A serial killer exhibition is coming to London this month

Is this entertainment or sensationalism?

Arguably, opening a serial killer museum might be difficult to do without glorifying perpetrators and overlooking the victims’ suffering.

Families of the victims may view such exhibits as disrespectful or exploitative, no matter how ‘tastefully’ or carefully this kind of museum is laid out.

At £25 a ticket, it’s worth asking whether organisers are sensationalising violence for profit, while further trivialising serious crimes.

Podcasts, documentaries, and TV dramas have already been accused of this in the past, as a series of ethical concerns arise when the purpose of content shifts from education to entertainment.

Serial killer museums could potentially exploit the mental illness aspect of criminal behavior without promoting understanding or sympathy for the mentally ill. For example, it’s known that Ted Bundy had a seriously messed up childhood – which likely contributed to his psychopathic nature in adulthood. Whether the exhibition will include these detail about him is unknown.

It’s also worth noting that the media we’re exposed to in modern day has gradually become extremely violent in nature, from the things we see on social media to what we watch in television and films. Often, we encounter gruesome clips and videos even when we haven’t gone looking to engage with such content.

Deep dives into violent acts in a museum setting could further desensitise visitors to violence, normalising and glorifying extreme criminal behaviour. And if we’re inadvertently glorifying serial killers by turning them into macabre celebrities, could this inspire copycats?

Speaking to my friends about this, a few of us mentioned how we wouldn’t be surprised if sick individuals visited the museum for inspiration – which is an admittedly dark though, but not a totally impossible reality.

Playing devil’s advocate

Of course, this type of museums could be capable of educating the public on criminal psychology, forensic science, and how law enforcement has evolved to catch criminals.

If the exhibition follows through on its promises, it’s possible that it could do well at offering insight into the history of such cases and vast societal issues linked to crime. For psychologists, sociologists, criminologists, and students, the museum could serve as a resource that bolsters and encourages more academic research.

Still, the very concept of a serial killer exhibition can easily be seen as morally problematic, treating human suffering as a spectacle or form of entertainment.

It’s hard to say for sure how the exhibition will be received until its doors are open to the public. For now, we’ll have to wait and see.