American Grotesque

A look at the public's fascination with the dark side of life -- depravity, criminality and social dysfunction -- and with increasingly graphic depictions of sex and violence in television and film. Midday contributor and pop culture critic Sheri Parks leads our discussion.

ADDITIONAL READING:

Los Angeles Times TV critic Mary McNamara criticizes the treatment of women characters in certain new TV shows, like Those Who Kill on A&E.

A new study finds gun violence in PG-13 movies has tripled since 1985.

A NYT in-depth analysis of on-screen violence.