True Crime: Why Women Watch It | Catharine Lumby

Producer's note: In case the title has stirred up some strong emotions, women account for 75-80% of this genre.

Professor Catharine Lumby is an Australian academic, author and journalist, and is currently Chair of the Department of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney. Before transitioning to academia, Lumby had an extensive career in journalism, working as a feature writer and columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, a news reporter for the ABC, and a columnist and senior writer at The Bulletin. She obtained her PhD from Macquarie University, after completing an Arts/Law degree at the University of Sydney, and went on to become the foundation Chair of the Media and Communications Department at the University of Sydney. Her academic career has included senior roles at UNSW, where she was the foundation Director of the Journalism and Media Research Centre, and at Macquarie University as Professor of Media, before returning to the University of Sydney as Professor of Media Studies. With research interests spanning gender, sexuality and popular culture, Lumby is also a widely published author and media commentator on gender and media, which makes her insights into the intersection of media consumption and social behaviors particularly impactful.

Key Takeaways:

• The true crime genre has historical roots in 16th-century Britain and has evolved from public ballads to podcasts.
• Women's consumption of true crime is often linked to a desire for empowerment and understanding in a world with prevalent gendered violence.
• Fictional detectives use empirical reasoning as a counterpart to be analysed alongside faith-focused narratives in crime.
• The host's discussion touches upon legal responses to crime and human fascination with extreme acts, pushing listeners to consider moral and spiritual reflections.
• Empathy is highlighted as critical to understanding the broader implications of true crime stories, beyond mere voyeurism.

Notable Quotes:

1. "True crime is an opportunity to really perhaps understand things from the victim's point of view, the survivor's point of view..." - Professor Catharine Lumby
2. "The Bible is a realistic book and it doesn't shy away from…difficult things." - Megan Powell du Toit
3. "At its deepest, realising that none of us are that far…from what we might see as monstrous." - Professor Catharine Lumby
4. "Empathy, for me, is the highest quality." - Professor Catharine Lumby
5. "The cross itself is a kind of true crime. It's a realistic display of evil and ultimate redemption." - Michael Jensen

Resources:

• Helen Garner's Works: Noted for her insightful writing on justice and human behavior.
• Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood": A seminal true crime book mentioned during the discussion.
• Teacher's Pet Podcast: Explored as a notable example of true crime media in Australia.

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