Fact Versus Fiction: Make-Believe Versus Reality Crime Shows

Australian-born Nicole Wallace was raised in an abusive home where her father repeatedly molested her. After maturing into a woman, Wallace went on to become a notorious serial killer responsible for over 20 murders-including that of her own three-year-old daughter. She managed to evade justice for the majority of her life, but eventually fell victim to homicide her own self. It is an odious tale that would ordinarily render me aghast, if it were not for the fact that it is pure fiction. You see, Wallace is the arch-nemesis of Law and Order: Criminal Intent character Detective Robert Goren. Suffice it to say, she is merely a figment of some producer's imagination.

I have and will forever remain a hardcore fan of Law and Order, including Criminal Intent and Special Victims Unit. I first discovered Law and Order back in 1998, the same year that its immediate successor New York Undercover (which I also favor) was cancelled. I was too young at the time though to really appreciate the nuances of such a complex series. It was not until my adolescent mind succumbed to maturity that the brilliance of Law and Order dawned upon me. It presents the notions of 'law' and 'order' via a dramatic-as well as emotional-format that highlights the difficulty in performing criminal investigations, the many faults of the criminal justice system, and the depravity of crime; all while still staying within the scope of reality. In fact, nearly every episode is at least partially based on a true-to-life case.

When Fiction Just Isn't Enough

The only drawback to Law and Order is that all the stories are fabricated. Granted, a well-told fictional narrative fits the bill when I am seeking entertainment, meaningful rumination, or perhaps just some tears of sorrow or joy. But occasionally, I desire unadulterated truth; and despite how accurate the show is in regards to portraying real-life cases, it is missing one pivotal aspect: facts. Even a smidgen of real life would do, like with, for instance, the biopic "Braveheart." The awe-inspiring film is heartwrenching in itself, but what really blows me away is the wikipedia entry of William Wallace (the protagonist), which specifies the horrific torture Wallace endured prior to his beheading. Reading it breaths new life into the post-film-viewing experience, in that it leaves me trying to understand such coldhearted viciousness.

But even "Braveheart" is lacking in that it only depicts a romanticized version-chockablock with made-for-movie fiction-of the actual truth. A&E's reality crime television programs like Crime 360 and The First 48, on the other hand, present the entire truth without any dramatic filters. Both series put into practice the format originally made famous by cops; but instead of the cameramen tailing an officer, they instead follow along as trained investigators interrogate suspects, analyze forensic evidence, and eventually identify and then arrest the alleged perpetrator(s). The only difference between the two is that The First 48 places a greater focus on the first 48 hours of investigation, whereas the premise for Crime 360 is that the crime scene be captured from a 360-degree angle via sophisticated image-capturing technology.

What distinguishes A&E's reality crime television from Law and Order and similar shows is the intense emotional depth of each episode. Yes, discovering that a fictitious young man was ruthlessly murdered is certainly sad. But the homicide victims on A&E are not just made-up imitations; they are actual people with friends, family, and perhaps even a spouse and children. Just recently on an episode of Crime 360, a 15-year-old boy was robbed and then slain in the dab middle of a suburban neighborhood-his life cut short to satiate some scumbag's desire for easy money. It is not just an imaginary portrayal of life; it is in fact the real-life story of life AND death.

Why This Matters

According to United Justice, an average of 15,000 homicides occur annually in the United States alone. That's a staggering number. And staggering numbers typically render themselves as statistics. The problem with statistics is that they are impersonal and therefore easy to ignore. When we hear that 100,000 men, women, and children from a faraway continent died in a tsunami, we tend to shrug it off as an unfortunate tragedy. But consider what happens when a news organization like CNN pinpoints the life and/or death of one specific individual. For instance, a 5-year-old boy named Youssif rose to worldwide fame after CNN reported him as being set on fire by terrorists in Iraq. Millions-if not billions-of folk worldwide were brought to tears, myself included.

The beauty of Crime 360 and The First 480 is they do for homicide victims what CNN did for Youssif. Every fatality covered suddenly becomes relevant: we see pictures of the victim, we listen as relatives recount their life story, and we are even afforded an in-depth glimpse at why the murder occurred, whether for greed, jealousy, or whatnot. It brings home the anguish that plagues the world. It's not easy to soak up, but it's the truth-unadulterated and 100% real.

Law and Order, on the other hand, handles the situation differently. It utilizes the statistics to weave lavish tales that are undeniably fascinating and do put a light on pertinent issues like homicide, rape, and human trafficking. SVU's grim tales of rape and molestation are compelling and have left me teary-eyed on many an occasion. Nevertheless, despite my eternal dedication to Law and Order, the truth is that it just cannot compare to the heart-wrenching investigations unearthed on A&E's The First 48 and Crime 360. But that's the difference between make-believe and reality.

Coexistence

Both formats-make-believe and reality crime-can and will continue to coexist. They both play a pivotal role in their own unique way. Reality crime provides us with an insight into the world around us: every city is a host to homicides and the detectives investigating them. Make-believe crime, on the other hand, paints an imaginative, yet realistic portrayal of crime. Most of the stories relate directly to newspaper headlines, thereby connecting us to the real world, while still touching base with our need for entertainment. At the end of the day, it all comes down to fact versus fiction. Which one do you prefer? Me? I like them both!