ABSTRACT
As true crime is an act of storytelling, broadly speaking the topic has existed in one form or another since human social communities began. Documentaries are generally considered to offer factual reports on real events, but such a basic description cannot hope to encapsulate the immense scope and impact of the form. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book deals with the impact of the two most popular formats in contemporary American true crime media: podcasts and television streaming series. It provides the structural reasons for the development of the true crime justice reform niche and encourages readers to consider the ability for podcasts to be socially responsible products. The book addresses adaptations of the “Atlanta Monster” crimes. It examines another aesthetic element in true crime media that has so far lacked critical attention.
