In America, violence has always been an integral part of the national culture. Crime and bloodshed are glorified both on and off screen. The more disturbing the act of violence, the more captivated the audience seems to be. The most prolific crimes, those committed by infamous serial killers, attract the most attention. As Jeff Lindsay, creator of the book series that inspired the wildly popular television program Dexter, said: “We're sickened and disgusted, but we need to know. And the more we know about the scene, the more truly horrified we become” (“Sympathy for Devils”). The violence, especially committed by this special class of criminals, is thrilling. News reporting plays a role in this strange attraction, as it is through the news that people even know about these killers, but the evolution of the "serial killer genre" (Lindsay, "Sympathy for the Devils") cinema and television contribute to this. to desensitize people to the horrific murders that are being committed. This raises the question of whether this disturbing trend needs to be stopped, lest America's "culture of violence" (there is one source) continue to strengthen. Through news reports, films and television, criminals are constantly romanticized through sympathetic characterizations and gratuitous descriptions of their crimes, giving rise to people's increasingly positive attitudes towards crime. violence and, in turn, fuels the growing culture of violence in America. Violence in media (defined as news, film, and television) throughout history has contributed to desensitization to violent actions. Through character development, even the worst serial killers are portrayed in a way that elicits a sympathetic response from the audience. , effective...... middle of paper...... " CNN. CableNews Network, July 20, 2012. Web. May 7, 2014. "Popping Cherry." Dexter. Director Michael Cuesta. Michael C. Hall, Julie Benz and Jennifer Carpenter Networks, 2006. Netflix. Ramsland, Katherine, Ph. D. “Serial Killer Groupies. Crimelibrary.com, ndWeb, March 24, 2014. Ramsland, Katherine, Ph. D. “Women Who Love serial killers.” Psychologytoday.com.Web March 24, 2014. “Heroes.” . Allan Arkush. Perf. Milo Ventimiglia, Zachary Quinto...