Bloodless Carnage: Difference between revisions

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A subvariety of this trope allows for a small amount of blood, looking more like a ketchup stain from a particularly sloppy lunch, to mark the location of a wound.

This was a common trope in [[Action Series]], [[Adventure Series]], and [[Crime and Punishment Series]] until recently; for various reasons of "taste" and censorship, blood was never shown [[There Is No Kill Like Overkill|no matter how thoroughly perforated the victim was]]. Of late, though, shows like ''[[CSI]]'' and ''[[Law & Order|Law and Order]]'' have begun to be more explicit/realistic about just how messy most violent deaths are.

This was a common trope in [[Action Series]], [[Adventure Series]], and [[Crime and Punishment Series]] until recently; for various reasons of "taste" and censorship (and the limits of effects technology), blood was never shown [[There Is No Kill Like Overkill|no matter how thoroughly perforated the victim was]]. Of late, though, shows like ''[[CSI]]'' and ''[[Law & Order|Law and Order]]'' have begun to be more explicit/realistic about just how messy most violent deaths are.

Fantasy and some historical works, similarly, will not show blood even when someone is stabbed or cut. In some examples (particularly shows geared towards younger audiences), swords and other bladed weapons will seemingly [[Flynning|only be used to clash against each other]], and never be shown to draw blood. Two swordsmen will exchange blows for several seconds, but the telling blow will be a kick or shoulder block to knock the opponent down. Scenes of the aftermath of a battle will show broken or dropped weapons, discarded shields, fallen banners, dozens of arrows, and the occasional helmet or three, but never any bodies.