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LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013

Core Assessment Paper:

No fewer than 5 full pages, double-space. Must be multidisciplinary and must cover all five core learning outcomes as defined in the syllabus.

• Compare, contrast and analyze at least one outside book (novel or non- fiction) about a serial killer with one or more of the novels used in our class.

• Contrast, compare and analyze at least two outside movies that deal with serial killers or the topic of serial killers. You may use documentaries or fiction works, or a combination. Include contrasts and comparisons to movies and/or books we have used in class.

• Analyze (compare and contrast) news coverage and a related non-fiction or fiction book or movie about a well-known serial killer in recent or earlier history. Compare your case study to the works covered in our class.

Your paper MUST have at least five references in the bibliography. The Schmid book must be at least one of your reference materials, and must be incorporated into your analysis.

The books or movies already covered in the course may NOT be the MAIN focus of your paper, but are to be used as comparisons and contrasts to the books , movies or other materials you choose as your main focal point.

Do not submit a book review or a movie review (I already know what the books and movies say – tell me something new!!).

Do not submit a paper primarily consisting of 'summaries' of the book, movie or news stories. Information that describes the book, movie or news stories about which you write should be brief, and only long enough to give the reader the basic information needed to understand the context of the paper and the platform for your analysis.

TIPS FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY WRITING:

Do not just LIST the disciplines – the reader can figure out that you're referring to history if you talk about the era in which the book/movie is set and the way that related to other elements. Weave the interdisciplinary elements together in your analysis.

SOME IDEAS:

LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013

Discuss the era in history as represented in the movie or novel, including how the culture and era is reflected in the characters, events, etc. Do historic events, religious beliefs or cultural values surface in the story? How well do the characters convey emotion? Do the characters have depth?

If you write about true stories, discuss the culture and historical era of the killings, how it was covered (or not covered) in news stories (if this is known) and what evidence is seen of religious or other beliefs (morals of the community, etc.).

Discuss and COMPARE the artistry of the writing and/or cinematography. All papers must use books or literature as some form of reference; cinema is optional but cannot be the entire focus or content.

You may cite references from the books or movies we have used in the course (especially Natural Born Celebrities), but you must also use other reference sources. It is good (especially if writing about fiction books or movies) to analyze and compare the quality of writing, characterizations, plot and other elements of the piece.

Tie the works into society through your analysis of the impact the work had on the readers or viewers (for fiction works), or the cultural and societal elements reflected in non-fiction words.

If possible, tie your paper in with your academic major.

NOTE: Wikipedia may NOT be used for quoted reference sources. You may use Wikipedia to get ideas for reference materials or books (through their bibliographies), but Park University does not accept Wikipedia as a reference source.

IDEAS FOR OTHER REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us, by Robert Hare. Contains the Hare Checklist.

Mask of Sanity, by Herve Cleckley (very long, available only online or in libraries – defines psychopathy).

DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) (version IV or later edition). Gives diagnostic criteria for personality disorders. Best obtained online. Cite specific edition, specific disorder and trait if you use this source. Good resource for Anti- social Personality Disorder (formerly psychopathy or sociopathy).

The Sociopath Next Door, by Martha Stout. Excellent and very readable book about the existence of sociopaths in normal culture.

LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013

Romantic Deception, by Sally Caldwell. Non-fiction book about how con-artists use romantic relations to deceive people.

Unforgettably Evil, FearNet Channel on Cable. Documentary interviews with Hollywood producers & actors about evil characters in cinema. Not available on DVD, but if you see it listed in the schedule, it’s good to watch. Resource only, not for subject of term paper unless substantiated through additional resources.

MOVIES, BOOKS AND SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF SERIAL KILLERS:

NOTE – Obvriously, this is a very partial list – there are literally hundreds of examples that could be used for your papers.

The Deliberate Stranger, book or video. This is a very factual, documentary-style movie/book about Ted Bundy.

The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson. True story of H.H. Holmes, famed serial killer in 1880s. Set in Chicago World’s Fair era. Available on Kindle, too.

Depraved, by Harold Schechter. Also about H. H. Holmes, but not as focused on World’s Fair.

In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote. Classic crime and murder novel, based on true story. Not exactly serial killers but helped launch the trend in novels about this subject.

Any books or movies about Ted Bundy.

Bonnie & Clyde (books or movies)

Ann Rule (Author – any of her books are good if they’re about serial killers)

The Boston Strangler (books or movies)

Zodiac Killer (books or movies)

Hillside Strangler (famous serial killer – news stories, documentaries?)

Ed Gein – killer sometimes compared with Buffalo Bill.

Jeffrey Dahmer – possibly a news-analysis topic.

John Wayne Gacy – famous serial killer of young boys & young men.

LE300J Core Assessment Assignment Goodfleisch Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Updated 2013

Dark Knight, (recent movie about Joker in Batman series). Typifies evil killer.

No Country for Old Men, recent movie. Shows evil killer in crime setting.

Fairy Tales about evil characters who kill (Hansel & Gretel, Pied Piper, etc.).

Jack the Ripper (books or movies)

Jaws – a movie about a non-human serial killer.

The Bad Seed, play and 1950s movie about a young girl who is a serial killer

Books, news stories, movies and other depictions of true-life serial killers (not mass murderers). There are quite a few out there; do research and find one or more that interest you.

Novels or movies about fiction characters who are serial killers.

NOTE:

Mass murder instances are interesting, but are not the subject of this course. You can include some references or sources (books or news stories) to mass murder incidents (such as In Cold Blood), but be certain that the main focus of your paper is on serial killers.