TK, and others, You can't be a "writer" if you are a sociopath or psychopath. Didn't you know that?? You can't write about anything that makes people give a shit, if you can't appeal to their heart. That is what art is. Sorr...
Appealing to emotion is only one way to have art affect someone. There's also technique, subtext, theory, style... To assume it's just "appealing to their heart" is very rigid thinking.
That is true. You could write something non-emotional scientific, esoteric. I just went off on a rant because of the books, blogs, gore, murder. I am sure it has its place.