GOTTA LOVE WHAT YOU EAT: SERIAL KILLER CANNIBALS

Throughout the history of mankind, cannibalism has been a prevalent practice among nearly all cultures of the world.  Herein, I’d like to explore a single re-occurring theme in cannibalism. A reason that may seem alien to most: devouring those you love, admire or respect.  Although cannibalism has been practiced (practice makes perfect) for dozens of reasons. The people and rationale of eating those they love seems the most reclusive.

Though many people are under the assumption that cannibalism practiced out of love is insane, it is a tradition that has been going on, especially in tribal cultures, for thousands of years.  I hope to lend a better understanding, but without condoning the act of the loving cannibal, to this misunderstood and often overlooked facet of the practice.  

Today when most think of cannibals, the immediate names Jeffrey Dahmer and Issei Sagawa come to mind.  Not only do the names Dahmer and Sagawa draw up images of the grotesque, but also questions as to why they murdered and ate people. 

Dahmer and Sagawa both ate their victims for the same reasons why tribes in Papua New Guinea ate their human catch and why the Aztecs, Incans and Mayans sacrificed and ate their victims.  Love, respect and/or to gain the attributes of the victim that the cannibal saw as desirable.  If the world were filled with these types of cannibals, Britney Spears would surely be safe. 

Many ancient civilizations of South America were notorious for removing their victims still beating heart and then devouring it to absorb the attributes they saw as favorable in the victim.  Jeffrey Dahmer ate his victims, because he wanted to feel close to them.  Both Dahmer and Sagawa were known to be loners, as well as being fascinated with necrophilia.  (This gives new meaning to “get in my belly.”)

Once again, both Sagawa and Dahmer were both known as having quiet and withdrawn personalities.  Loner + Quiet + Dead sex = Cannibal?  Many cannibals have gone to great lengths to prepare their meals before and afterwards as well.  Cannibals like Dahmer and Sagawa both took pride in explaining the detailed preparation of the meat, the texture, et cetera. 

Even cannibals in popular fiction, such as Hannibal Lector, took great care in the preparation of the meal.  Human is after all very rare and different meat to come by.  The disposal of human remains to keep them from public notice, all of this shows that the meal was important and considered special or unique to the cannibal.  If there is anyone who genuinely loves his or her meal, it’s a cannibal (sometimes in more ways then one)!

In most cases of cannibalism, the attacker kills and then has sex with the corpse of their victim.  Generally it is after this act of necrophilia, that the cannibal actually eats the victim.  The primary connection between Dahmers’ and Sagawas’ cases, is that both were sexually attracted to their victims, and neither seemed to know a logical way to express that. 

Today, in a much milder form, love and lust is equated with cannibalism via hickies, love bites and blood letting.  Sado-masochistic practices or sexual torture can also be linked to a milder form of cannibalism and ancient tradition.  Some might ascertain that there is a connection between sex, sexuality and cannibalism, while others may not.