Week 2: Question 1

[mollybeerman]

1. There is a fascination with crime in America because people watch movies and TV shows that involve crime; which leads to Americans feelings to do something dangerous because their life is boring. Perry and Dick feel the need to do this awful crime because throughout their lives they have been rebels and have always done the opposite of what they should. For instance Perry told the story about how he "killed" the man named King, this brought on danger, and lead to him feeling rebellious and able to compete with the people in jail. This danger that Perry said he did created a feeling fascination for the people that he told. This proves that people are drawn to danger and are very fascinated by it. ICB envokes a great reaction from the audience through feeling of triumph after the murder and thinking there going to get away with it, to great regret for the horrific crime they commited.

[lauraboehm]

I agree with you completely when talking about the fascination of Americans with murder thrillers as well as mysterious crime movies. But how did Americans truly become intrigued with crimes that led Americans to create movies and shows about crimes? Also, how did the members of Holcomb react when they heard about the terrible crime and how could their reaction provide insight as to why Americans are so fascinated with crime? Whether it be real crime or fictional crime, people will always have a fascination with it because they want to actively look for clues that tell them they are safe from the crime. Which the citizens of Holcomb tried to do but failed because the Clutter family was so normal and accepted into society that it was a shock for all to hear about what happened to them because they could not find any reason as to why someone who do such a terrible sin to a nice, normal family. The book provides a different perspective of a murder crime allowing the audience to argue throughout the novel whether the murderers were normal or frail in society to have committed such a crime and to argue their motivates for the murder.

[Tatum Zeller]

I definitely agree with you when you say that we are fascinated with true crime because of the fact we get bored with our own lives. I feel that in Holcomb when this happened people were so intrigued because it is such a small town with now a lot going on as soon as something so random and horrific like happened it sparked an interest in the entire town especially because everyone knew the Clutters. Dick and perry have been rebels all there life and I feel that maybe if they has more nurture than nature than the crime could have possibly been stopped. I also agree with what Laura said when she said that the book allows people to argue about the killers being normal or a frail to society. In my opinion I feel that to Dick, this was normal based on his personality and upbringings but to Perry, it was not normal. Even though he had a very rough child hood I think that he is more of an intellectual that is just being rebellious in the worst way possible but he still definitely knows the difference between right and wrong he just falls not to peer pressure.