Hourglass Issue I 2022-23 Revised 10 14

04 | FEATURES the hourglass
An Investigation
of True Crime
The ethics and the appeal
KATIE MCCULLOUGH ‘25
Staff Writer
Consuming true crime, whether it be podcasts,
books, or movies, has taken an increasingly
central place in pop culture over recent years.
Xanthe Mallet, forensic criminologist at the
University of Newcastle, voices the concerns of many that
true crime is potentially glamorizing these gruesome stories.
Yet, despite the criticism, this genre has accumulated
a cult following. Is such content desensitizing its followers
to the true horror of its contents?
According to BBC’s Science Focus, “[People are]
drawn to these tales because murder, rape and theft have
played a significant part in human society since our hunter-gatherer
days.”
The innate desire to know the details of such crimes
may come from a primal instinct to protect one’s family
from such misfortunes. Psychologists also theorize that
viewers are most drawn to victims that they relate to, possibly
because the story is more relevant to their safety.
Audiences may also believe that by exposing themselves
to the criminals of the world, they can learn more about
their behavior and gain knowledge that could be useful in
a criminal encounter.
A 2010 study at the University of Illinois concluded
that women are more inclined to watch true crime than
men, and that these women were drawn to content that
shared the murderer’s motives and featured a female victim.
Most of these preferences are subconscious decisions
made by the viewer, but they give us a window into the
logic of the brain and the reason that we are drawn to true
crime media.
As theorized by Richard Lettieri on Psychology Today,
true crime taps into a darker side of humanity. True
crime media allows for the exploration of more animalistic
human instincts, like feelings of intense anger or impulsive
thoughts. These stories can serve as a window into
the world of people who have succumbed to their fury or
frustrations, which has proven to be incredibly enticing to
viewers.
Finally, many true crime podcasts and shows feature
a mystery element, where listeners feel like they too are
working to solve the case. Like more traditional murder
mystery books and movies, true crime media offers those
who tune in the chance to puzzle through complicated cases,
and feel vindicated if they can piece together the answer
before it is revealed.
While there are many theories as to why true crime
has taken the entertainment industry by storm, one thing is
certain: people love it. Whether it’s an evolutionary, emotional,
or personal appeal, this gory genre is not leaving
the media anytime soon.
EXHIBIT
8
Album Alcove
BETTI PANG ‘23
Staff Writer
MUNA: an indie pop celebration of identity and being true to yourself
MUNA was released on June 24, 2022 as
the indie-pop power trio’s self-titled and
third album. After being dropped by their
previous record label, MUNA made a
triumphant return with “Silk Chiffon” featuring Phoebe
Bridgers, released by Saddest Factory Records.
“Silk Chiffon” is a celebration of queer joy, from the
catchy chorus to the But I’m a Cheerleader-inspired music
video. The carefree, fun, and iconic track has perfectly
kickstarted a new era for MUNA’s Katie Gavin, Naomi
McPherson, and Josette Maskin.
In March, MUNA officially announced the album
with the release of their second single, “Anything But Me.”
It’s a classic pop-bop about “trusting yourself and
your instincts enough to walk away from someone while
you still have love for each other and before it gets too
bad,” according to MUNA’s Instagram page.
In the song’s killer bridge, Gavin sings, “I would rather
lose you, than who I’m meant to be,” before catapulting
into the energetic outro.
In an interview with the New York Times, McPherson
remarked that the album represents “self-definition
and agency and identity and interrogating those things…
And also knowing that nothing is fixed.” These ideas manifest
themselves in the band’s third single, “Kind of Girl.”
The song takes on a country-like quality, with guitar and
strings as the backbone of the instrumentals.
As the heart of the record, the track expresses the
freedom in allowing yourself to change and grow. It’s a
overall rating:
10 / 10
most likely to recommend:
silk chiffon
favorite song:
loose garment
true MUNA power ballad, building in layers until the last
chorus surges in vocals, strings, and synths. The bridge
describes the central message perfectly: “I’m a girl who’s
blowing on a dandelion thinkin’ how the winds could
change at any given time.”
The band’s fourth single, “Home By Now,” is a floaty
pop track that reflects on doubts and regrets from ending a
relationship. The song’s steady beat seems to drag behind,
rather than chase after something, like a thought that just
won’t go away.
Imagine dancing in your room and tossing yourself
around. Imagine running across a field with the
wind in your face. That’s what this song feels like. The
scream-worthy bridge contains one of the album’s most
iconic lines: “Why is it so hot in LA in late October?”
“Loose Garment” is perhaps my favorite track. The
song almost breathes, as if taking the first shaky breath
after a long period of suffocation. The words speak for
themselves: “Used to wear my sadness like a choker, yeah,
it had me by the throat, tonight I’m feeling draped in it like
a loose garment, I just let it flow.”
The lightly sparkling production and strikingly sincere
lyrics truly make this track stand out. It leaves me
with the feeling that it truly does get better, and hopefully
it does the same for you too.
The 11-track album captures the essence of MUNA
magic: solid, vulnerable songwriting, crisp production,
and the trio’s stunning friendship. MUNA has truly done
it again, somehow even better than before.
Design and graphics by Amara Okechukwu ‘24 and Greyson Walko‘25