ELSEWHERE: What Is the Purpose of Shocking Television Content These Days?

There are plenty of television shows that push the envelope with sex and violence (e.g., Game of Thrones, True Blood, Spartacus). Some might see this as a sign of the medium’s maturation. However, PopMatters‘ Cary O’Dell wonders if the increasing amount of “mature” content is “cliched way of proving that you are ‘edgy’ and ‘adult'”—less about crafting compelling stories and more about simply pushing boundaries for the sake of pushing boundaries.