An abundance of sex and violence

"Children learn how to deal with relationships by what they see on TV. They see people having casual sex and using obscenity-laden language... I don't see how it could possibly be good for kids." — Faye Steuer, professor of psychology at Charleston College (Charleston Post and Courier, August 25, 2005)

Violence, and to a lesser degree sex, as depicted in media have been a hot topic this year. In the wake of mass shootings, gun debates, and the increasingly violent content in TV and movies is worth addressing. I think, in general, people go too far and creating a direct link between depictions on screen and horrors committed in real life. However, it's hard to argue with the idea that all this violence has been numbing us as a culture.

That's what makes "The Following" even more appalling. The show is a modest hit for FOX, has been the most successful new show launched on a network this winter, and has been picked up for a second season. The pilot had some interesting elements — and a lot of violence. It was critically savaged by family groups for its content. At first, I thought that was a bit unfair.

Nine episodes into a 15-episode run, I feel differently. The show has continued to ramp up the sex, violence, and scenes mixing the two. And it's become more than a little unsettling. In addition, the way the show is going in terms of depicting a movement of psychopaths, it feels a little bit more like something that teens and disenfranchised young people might want to emulate. And that's not a good thing.

Our society has long worshipped the anti-hero. "Dexter," which follows a serial killer as the "hero" of the show, is entering its eighth season. But with "The Following" and the coming premier of "Hannibal" — a weekly series on Hannibal Lecter beginning April 4 on NBC — we might be seeing this idea go to extremes.

It will be interesting to see how "The Following" plays out, but at this point it seems story has been displaced by an abundance of sex and violence. While that might appeal to today's viewers, and might even be reflective of our cultural tastes, that doesn't seem to be a good trend.