Also contributing to the increase in bad taste in popular culture is the lack of control by institutions such as the family, organized religion and the government. Things crashed in the 1950s and were left by the wayside in the 1960s. That continues today. Rock and roll band Marilyn Manson currently is on the leading edge of bad taste. The group's name comes from movie icon Marilyn Monroe and convicted mass murderer Charles Manson.
Rumors have the band dabbling in drugs, the occult and devil worshiping.
In recent months, protesters appear at many concerts while others fight to keep the group from using public concert arenas. Aquila believes that without personal responsibility, themes of violence and sex will dominate popular American culture. Without any system of checks and balances, popular culture will do whatever it can to make money.