Pop Studies: 5183 Leading in Culturally Responsive Environments

 Pop Studies

Haylee Cannon

    After a crime has been committed or an injustice has occurred, there is naturally a

disdain or anger towards the event and the criminal involved. However, at the same time, there

is a paradox that takes place right before our eyes. Humanity is drawn to the spectacle of it all.

Crime shows, podcasts, and documentaries that center around serial killers and bizarre crimes

consistently dominate platforms and streaming services. Binge watching reenacted crimes with

a desire for justice? Entertainment? Obsession? The lines between curiosity and glorification

are often blurred. Oftentimes, criminals fall at the centerpiece of a society fueled obsession.

    In the series finale of the Netflix series You, this societal phenomenon is critiqued. Joe

Goldberg, a stalker and violent murderer, delivers a chilling monologue after finding himself in

prison for his many heinous crimes. Instead of expressing remorse, he offers a perspective into

the obsessiveness of the public. While most of the show follows Joe’s internal monologue, his

final remarks turn the lens outward when he remarks, “Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s

you”.

    It’s a controversial conclusion; it’s not a deflection of guilt but a stark confrontation with

the audience and with the greater society. By blurring the lines between fiction and reality,

viewers are forced to examine their role in this glorification cycle. Why are humans so eager to

empathize with handsome, violent criminals while simultaneously ignoring or undermining their

victims? Why do true crime documentaries and narratives with violent criminals turn into pop

culture figures? These questions aren’t just for media analysis; they’re for personal analysis.

    Joe’s last words, “Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s you” are a challenge to

confront the culture that has enabled him. It’s not an excuse for his behavior; it’s simply

exposing how society creates a platform for these monsters by desensitizing their violence.

Rooting for the antihero can lead to a system that perpetuates notoriety. We must not become

complicit in making criminals famous.

    The next time we are faced with the question, “Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s

you?”, we must be brave enough to consider the unsettling truth that he might not be wrong.

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