Is violence a vital component?

After a class discussion about the role that violence plays within pop culture, I wondered, how am I exposed to it through my media rituals? What television shows, movies, novels, music and various other elements pop culture that I follow present violent or graphic scenes or words? I decided to pursue a series of blog entries that will reflect upon the presence of violence in various forms of media that I engage with on a regular basis. 

Other research indicates that media violence has not just increased in quantity; it has also become much more graphic, much more sexual, and much more sadistic. According to the Media Awareness Network, violence within the media has increase exponentially over the past decade. There is an increased prevalence of bloody fights, murders, sexually violent explicit scenes, as well as brutal representations of war. Furthermore, the idea of violence without consequences is also an issue that should be raised. "Less than 10 per cent of the TV shows, movies and music videos that were analyzed contextualized the violence or explored its human consequences. The violence was simply presented as justifiable, natural and inevitable -- the most obvious way to solve the problem" (http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/violence/violence_entertainment.cfm.)

Over the course of these reflections, I will exploring the violent elements within several popular television shows, movies, novels, Hollywood, and more.