This is a satirical How-To video on "How to Not Get Murdered" in which I explore multiple self-defense techniques that women are commonly taught. The second part of the video explores how some murder cases become more "interesting" than others in the mind of the emerging True Crime "industry." This video is in the style of an 80s PSA because I felt that the shockingly peppy characters in those PSAs would be both humorous and hit home that the issue of victim-blaming is nowhere near new.
Through this work, I intend to communicate the absurdity that we continue to teach women how to defend themselves when no one thinks to teach murderers not to murder. I also wanted to show the impact that True Crime content can have when not executed ethically and victim-centric, it can become murder-glorifying and dehumanizing to all those involved in an extremely harrowing and real event.
I thought that using video as the form for exploring this subject matter was important as that's where most True Crime content exists, through movies, YouTube videos, and podcasts. True Crime videos are a slippery slope: if the visuals used are exceedingly graphic or used in the wrong way, they can do more damage to the victim than help them.
Through this work, I intend to communicate the absurdity that we continue to teach women how to defend themselves when no one thinks to teach murderers not to murder. I also wanted to show the impact that True Crime content can have when not executed ethically and victim-centric, it can become murder-glorifying and dehumanizing to all those involved in an extremely harrowing and real event.
I thought that using video as the form for exploring this subject matter was important as that's where most True Crime content exists, through movies, YouTube videos, and podcasts. True Crime videos are a slippery slope: if the visuals used are exceedingly graphic or used in the wrong way, they can do more damage to the victim than help them.
October 2021
