Crime television dramas and police procedurals are among the most popular of all genres for this entertainment medium. Whether focused on the police solving crimes, the forensic scientists and psychologists gathering evidence and getting into the minds of the perpetrators, or following the criminal lawyer gaining a conviction, many hundreds of thousands of viewers the world over tune in to these programs almost religiously on a weekly basis.
But why is this genre so popular? From Law and Order to NCIS; from CSI to Criminal Minds; from the outstanding UK series Broadchurch to Secrets and Lies, which is currently taking Australia by storm, we watch with gusto as the worst of humanity and what we could potentially be forced to endure is portrayed on a weekly basis.
These television programs bring us to the darkest aspects of life – from a safe distance. Violence is something nobody wants to experience – yet about which many have a curiosity. It is natural to want to experience other lives than our own – that's why we read books, that's why we go to the cinema, and that's the reason we watch television. It is escapism, pure and simple – and some of us enjoy that escapism with a darker edge. The only way any of us which to "experience" the darker side of life is via fictional entertainment.
There is the mystery aspect that people love as well. For almost a century people have enjoyed the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie and her peers; other authors have entertained us with their dark imaginations for even longer. Whether the mystery is "who" committed the crime, or "how" it will come to be solved (as in the old series "Columbo"), people are hooked on a mystery – and no mystery is better than that of a murder.
Additionally, most of us have an inbuilt desire for justice – and, generally speaking, by the end of the episode (or series), justice is served. As viewers, we collectively gain satisfaction from seeing the "bad guys" get theirs. Yet even when justice isn't served, we still watch.
Psychologists offer other explanations. As humans, even though these programs depict fictional events or characters, many are based on actual events. There is a certain aspect of watching these depictions and knowing that life could always be worse – and feeling relief that it is not us in that situation.
In light of these programs and their popularity, there has been a surge in the number of people interested in enrolling in courses to become law enforcement specialists and similar. This is both a good and not so good thing. Is being a Criminal lawyer really like it is on TV? Is working sex crimes really as exciting as portrayed on SVU? Do forensic scientists and crime scene investigators really have such an interesting and comprehensive job? And no real sense of smell? Do they all go home and sleep well at night?
As with any career, there are great rewards to be had. But, rest assured, it is not like it is on TV.
But why is this genre so popular? From Law and Order to NCIS; from CSI to Criminal Minds; from the outstanding UK series Broadchurch to Secrets and Lies, which is currently taking Australia by storm, we watch with gusto as the worst of humanity and what we could potentially be forced to endure is portrayed on a weekly basis.
These television programs bring us to the darkest aspects of life – from a safe distance. Violence is something nobody wants to experience – yet about which many have a curiosity. It is natural to want to experience other lives than our own – that's why we read books, that's why we go to the cinema, and that's the reason we watch television. It is escapism, pure and simple – and some of us enjoy that escapism with a darker edge. The only way any of us which to "experience" the darker side of life is via fictional entertainment.
There is the mystery aspect that people love as well. For almost a century people have enjoyed the murder mysteries of Agatha Christie and her peers; other authors have entertained us with their dark imaginations for even longer. Whether the mystery is "who" committed the crime, or "how" it will come to be solved (as in the old series "Columbo"), people are hooked on a mystery – and no mystery is better than that of a murder.
Additionally, most of us have an inbuilt desire for justice – and, generally speaking, by the end of the episode (or series), justice is served. As viewers, we collectively gain satisfaction from seeing the "bad guys" get theirs. Yet even when justice isn't served, we still watch.
Psychologists offer other explanations. As humans, even though these programs depict fictional events or characters, many are based on actual events. There is a certain aspect of watching these depictions and knowing that life could always be worse – and feeling relief that it is not us in that situation.
In light of these programs and their popularity, there has been a surge in the number of people interested in enrolling in courses to become law enforcement specialists and similar. This is both a good and not so good thing. Is being a Criminal lawyer really like it is on TV? Is working sex crimes really as exciting as portrayed on SVU? Do forensic scientists and crime scene investigators really have such an interesting and comprehensive job? And no real sense of smell? Do they all go home and sleep well at night?
As with any career, there are great rewards to be had. But, rest assured, it is not like it is on TV.
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