What are the wider social issues relating to media regulation?

What do these films have in common?

1. The Dark Knight – the most complained about film in BBFC history. Knives being used in the film created a lot of controversy. There were 364 complaints to the BBFC. The Dark Knight came to the BBFC in 2008 and requested a 12A rating. Previous batman films were 12A. The film was very successful but the BBFC received a lot of criticism for the 12A rating. Several high-profile figures condemned the BBFC for passing the film which allowed young children to see the film. 42% of all complaints in 2008 went to The Dark Knight.  The film has the use of knives to kill and disfigure his victims during a reign of urban terrorism which was happening in London, where a number of young people were being stabbed in the streets, at the time of the release. In 2008, 23 teenagers died after being stabbed.

2. The Woman in Black – received 134 complaints, due to the supernatural horror in the film.

3. Black Swan – received 40 complaints at an age rating of 15. This was the largest complaint rating in 2011.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1973)

‘It’s all right for you middle-class cineastes to see this film, but what would happen if a factory worker in Manchester happened to see it?’ – when hearing this quote the audience became hostile, and Ferman were shocked. Although he was a feminist to the public he wanted the film to be banned and to be stayed banned. If a factory worker saw the film they might act on it and cause trouble because they’re ‘less intelligent’.

Regulation as a class-based issue – the idea that censorship is a tool that enables the higher classes to control lower classes.

Censors and Politicians Vs. filmmakers

Concept: Catharsis – Films as an emotional release.

‘Horror films don’t create fear. They release it’ Wes Craven

Last House of the left banned in the UK until 2000.

The ‘Nanny State’ Nanny State is a term of British origin that conveys a view that a government or its policies are overprotective or interfering unduly with personal choice. The term likens government to the role that a nanny has in child rearing.

What is moral panic?

Moral panic is the intensity of feeling expressed in a population about an issue that seems to threaten the social order. 1950’s film – Wild Ones.

The Wild One, A Clockwork Orange, Childs Play 3 and Scream were portrayed by news media as a social problem, as immoral or anti-authority and consequently constructed as ‘folk devils’ as part of a moral panic.

The majority of moral panics since the 1950s, create concern about young people behaviour. Such as drug taking and binge drinking, which has attracted the disapproval of those in authority.

Stanley Cohen, author of Folk Devils and Moral Panics – a moral panic occurs when “a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests.”

Child’s Play 3 – Links to the James Bulger murder case, victim being splashed with blue paint links to the film.

Severence – 15 rating, anti social behaviours, various murder attacks and comedy.

The Evil Dead – sued because people thought it was a danger to the public.

The Excocist

The Crash – turn on is crashing cars. Passed the film with limited cuts and the only place it was banned was Westminister because the House of Parliaments can control what is shown in their district.

The five characteristics of a moral panic:

1. Concern – awareness that the behaviour of the folk devils is likely to have a negative impact on society.

2. Hostility – a clear division between ‘them’ and ‘us’.

3. Consensus – widespread acceptance that the group in question causes a real threat to society. The ‘moral entrepreneurs’ are vocal at this stage.

4. Disproportionality – the action taken is disproportionate to the actual threat by the accused group.

5. Volatility – moral panics thend to disappear as quickly as they aare formed, due to a wane in public interest or the focus of the news changing to another topic.

The Hypodermix needle theory:

Linear communication theory

Direct and powerful influence

Passive audience

Cultivation theory is a social theory that examines the long term effects of television, it often is applied to people’s perceptions of reality.   For example, a person who watches a lot of crime shows on tv will eventually believe there is a lot of violent crime in the city he resides in.

David Gauntlett – theorist – he holds up a magnifying glass to media effects and dabtes and asks, “why are there no clear answers on media effects?”

