The image of a serial killer in culture: harm or benefit? A legal analysis of Thomas Harris’s novel The Silence of the Lambs and the Eponymous film by Jonathan Demme

This scientific article is devoted to the discussion of the influence of real serial killer images on mass culture. Such images have great popularity in culture and are present in books, films, and TV series. Often authors draw inspiration from criminal history and base their storylines on actual crimes committed by serial killers. Typically, such works feature an excessive romanticization of these characters, which causes public resonance and numerous controversies. According to societal opinion, cultural mechanisms lead authors to transform the activities of serial killers into objects of mass interest, thereby influencing the formation of public consciousness with a negative orientation. In connection with this controversial issue, this scientific article was created to demonstrate why authors attract significant attention to maniacal characters, placing them at the center of the plot. The object of scientific research is the novel “Silence of the Lambs” and its film adaptation, through which the role of the serial killer image in culture will be determined using interdisciplinary methodology tools.