Name: Why public beheadings get millions of views
Uploaded: 2015-09-22T15:40:21Z
Duration: 15 min 47 s
Description: In a disturbing — but fascinating — walk through history, Frances Larson examines humanity's strange relationship with public executions … and specifically beheadings. As she shows us, they have always drawn a crowd, first in the public square and now on YouTube. What makes them horrific and compelling in equal measure?

In a disturbing — but fascinating — walk through history, Frances Larson examines humanity's strange relationship with public executions … and specifically beheadings. As she shows us, they have always drawn a crowd, first in the public square and now on YouTube. What makes them horrific and compelling in equal measure?

Why public beheadings get millions of views

Public beheadings, once a spectacle drawing crowds of up to 100,000, have migrated from the town square to the digital world. Today, millions watch these horrific acts online, often in private, as technology erases distance and anonymity blurs personal responsibility. A single beheading video can become one of the most searched items on the Internet, rivaling top entertainment shows. The urge to witness violence remains strong, shaped by both history and the unique intimacy of our screens.