Into the Macabre: Tracing the Echoes of Dark Tourism and Fandom with Simon McFadden

In this episode of Oxford Brookes Unscripted, we talk to criminologist and PhD student Simon McFadden, whose work explores the strange intersection of dark tourism, screen-induced tourism, and 'dark fandom.' From Jack the Ripper-associated sites in London to crime tours in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, Simon takes us into the shadowy spaces where culture, crime, and curiosity collide. Drawing on fieldwork across the UK and US, Simon’s research investigates how true crime media, tourism industries, and online fandoms intertwine – especially in sites tied to infamous figures like Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, and Jack the Ripper. We also dive into how media representations – often glamorised with Hollywood actors – shape public memory, and why real-world tourist sites continue to attract visitors decades after the crimes. With sharp insights into criminology, media, tourism, and architecture, Simon challenges us to rethink why people are drawn to the macabre – and how society navigates its darkest narratives. To find more about his research, visit here: https://napier-repository.worktribe.com/output/2709266, https://www.revenantjournal.com/contents/i-am-the-dark-tourist-messenger-of-remembrance-by-h-e-sawyer/