Did "24" normalize torture?

The bottom line for me, is this: We shouldn’t be surprised when the values Hollywood sells us (which often involve sex and violence) have an impact.

But liberals and mainstream media elites have mostly mocked the notion that TV, movies, or violent video games could impact mentally disturbed persons, while simultaneously celebrating the way shows like Will & Grace or Modern Family have made Americans more pro-gay in recent years.

Now, some are regretting the possibility that shows like “24″ might have “normalized” torture.

This is not to make a normative value judgment. I suspect some of the values Hollywood has imparted are, in fact, salutary. But the point is that they can and do influence us.