A big, thank you to Squarespace for sponsoring this video
one of the more fascinating
Aspects of David Fincher's mind hunter is that it is not just a detective
thriller that explores the psychology of serial killers
But it also explores. Why we are so fascinated by them. Why we are drawn to the dark
Why we are captivated haunted and teased by the unthinkable
Although collecting serial killer memorabilia or writing them letters is a fringe activity
serial killers inhabit a prominent position within both our non fictional and fictional popular culture
People are glued to coverage of real-life serial killers such as Ted Bundy Aileen Wuornos
And Jeffrey Dahmer who all have their own documentaries and films
I now present to you Jeffrey Dahmer in his command performance
These real killers together with popular fictional depictions of serial killers such as Hannibal Lecter Dexter and John Doe
Demonstrates how eager the public is to learn more about them. The way in which mindhunter treats and teases us with acted
Representations of real-life serial killers was described by a review as serial killer fan service
Serial killers are thus viewed in our culture both as despicable monsters
Monster right? I think we can all agree
Fascinating cult celebrities
But why is this why can't we get enough of them?
The first episode of Mindhunter suggests that there is a connection between the behavior of these killers and the broader state of culture and society
Our democracy is vanishing into what?
Is that what all of this is about?
Just a response to turmoil?
The Government used to be symbolically a parental institution
Now it's a free-for-all
the world barely makes any sense so it follows the crime doesn't either
Is that what we see in serial killers are they an extreme
representation of our broader society for which we are all responsible?
Of course Holden and Bill soon find out that serial killers are not crazy rampant
aberrational parallels to the crazy chaotic culture of the 60s and 70s
These killers can be intelligent and organized with very clear
Motivations for their quote unquote work such as sex power and domination.
Thus if serial killers are an extreme representation of human culture they are so in the way
Historian Carsten Fischer describes. He argues that serial killers often develop in the same way as human civilizations do.
Civilizations in their fear of the unknown have a need to organise, control and dominate nature and other people.
Therefore first domesticating and killing animals and later enslaving and killing other humans
Just as serial killers start with torturing and killing animals before they move on to people.
On an individual level this theory is also reflected by Carl Jung's concept of the shadow self
Jung argues that we repress primitive negative socially or religiously depreciated human emotions and
impulses like sexual lust, power striving, selfishness greed
Envy anger or rage into our unconsciousness, our dark side so to speak.
Our dark side so to speak the shadow self is the counterpoint to what you call the persona
Which is our conscious ego? How we see ourselves and represent ourselves towards the world
It's by Erving Goffman. He posits that life is like theater. We tailor ourselves to fit the parts that were playing
In the social interaction ask them the actual performance
There's an on-stage area where individuals or actresses difference may be appear before the audience
But it must be a backstage
Hidden private area where individuals can truly be themselves course
I argued that Minds enter explore some notion that this is why we are
Fascinated by a serial killers because we see in them extreme versions of personality traits that are part of us
But as we were pressed into our unconsciousness
That are part of our shadow selves the series primarily does this to the character of
Holdin forth in the early episodes. We primarily see Holden's persona
He seems smart, but humble idealistic with a real drive to do goods. Be sure you want me doing that you're smart
You're idealistic
More than a little sensitive. They're gonna. Love you
However he already mentioned syntactic that he will later use in his interviews with serial killers
Try understanding him instead of trying to dominate him
Look for common ground
find
Commonality because of this very slowly over the course of the season due to his extensive interactions with these killers
personality traits of his shadow self come forth
Traits such as envy and fucked-up views of sex and women which he claims is just an interview technique
But it seems very much connected to the state of his relationship
What gave you the right to take a right?
concert of the world
Some look pretty good
You think you were depriving the rest of us
While also becoming more arrogant and power-hungry you think I don't know what you're doing with this principal's office bullshit
This is what I do with violent offenders only much better to see this in contrast in episode 3
He is celebrating a successful case like this. Thank you for acknowledging what my partner bill, and I are doing
and
for embracing that if we all work together we
Can venture into the blackest night and shine a light on the darkness well in episode 10? It is a different story?
What they like?
I don't know speaking at attorney or what I say Dave
However I have heard some people suggest that Holden in the next season might become a serial killer himself
I think this would be too easily a plot twist after such a slow and subtle
Transformation into a shadow self more importantly the concept of the shadow self doesn't mean we are all secretly murderers Psychopaths
Serial killers represent extreme versions of negative traits that normal people would possess in a much more minor capacity
Call Youm argues that to become once complete self the shadow self needs to be recognized
acknowledged and accepted as
Jerome Peterson argues this can be done to an intellectual exercise when you contemplate your own capacity for evil
And I don't think and this is something I did learn from young is that you cannot be a good person until you know
How much evil you contain within you it is not possible
and it's a very strange thing because you wouldn't think that the revelation of the capacity for evil is a
precondition for the realization of good
But I believe it first of all why would you be serious enough to even attempt to pursue the good unless you had some sense
Of what the consequence was of not doing it with regards to Holden?
he doesn't seem aware of his own shadow self coming forwards until possibly the very end of the season in my
Opinion it is unclear while Holden forged breakdown signifies true theorists clash with Kemper
He might have become aware of his own shadow self coming forward becoming a more balanced person in the next season
Torture mutilation, thanks for it is made apparent
But it could also mean that he will spin further out of control
His share of self taking over while being unable to catch a new serial killer on the rise
Mind hunter will continue to explore the psychology of serial killers
Profiling some of the world's most famous ones, but maybe it is simultaneously profiling us as well
All right, thank you for watching, and thank you to Squarespace for sponsoring this video
You probably have seen them featured in other videos before but it's rightfully so as someone who doesn't know how to code I have worked
With several website template systems in the past and Squarespace is by far the most elegant and easiest to use
You also don't have to pay for any subscription or website domain up front
Using the free trial you can design your complete website before deciding to pay for anything
So if you want to feature your serial-killer memorabilia or maybe just your music videos or artwork on the website you squarespace.com
Slash storytellers and also get 10% off your first purchase
The link is in the description below
Now if you want to support our channel and get some stickers you can do so on patreon or send us a tip to PayPal
and
lastly
I want to give a shout out to fellow video sah shown from before the credits for helping me out with some of the practicalities
Of this video check them out - link is also in the description below alright guys
Thank you for watching and thermos video will be up next Saturday, so look out for that. See you next time