Main Arguments for Film Classification in Britain

PROS

• guidelines for what is suitable or harmful for children - protects them
• does screen/reduce number of younger people seeing inapproprate/explict material
• as its reguired by law has more power and influence than guidelines
• reputable source which is relatively unbiased and representative
• is keeping updated and moving with current issues
• open information on how classified material

CONS

• makes a judgement over what is suitable for children to see
• takes control and responsibility out of parents hand which can lead to disagreement over what is suitable
• quite subjective boundaries between categories
• pressumes that people are scared by different things at different ages rather than on personal experience and individuality
• impossible to prove potential harm - hard to prove potential harm for anything
• whilst information on the classification gap is publised freely is not well known about

Arguments

• is age a good variable for what exposure people should get
• should responsibility lie with the parents or government? should BBFC be guidelines rather than law
• are there too many or too few gategories
• wheter realism/realistic effects should be judged more, less or equally as harshly as real life action
• are age ratings for lower children for the benefit of the children or the adults who take them

18 ~ R18

• R18 =sex works containing images of real sex, strong fettishes, explicit animated images or strong sexual images so generally stronger and more specific activity than normal 18
• 18 can be of educational value which is rarer for R18 eg R18 activites not often justified by context

15 ~ 18

• themes treatment suitable for 15 +
• stronger sexual behaviour/references
• strongest language allowed
• general content suitable for a more adult audience rather than 15-17 year olds

12A ~ 15

• move to allowing stronger discrimitory language - so long as not endorsed
• can show taking drugs
• moderate - strong threat/horror
• stronger and more frequent language allowed from moderate
• nudity moves to allowed in sexual context
• openning up of themes
• moderate to strong language, verbal reference to sexual violence

PG ~ 12A

• can contain more discrimination but not endorsed
• can show infrequent drug misuse without antidrug message
• move from infrequent to moderate violence
• concern moves from younger copying behavoiur to concern over dangerous acts
• mild to maderate lang
• nudity un to acceptable
• strengthening sex references and implication for young teens
• more mature themes allowed
• moderate violence allowed without context - stronger stuff must have conext - mild implication of sex violence 

U ~ PG

• some discrimination allowed in educational context
• short frightening sequences allowed
• (no detail) of imitable behaviour or glamourised weapons
• Infrequent to mild bad language
• no treatment condonning unacceptable behaviour
• mild vio - moderate with justified context

R18

restricted category for only aspecially licensed cinemas and licensed sex shops

*most unrestricted only few extreme exceptions*

• strong sexual images involved in sexworks
• NOT illegal activity including obscenity (obscenity law in 1954)
• NOT stuff encourage sexually abusive activity
• NOT sexual activity with no consent
• NOT showing pain causing lasting physical harm
• NOT penetration of violent object
• NOT strong physcial or verbal abuse inc. seual threat, humilation or abuse

18

highest rating in the cinema - targets adults excluding children - quite close boundaries between this and R18

*believes on whole adults should choose own entertainment as much as possible*

• nothing against the law
• harms test - material that may cause harm to individuals or society eg in portrayls of drug use, violent acts or sexual assault
• gratuitous or very sexplicit sexual imagry is not allowed except if its to inform or educate
• only some sex works allowed (which may be stimulated)

15

targets mainly 15-18 year olds - context can allow for stronger themes and content eg if educational or factual rather than gratuitous

• not endorse discrimination
• drug taking can be shown but not endorsed - harsher on easily accessible areosols and solvents
• strong threat allowed unless sexualised
• no detail of dangerous behaviour - no glamourising weapons
• frequent strong language is fine - but not aggressive or repeated very strong language
• nudity fine - but no strong detail if sexual
• sexual activity cant have strong detail but can have strong verbal references - but not the strongest references or if primary purpose is stimulation
• all themes is ok for 15s
• strong violence and detailed verbal reference is allowed - strongest gory images and sadistic violence not ok - sexual violence must be discreet

12A

12 or under12 with adult supervision - targets mainly 8-14 year olds - newest rating - can be controversial with comic/cartoon films like spiderman, superman and batman

