The Pervasiveness of Violence and Sexuality in the Theatre

Why are sex and violence increasingly pervasive in our movies?? In the first place, I wanted to make certain that they are. I went online to Fandango and found that of the Top 10 ranked movies there listed, 8 contained some violence or sensuality. Clearly, thhese things are much more readily accepted than they were in the days of "Leave it to Beaver."

Why are violence and sex so popular these days? I think it partly has to do with the oft-quoted couplet,
Vice is a creature of such frightful mein,
that, to be feared, needs but to be seen
Yet seen too-often, familiar with her face
We first shun, then pity, and then embrace.

Our society is becoming more and more numb to violence and sexuality on the screen. To excite the senses and bring in money, moviemakers have to push the limits and find new frontiers. I don't think the public are asking for more sex and violence, but they are interested when they see it. Most people don't want to see more sex and violence. However, most people subconciously do want to see these things. When people yield to the 'natural man', more violent and pornographic movies are produced.

In short, I think it goes two ways: movie producers force the sex and violence they want to see on the public, and half of the audience clamors for more, while the other half doesn't speak up against it. They numbers are all the same to the producers: they don't care if you object to the content of a movie, they care that you buy a ticket in the theater.