This new realism in literature for children and adolescents has explored topics formerly reserved for adult audiences. Such themes as one-parent households, divorce, estranged parents, living on welfare, death and dying, homosexuality, drugs, and changing sexual roles are representatives of the candor displayed in contemporary literature (Day 364). Of course, within this plethora of controversial subjects are both good and bad books. Some deal with these themes with sensitivity and a respect for human dignity while others use mature themes and language for shock value in order to sell a product. These changes in literature targeted to the youthful audience illustrate the moral dilemma confronting the producers of mass media content, even those who do so with purity of purpose (Day 366). On the one hand, the new themes are often appealing to the young audience, and from the perspective of publishers and authors, such literature can be a valuable introduction to the real world of social change for children and adolescents. On the other hand, media practitioners must be sensitive to community standards and charges by pressure groups, that exposure to controversial material at such an early age may undermine the moral stability of the youthful audience (Chagall 354). Under such circumstances, publishers and authors are warned that traditional books must also be available in the marketplace. "The pendulum must not swing too far" (Day 365). .
Movies are an American pastime and watching a video, DVD, or visiting the local theatre is common. Researchers have followed the correlation between screen violence and actual violence for more than three decades. "Their findings estimate that four to six percent of crime can be linked to movie influence" (Bayles 29). For example, in Baltimore a sixteen year boy accused of killing a sixty year old woman two years ago, reportedly told a girlfriend that he had been planning to steal a car and guns so that they could "run" like Mickey and Mallory, the violent characters in Oliver Stones 1994 film "Natural Born Killers" (Bayles 30).
