Crimesploitation does not only refer to explicitly violent reality tv, how often do we actually watch these types of shows without knowing? Netflix shows like Don’t F***k With Cats, How to Fix a Drug Scandal, and many others have been a hit but why are we so attracted to shows like these? As viewers catching the criminals and seeing them in an embarrassing moment, seems to be the best part!
What happens when shows are exploiting something that we don’t consider conventionally criminal? Hoarder is a show that premiered in 2009 reaching an audience of over 2 million viewers. A&E did not expect this show to be such a hit as it was, however it seemed the depiction of people’s horrendous houses excites people. This show entered these families’ homes and focused on how their obsession with stuff has taken over their physical living space and their mental state. The people in the show are portrayed as non-functional due to their obsession with gathering stuff. The big question is whether the show is really attempting to help these hoarders with their mental disorder, or if this is just another business focused series?
Intervention is a very similar show, also hosted by A&E network, which follows individuals who are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or other compulsive behaviors. The main goal of the show is to interfere with the actions of these people, mostly by getting loved ones to speak their two cents and how they are being affected by their addictions. Why is this show truly a hit? There could be many explanations, but I would argue that we love to see the misfortune of others to make ourselves feel better in our own lives.
I attempted to watch an episode of Hoarders, but it felt impossible to get through just one. I can’t even find the right words to explain how I felt, but it was very dehumanizing and uncomfortable to see how someone can live in such conditions. This show has been through multiple cancellations thus far, but every few years a network decides to air a new season, each being slightly different than the previous. One of the brief returns, included a story of someone that would be looking at a jail sentence if their home did not pass inspection. After that one was canceled, in 2019 there was a promise of a new season that would take an even “deeper” look into these people’s lives.
We are witnessing the most vulnerable aspects of these people’s lives, seeing how some people are even at the brink of losing their homes because of this mental disorder. It’s almost as if we are convinced that this show actually does help these individuals, but what happens after the last episode is filmed, and the person relapses? What do we know then? Nothing! I don’t think any of us watch crimesploitation tv series because we like to see justice or the right thing taking place, instead we are attracted to the vulnerability of others especially if it makes us feel better about ourselves? How different is this show to others that address murderers, serial killers, rapists? What about shows that glorify them? Is this not too serious, and we should continue to consume crimesploitation series, or should there be an end to them?