That seems like a very simplistic view. Life is not boolean, and neither are human beings. Denigrating a particular point of view as "old" and using "taboo" illustrates that you've already closed your mind to alternatives.

Some of the most shocking and suspenseful films ever made had little to no nudity or violence. They did so through good writing and production. Throwing a bunch of blood or boobs on the screen is cheap and easy and attracts like-minded audiences. Making quality entertainment is hard.

Also, thinking that blood and gore and nudity never existed in entertainment before the modern age and that the "old" values were puritanical is simply false. Shock value has existed as long as there have been books printed, movies made, and photos captured. The things published today have nothing on some of the illustrated gore from the 16th century.