I didn’t use it because there is a lot to read and it’s too distracting to do both. Still a cool tool if you want to use it and learn more about each room or set.
I also really appreciate the fact that their first poster once you start the exhibit sets the intentions of the exhibit. They make it extremely clear by writing things like, “serial killers are not driven by genius or mystery — they are driven by control,” and “these habits are not signs of brilliance but of obsession.” They make sure to continue reminding you of these intentions throughout the exhibit and also at the end. Any critiques or questions I have about the line between curiosity and glorification are directed towards society, not the exhibit.
Even as I purchased a bookmark and tote as a souvenir— because, for the most part, I usually buy a souvenir when I visit museums, exhibits, or events, just as a cool reminder and memory—even that made me feel a bit guilty. I started questioning my morals and questioned my intentions. I care about the victims, I care about human behavior, I have learned so much about awareness and being safe, and at the same time as I walked through the exhibit, I couldn’t help but wonder if I was part of the problem.
I did learn a lot. I learned that there are way more child victims than I thought, and way more boys than I thought. I read every single one of the serial killers’ cards, and it was also interesting to see that a lot of them, if not most of them, were abused as kids by their parents or guardians, which also made me sad and made me question if that had anything to do with their actions.
Before leaving, I learned that, at least at the time that I asked which was a little less than a month ago, 300 people were still visiting every single day. The question is, are all those people going with the same intention?
Where is the line between curiosity and entertainment?
Overall, the exhibit is amazing, and the scenes and education are really worth seeing.
Souvenirs
(Bookmark & Tote)
Exhibit Information
Exhibit: Mind of Serial Killer : The Experience in New York
Address: 526 6th Avenue, (Southeast Corner of 14th W. Street at 6th Avenue), New York, 10011
Website: Mind of a Serial Killer
Note: Admission prices, museum hours, and exhibit availability may change. Visit the museum’s website for the most up-to-date information.
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