Cannibalism: A Perfectly Natural History

Cannibalism is a difficult subject to discuss, Schutt argues, at least with any degree of seriousness or scientific rigor. He establishes this in the introduction to Cannibalism, in which he begins his book with a discussion on exactly why the media is so fascinated by lurid tales of cannibals. The popularity of characters such as Hannibal Lecter and Norman Bates reveal the extent to which the general public is fascinated by stories of people who eat people, yet any serious discussion of such an act is typically expressed either through scary movies or sensationalized headlines (which often actively draw on popular culture portrayals). This, Schutt believes, is a problem. His book is an attempt to address this problem and to take “a hard line on sensationalism” (xviii). His discussions of cannibalism tread the line between academic seriousness and media sensationalism, creating a space in the public consciousness for an actual discussion on a subject which Schutt believes to be very interesting. By blending his scientific training with cultural critique, Schutt reframes cannibalism not as horror fodder, but as a subject worthy of biological and anthropological inquiry. This sets the foundation for Schutt’s argument that only by rejecting sensationalism can we engage in honest inquiry.