• discrimination cant be condoned - heavy discrimination unlikely to pass
• drug use infrequent, non glamourised and non instructional
• moderate threat with infrequent disturbing sequences
• no detail for dangerous behaviour - pain should not appear harm free
• moderate language and infrequent strong
• brief if in sexual context
• discreet sexual activity, suitable for young teens, not too crude
• mature themes must be suitable for young teens
• moderate violence with no detail of blood or injuries; sexual violence implied IF context is justifies it

PG

Parental guidance - one of widest/best selling viewings

• no identifiable discrimination unless disapproved oreducational (moral context)
• drug references if only anti-drug message
• no prolonged or intense horror
• no glamourisation of weapons or details on dangerous behaviour
• mild bad language
• natural nudity but nothing sexual
• sex only discreetly implied and mild
• nothing should condone unacceptable behaviour
• non detailed moderate violence

*context may give more more leaniant classification eg fantasy or historical setting*

U

suitable for age 4 and over - universal - youngest rating in cinema - protecting children against undue anxiety, fear or inappropraite behaviour

• No discrimination
• no drug use unless educational or innnocous
• mild brief horror with reassuring outcome
• no potentially dangerous behaivour or/with accessible "weapons"
• very mild language
• no sexual nudity - mild natural
• very mild sex references - kissing
• sensitive treatment of themes suitable for youngsters
• mild threat and violent

13 Issue: SEXUALISED VIOLENCE

• often confined to R18 as is considered strong sexual image
• a restrictive rating will be applied if sexual violence is glamourised or glorified or may have to be cut all together (eg mistreatment of rape scenes)
• bit more leaniant on verbal description of sexual violence - but still adult rating (18)

13 Issue: SEXUAL REFERENCES

• references can be left in if younger viewers will not understand it eg Beowolf
• sex references can have lower classification if educational
• consider verbal and visual references
• can range from milder images of ksising and nudity

13 Issue: WEAPONS

• cant have glamourisation of weapons for children
• need to be careful over acessible weapons for children
• context relavant - fantasy or mindless

13 Issue: CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR

• cannot show too much instructional detail (eg Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction shooting up)
• some issuses over showing crimes relating to young people (eg underage sex or drug use)
• drug and alcohol abuse cannot appeal to children

SENSITIVITY

• some special effectsmay cause afew viewers to experience side effects like seizures eg fickering lights or low frequency sound
• as responsibilty iswith the filmmakers to identify these - it is not often recognised by the BBFC as a term for classfication- but do sometimes put warnings inplace

VIDEO GAMES

• use sameguidelines as film but differencesin format areacknowledged
• limited research into potential harm
• interactivity may increase harm
• levelof detail important for level of violence
• repeated events could increase potential harm
• progression in technology etc may lead to a more cautious rating

TITLES

• titles of films are not allowed to incite hatred or encourage drug use or illegal activity
• may have to be changed if offensive

TRAILERS AND ADVERTISMENTS

• public has less choice and control over wat is seen/expected so have to  be monitored carefullyand more strict
• trailers and adverts match age rating of feature film
• no adverts for drugs or alchol
• cinema is responsible not BBFC

13 Issue: THEME

• very dependent on treatment of theme rather than actual theme
• problematic themes are unlikely for under 12s/15but beyond that most stuff goes
• example of Juno - bit of disagreement over easy/nonjudgemental theme of teen pregnacy

13 Issue: IMITABLE BEHAVIOUR

• great concern over easily accessible weapons as easier to copy/acess particularly regarding younger uninformed children (Rocket Man)
• context and message important - moral framework
• no promotion of illegal behaviour
• linked to detail of drugs
• harms testing

13 Issue: HORROR

• particularly sensitive regarding scary sequences for younger children - so have to be quite brief and reassuring eg Bambi
• debate over what diferent people find scary
• older horror is such classified to protect 'young and vulnerable' from detailly horror

13 Issue: DRUGS

• no details/instructions on how to use drugs incase informative
• cannot promote it in a moral sense - cant have all positive experiences
• no glamourisation of drug misuse particularly aimed at children

13 Issue: DISCRIMINATION

• most recent issue added in 2008
• no discrimination for gender, race, seuality etc
• nothing to promote any hate crime

13 Issues: LANGUAGE

• issues over what is brief and infrequent - one word over and over or range of different words
• context - if justifies (juno giving birth)
• iffy is related to and explict about sex and violence and discrimination etc

