In this episode, we explore Susannah Dickey’s Outtake #3, a thought-provoking piece from her debut collection, Isdal. This poem critically examines the true crime genre, questioning the ethics of deriving entertainment from real-life tragedies.

Dickey’s work is inspired by the mysterious case of the Isdal Woman, weaving a narrative that challenges our fascination with true crime. Through a fictional podcast setting, the poet addresses the problematic nature of exploiting such stories for entertainment. The poem critiques the voyeuristic tendencies in true crime consumption and the moral dilemmas faced by creators and audiences alike.

In Outtake #3, Dickey confronts the normalisation of violence against women in media. The poem begins by dismissing the notion that consuming stories of femicide is subversive, drawing parallels with other acts of accepted cruelty. It then moves into a reflective phase, examining the thin line between observing, studying, and committing acts of violence.

The poem concludes with a sharp turn, highlighting the commercial aspects of podcast production. This ending serves as a stark reminder of the industry's prioritisation of profit over ethical storytelling.

All of this serves to show how Susannah Dickey is a poet specialising in building intricate verse that makes her readers think about and examine the established in whole new ways.

Susannah Dickey grew up in Derry and now lives in London. She is the author of four poetry pamphlets, I had some very slight concerns (2017), genuine human values (2018), bloodthirsty for marriage (2020), and Oh! (2022). Her poetry has been published in The TLS, Poetry London, and Poetry Ireland Review. Her short fiction has been published in The Dublin Review and The White Review.

The Music In This Week's Episode:

'Effervescence' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

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