Editor's note: Information for the History and Reception sections is welcome.

About

The True Crime Community, sometimes referred to as the True Crime Fandom, is an online community which focuses on mass murderers, serial killers, and similar criminals. Notable subjects of focus include Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, James Holmes, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

History

The true crime community can be considered a pre-Internet phenomena that was later brought to light by the Internet. Hybristophilia, the sexual attraction to those who have committed some form of wrong-doing, is a well-known phenomena, although the exact reason behind why it exists is unknown.^[4]

The true crime community notably flourished due in part to the nature of websites such as Tumblr, which allow easy sharing of materials relating to the true crime community.

Characteristics

The true crime fandom shares many characteristics with other subcultures, notably in the way of fanworks such as writings and fan art focused around its subjects. This aspect has proven controversial, as it has been equated by some to be equal to idolizing criminals. This claim is typically countered by the claim that the fascination is rooted in criminology as opposed to an ulterior motive.^[5]

Notable Subfandoms

The true crime community can be broken down into several subfandoms based on the criminal(s) they focus on.

Columbine Massacre

The Columbine Massacre fandom is one of the largest, oldest, and best-known examples of a true crime subfandom, focused on the April 20, 1999 mass murder at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Participants in the fandom are commonly known as Columbiners, and are typically younger individuals who associate with Harris and Klebold as similarly misunderstood by the world. The fandom has been the subject of numerous case studies.^[1]

James Holmes

James Holmes, known for the Aurora, Colorado Theater Shooting gained a true crime fandom, whose members refer to themselves as Holmies. Unlike Columbiners, Holmies are typically comprised of young females who find Holmes physically attractive. The fandom initially came to popular focus due to a Buzzfeed article about it.^[2]

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Dzhokhar "Jahar" Tsarnaev was one of the two people convicted of causing the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings, alongside his deceased brother Tamerlan. Although members of the fandom have no name given to them, the phrase "Free Jahar" became very closely associated with the fandom in general. Similar to Holmies, those in the fandom are typically young women who find Tsarnaev physically attractive.^[3]

Nevada-tan

Although it did not have much impact on the true crime fandom as it is today, the followers of the 2004 case of Nevada-tan could be seen as a precursor to groups such as Holmies, as the way Natsumi Tsuji was transformed into a "moe" character mirrors some aspects of the fandom today.

Reception

Outside reception of the true crime community has been predominantly negative. On February 24, 2015, Vice published an article discussing Columbine Massacre fans.^[6] On August 10, 2018, YouTube channel Savantics published a video about the True Crime Community which has been viewed over 1.8 million times.

Search Interest

External References