Do I Look Like A Serial Killer, Darlings??????????????????????????????

                                        If I do, it is simply called ACTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Really, girls, you have GOT to come here.!   This is so much fun.  Not only did I get to peruse info on serial killers, I got to sit at desks with manual typewriters and write police reports, pin a map on a locale where another serial killer has struck--not Highland Park, NJ, to be sure--and, in a viral visual experience, search for and try to catch one!  I was so in my element.

                                             Andrew Cunanan...Aileen Wuornos...John Wayne Gacy....Jeffrey Dahmer...H. H. Holmes....Belle Gunness...Jane Toppan....Andrei Chikatilo...Gary Ridgeway...BTK...any one serial killer aficionados can think of are on display here.  My only caveat was The Moors Murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, were not featured.

                                               There were convenient benches throughout the exhibit, so that people who might be disturbed--I worried about David--could take a break.  But David came through fine.

                                                 Now, as a serial killer aficionado. what did I learn from this?

                                               First, I learned that serial killers come in several categories.

                                              The first is Visionary--one motivated by seeing visions or hearing voices.

                                              Next comes Mission Oriented--one who targets specific groups

                                              Third is Hedonistic--one seeking pleasure and thrills from sadistic acts.

                                               The last is Power/Control--which sounds self-explanatory, but means the killer likes to dominate his/.her victim for a time before disposing of them.

                                                  What was really eye-opening was when I saw a replica of Jeffrey Dahmer's apartment, with a cooked head on the stove, and body parts in the refrigerator.  This was ghastly enough, but so was the lack of fashion and taste in that place.  As I came to discover, girls, serial killers have no taste for furnishings or fashion. Not even an especially good looking one, like Ted Bundy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

                                                    I wanted more on how serial killers are made.  My readers on here now about "The Bad Seed," but, actually, watch for young kids who shun others, have no empathy, harm animals, and have a preoccupation with fire.  These are key signs to burgeoning serial killers.  And once adolescence and hormones hit--oh, brother!!!!!!!!!!!!  Get them to a psychiatrist or therapist before this happens, or you may not stand a chance!  And this is no guarantee, unless institutionalization is recommended.

                                                      For me, there were two fascinating aspects.  The first was how, before the term "serial killer" was coined, (my guess would be with the advent of Jack The Ripper) the idea evolved from folk mythology such as werewolves, vampires and bogeymen.  The other of course, was serial killers on screen, like "Psycho," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Silence Of The Lambs," and some that should have been included like the original "Friday The 13th," and 1956's "The Bad Seed."

                                                         Which led me to question other famous film killers.  Like Rebecca De Mornay as Peyton Flanders in "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."  Had she succeeded in supplanting Claire and taking over the family, would she have been happy?  I think eventually the novelty would wear out, and she would seek others.  Or Robin Williams in the underrated "One Hour Photo," who longs for a family.  If he found one, would it be enough?  I think not.  And how about Jennifer Jason Leigh as Hedra Carlson, constantly stealing others' identities to replicate her twin sister?  If she had survived, would she have stopped with Allie?  The ending I envisioned for "Single White Female" maintains she would not.

                                                           The exhibit is housed in the old Urban Outfitters building, on the corner of West 14th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.  Would I go there again?  In a heartbeat.  And I just might, to explore and investigate.

                                                           They plan on being there for six months.  Or longer if the business does well.

                                                          Serial killers hide in plain sight.  Jospeh Cotten delineated this brilliantly in Alfred Hitchcock's 1942 "Shadow Of A Doubt."

                                                               So, at this exhibit, beware. There may be serial killers walking among you.

                                                              David spotted a guy walking through the exhibit holding a monkey doll in his hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                Uhm hmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!