Date of Award

Spring 5-2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy

Committee Director

Matthew Bernier

Committee Member

Sarah Deaver

Committee Member

David Gussak

Abstract

This research study explored the formal elements and content of 258 images of artwork created by 47 serial killers to see if common themes or content could be discovered. The images were found on five Internet websites containing serial killer artwork. The 47 serial killer artists were all male and it was assumed they were imprisoned when they created their art. The artwork gathered was viewed on a laptop and analyzed using the methods of content analysis. After categories of content and formal elements in the images were entered into a spreadsheet, frequencies and percentages of each category and subcategory in the art were calculated. The results reported that the largest amounts of images, 91.86%, were created at the dawning realism or higher drawing developmental levels, typical of age 9 or older. Other high percentages were in the subcategories of “steady line quality” (84.88%), “well-integrated images” (77.52%), “forward-facing perspective” (75.97%), and the category of “figures” with 74.81% of the images containing one or more figures. About 32% of the artwork contained images considered to be “bizarre/psychotic” and “fantasy”. Sadistic and overly sexual themes were not as frequently represented in images as might be expected of serial killers whose crimes are often sadistic. Themes common in prison artwork were found to be present in the art by the 47 serial killers; however the artwork was also consistent with serial killer literature that states content can range from superficial to explicit. Implications for future research include the collection of artwork from imprisoned serial killers and the inclusion of another researcher to conduct the content analysis. Implications from this study also exist for the field of forensic art therapy because a better comprehension of the minds of serial killers may occur with an enhanced understanding of their artwork.

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