1 Myths Surrounding Serial Murder in “Silence of the Lambs” Aliah Gayle Herrera Seneca Polytechnic PSY802: Criminal Psychology Matt Tomlin September 24, 2023 2 Myths Surrounding Serial Murder in “Silence of the Lambs” Myth One: Serial Killers Are All Lust Killers The pervasive myth that all serial killers are exclusively driven by sexual lust has been a persistent theme in both true crime narratives and pop culture (Hickey, 2016).This misconception comes to life in the iconic film "The Silence of the Lambs," directed by Jonathan Demme, where the character Buffalo Bill, also known as Jame Gumb, stands out as a striking example that perpetuates this belief. Buffalo Bill meticulously selects his victims based on specific physical attributes and clothing sizes, revealing his disturbing fixation on women's bodies. This disturbing obsession becomes alarmingly evident when he inquires of his captive, Catherine Martin, "Is your clothing size approximately 14?" (Demme, 1991, 0:34:40), highlighting his inclination toward women with a specific physique. This chilling moment in the film underscores the complexity of Buffalo Bill's motivations and challenges the oversimplified notion that all serial killers are driven solely by sexual desire. Furthermore, the movie highlights Buffalo Bill's horrifying fascination with the skin of his victims. He keeps them in extended captivity, depriving them of sustenance, with the aim of making their skin easier to remove, a gruesome expression of his sexual fantasies and a perpetuation of the misconception that serial killers are primarily motivated by lust. Additionally, the film also features a disturbing scene where Buffalo Bill adorns women's clothing and applies makeup using the skin of his victims, gazing at himself in the mirror, which vividly exemplifies the myth that serial killers are motivated by deep-seated sexual deviance (Demme, 1991). Myth Two: They Are Nearly All Caucasian Another deeply ingrained myth in our perception of serial killers, as highlighted by Hickey in his work published in 2016, is the unfounded assumption that all serial killers are of Caucasian descent. This stereotype persists despite the well-documented evidence that serial killers can emerge from diverse racial backgrounds, dismantling any blanket generalizations about their ethnicity (Hickey, 2016). 3 An illustrative case of how popular culture can inadvertently perpetuate this stereotype is evident in the iconic film "The Silence of the Lambs." The movie places Buffalo Bill and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, both white male serial killers, in central roles, allowing their characters to dominate the narrative and receive the majority of screen time. This unintentionally suggests that the most notorious and intriguing serial killers are predominantly white. Buffalo Bill, in particular, epitomizes the archetype of the white male serial killer, preying on young women to create a grotesque woman's suit (Demme, 1991). His portrayal aligns with the media's stereotypical image of white male serial killers as deranged, cunning, and dangerous individuals. Furthermore, the film predominantly features Caucasian characters, providing minimal exploration of other racial demographics. This narrow focus on two white killers serves to reinforce the misconception that serial killers are primarily white. In reality, serial killers hail from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, and such diversity often goes overlooked in media representations (Hickey, 2016). The result is a skewed perspective that does not accurately reflect the true demographics of serial killers, perpetuating stereotypes that hinder a more nuanced understanding of this complex and multifaceted phenomenon. Myth Three: They are all intelligent Another misconception highlighted in Hickey's book is the belief that serial killers are uniformly highly intelligent (Hickey, 2016). This myth is intriguingly explored in the film "The Silence of the Lambs," primarily through the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Dr. Lecter is portrayed as an exceptionally intelligent and cunning individual who possesses a profound understanding of human psychology. His ability to manipulate others and anticipate their actions is evident throughout the movie (Demme, 1991). For instance, he lures the senator's daughter using a clever ruse, pretending to be handicapped and seeking assistance with loading furniture into his van. This level of sophistication in his actions highlights his intelligence and cunning 4 nature. Moreover, Dr. Lecter's keen perception is emphasized during his interactions with Clarice Starling. In their initial meeting, he astutely dissects her background and accent, showcasing his ability to discern intricate details about others with remarkable accuracy (Demme, 1991). Clarice herself acknowledges his high perceptiveness, even as she confronts him about his own dark actions (Demme, 1991). This portrayal reinforces the idea that intelligence among serial killers can manifest in the form of high perceptiveness and a deep understanding of human behavior. Overall, "The Silence of the Lambs" presents a nuanced exploration of intelligence among serial killers, challenging the oversimplified notion that they are universally highly intelligent while showcasing the diversity in their abilities and behaviors (Demme, 1991). 5 References Demme, J. (1991). The Silence of the Lambs. Orion Pictures. Hickey, Eric. (2016). Serial Murderers and their Victims (7th ed.). Cengage Publishing Company.