1. The effects model tackles social problems ‘backwards’

2. The effects model treats children as inadequate

3. Assumptions within the effects model are characterised by barely-concealed conservative ideology

4. The effects model inadequately defines its own objects of study

5. The effects model is often based on artificial studies

6. The effects model is often based on studies with misapplied methodology

7. The effects model is selective in its criticisms of media depictions of violence

8. The effects model assumes superiority to the masses 

9. The effects model makes no attempt to understand meanings of the media

10. The effects model is not grounded in theory

 Media Convergence is a term that can refer to either

1. The merging of previously distinct media technologies and media forms resulting from digitization and computer networking or
2. An economic strategy in which the media properties owned by communications companies employ digitization and computer networking to work together eg. Amazon Prime

What are the implications of this new technology on the way we consume films?

You can watch films anywhere at any time on most platforms such as, phones, laptops, tvs etc. Regulation links to this because younger audiences can get an over the 18 year old to buy them a higher rating film. Also, its easy to lie about your age such as on different online platforms such as YouTube.

Is regulation still needed given the accessibility of films on the internet?

The films are easily accessable on the internet but regulation is still needed because it’s a guidline for cinema and dvds.

What are the wider social issues relating to media regulation?

• Government and society using the media as scapegoat for societies ills
• James Bulger case, Knife Crime, Child’s Play
• Reinforcement of social norms through moral panics (press headlines)
• Rights and responsibilites in society – who is/should be in control?
• Comparison of our own system with other nations
• USA – MPAA – American rating – G – General, PG – Parental guidance, PG 13 – Parental guidance for anyone under 13, R – restricted, NC 17 – No children under 17.
• Changing media consumption habits and changing audience expectations
• United States dont mind violence but they dont like sex. United Kingdom are more relaxed on sex but dont like violence. France dont like violence but are very relaxed on sexual content.
• As the media converges and the world shrinks, does regulatory practice need to change? The future of film regulation is in serious doubt.
• The ‘Nanny state’ – consideration of protection, the harm test and the belief in negative effects, desensitisation etc. They know whats best for us – the public.
• Issues of teenagers – the reality of their evolving lifestyles and expecations not enough of a consideration – talk to them, a real study of the nature of teenagers lives today essential.
• Better understanding of the nature of audience consumption especially with children. Arguments about fantasy/reality.
• The need to protect the film industry to make ‘challenging’ films. Film as art should be allowed to push boundaries – not be santised ‘just in case.’

3 – batman, knife crimes

2 – BBFC, PCC

Then and Now

The arrival of videos in the UK, ‘Video Nasties’, and the Video Recordings Act 1984.

• Video Recorders were first introduced in the UK in 1978.
• At the time there was no legislation governing what could be released on video or to whom video recordings could be supplied.
• Initially the major distributors were wary of releasing their films on video because they felt video tapes might have an adverse effect of cinema revenues. Cinematic experience of going to the cinema is something social to do.
• This left the market open for smaller distributors who, in most cases, could only afford to release low budget material, including horror and pornography.
• There was no legislation governing video recordings, these companies were therefore able to release films that had not been submitted to the BBFC for cinema release, uncut versions of films that had been cut by the BBFC and even films that had been refused a certificate altogether by the BBFC.
• Some of the films released contained scenes that would be in contravention of UK laws on animal cruelty and obscenity.
• Even more worrying was the fact that such films were available, in theory at least, to children of any age. Especially on video, anyone has the access to purchase that film and watch it.

Key question: Do you think that the response of the politicians the news media was jusified?

Kermode Uncut: Responding to the Censor

Films:

Killer Joe

The Woman in Black – Uncut version isnt available to adults.

 

David Cook – BBFC director

Are the BBFC part of the solution or part of the problem?

Classification (rating or category) over censorship

Kirby Dick “This Film is not yet rated” – He found the BBFC approachable and fair.

NC 17 is seen as a killer rating in USA, 18 rating in the UK still has the respectibility, can be marketed more easier in the US. Transparency helps consistency, this is through their website which shows the reason why it got a certain rating and when.

 

 

 

 

Still make cuts on films that they may feel are harmful to the viewer.