Shows such as "The Walking Dead" and "Sons of Anarchy" have run cable television for years now. Reality TV shows have been a preferred genre for years now, well-known for their confrontations involving cuss words, glass-throwing, and cat-fights. What is one thing all these shows, movies, etc have in common? The violence that seems to entertain audiences and compel them to watch.
According to "Why is Violent Media So Persuasive" by MediaStar, violent media costs less to export, less to translate, and also more likely to be understand, therefore requiring less of a interesting, entertaining plot. For example, a movie scene with explosions, gunfire and physical altercations is enough to distract a viewer from the genuine story line of a film.
Reports have shown the highest-grossing films are action packed and violence-driven. Examples of this includes the the widely successful "Fast and Furious" franchise, or "Mad Max", well-known for their action-packed, often gruesome scenes. From 1995 to 2012, with the exception of four years, the highest grossing film were all decidedly violent.
While other successful genres such as romance and comedy prosper in the industry, it is shown time and time again that television shows, films, etc that contain violence compel people to watch. Whether or not this has a serious effect on real life violence, the level of violence displayed throughout television everyday is alarming and shocking.
