Bucknell Professor of Sociology Alexander Riley is available to discuss the influence of video games and other pop culture on our society, and how it relates to incidents such as the Newtown shootings. Riley has extensive media experience and is the author of several books, including "Impure Play," which explores the emergence of realms of popular culture where violence and death have a prominent role.

Quotes:"It is fairly clear that we are more desensitized to violence than we once were, and media forms like the first person shooter games are part of that, but there are much larger issues that should be, but generally aren't, talked about."

"The reality is that violent games are a relatively small part of the structural reality that creates situations like what just happened at Sandy Hook."

"American culture and stock political ideologies on both left and right tend toward a radical individualism that denies that we have moral responsibilities to one another that at least sometimes trump claims of freedom to do exactly as we please so long as we are not directly harming others."

"American society is swimming in firearms, and there is indisputable research showing that in societies where there are more guns, there will be more gun-related injuries and death."

Please note: Bucknell University can provide a satellite up-link for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Please call Andy Hirsch at 570-238-1561 to arrange an interview.