For week 4 I chose the topic of true crime and podcasts. Podcasts launched in 2005, and by 2014
they were growing in popularity. The introduction of the show Serial really helped to push true
crime into the podcast world. (Of note: I stand by the fact that Serial is problematic and should do
more to correct their mistakes.)
In popular culture the social science lens looks at how we act when we are in our social
environment. Specifically, it looks at our relationships in that society. The social science lens has
helped to better understand true crime. True crime is often studied by criminologists using the lens
of social science. Everyone always wants to know the “why” behind a crime. The social science
lens is examined closely to help find those answers. People are killed more often by someone they
know than by a stranger. Therefore, looking at our relationships in our society will lead to better
answers and potentially solving cases.
Specifically true crime is looked at through all 4 lenses. This is particularly true when discussing
podcasts. If the hosts are discussing cases, both old and new, or even reexamining the cases, they
are taken through the lenses. I think the most effective analysis is done when applying all 4 lenses
to each case.