13 Issues: NUDITY

• context  -whether its sexualised or just in natural context
• nothing of children (simpsons)
• finer line between animation nudity and actual person nudity (Beowulf)

13 Issues: VIOLENCE

• whether its of easy acessible things
• focus on detail of injury eg blood/facial pain expression
• difference between animated and real life

13 Issues: SEX

• distinction between what is actually shown and what is implied (beowulf)
• what is considered brief and mild
• context
• non judgemental in terms of theme
• often edited for parents embarassed rather than childrens knowledgement/protection

Reflections on Lesson 2

• was interested ro find out more about the debate of whether censorship should beenforce or if people should make up their own mind via more information?
• when trying to regulate U films - you are assuming that children are scared by the same things - whereas some would be scared of things that arent on the censorship criteria
• found ManHunt 2 interesting case where the BBFC were overuled by the courts on account that you cant prove potential harm - raises the question then how can you prove any harm for any category / age classification

Overriding Factors

• can be overuled by the local authorities as they have the power to allow the cinemas to show what they think is suitable in their district - however for the most part the bbfcs recomendation is respected
• bbfc only have limited control on who sees what on account of varying opinion on obeying the certificates. especially with the increase in power in the internet, it is possible for people to see alot of 'unsuitable' or 'inapprpriate' material in their own homes
• context is very relevant - lesser ratings may be given to educational or fantastical text
• expectations of audience and apparent intention of film is also consider with regard to tone and impact eg moral perspective
• date of the production is also relevant
• format of work is also relevant for reasons like repeatabilty and accessibility

Legal Considerations

• the bbfc will generally not classfiy anything that breaks the law but has some exceptions - for example if an old western contains some scenes of animal cruelty then it could still be allowed on accounts that its outdated/wasnt breaking the law at the time
• in some cases they have to make a decision on if something which is perhaps borderline is breaking the law - for example swallowing a goldfish in Jackass
• similarly it has to constantly move with the times and new technologies and new scenarios to make sure that it can give a consistant message of what is or isnt illegal

RELAVANT LAWS

• Human Rights Act 1998 - right to freedom of expression and respect
• The Licensing Act 2003 - required by cinemas to limit under 18 viewing
• Video Recording Act 1984 - all videos, DVDs and similar storage devices must be classified
• The Obscene Publications Act 1959 and 1964 - illegal for work to be obscene
• Criminal Justice and Immigrations Act 2008 - banning extreme pornographic image
• The Protection of Children Act 1978 - no real or pseudo pictures of indecent children
• The Sexual Offences Act 2003 - illegal to indecently expose self, or record unconsenting party
• The Public Order Act 1986 - illegal for material to stir up hatred over race, religion or sexuality
• The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937 -  illegal to show cruelty to animals
• The Animal Welfare Act 2006 - illegal to show animal fight in GB since 2007
• The Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act 2002 - cant advertise tobacco/cigarettes

General Principles Followed

• they obey the laws of the land and so screen any thing illegal
• opperate as guidelines but can be overruled/answer to local authority  - who can bend on public demand
• constantly update their laws, acts and regulation criteria in order to keep up with modern issues eg hate crime - which is reletavley recent
• although was set up by government - is independent from it so doesnt have to comply with its views
• works should be allowed to reach widest audience
• adults should be allowed a lawful freedom of choice
• considers if theres conflict in the law;whether material may cause harm or whether availabilty is inappropriate for age group concerned
• uses uptodate research and expert opinion and collective expertise to judge material

Who are the BBFC

• a independent organisation funded set up by the government to regulate and classify all film, tv and video games.
• they are funded partly by the industries which they regulate as it is a legal requirement for example all films to be classified so they can charge film institutions for each film that they give a certificate
• they are also funded partly by the government who set them up - but only have one employee to keep impartiality

Relfections on lesson 1

• i found it interesting to find out the specific criteria for what makes something be a certain certificate eg. that a U has to have good triumph over evil so it doesnt confuse/disturb children
• I was/will be interested to see how the classification system is different for Film, TV and video games compared to both each other and other art forms
• It was interesting to find out who was in charge of classifying such material and how much control they actually have on blocking/screening material. for example in the spicerman case where the local authority overuled the bbfc
• what then happens to unclassified material? is it changed or brought to the public via other means - are all unclassified films then illegal?
• found it surprising that it was such a small group or people who classify all film/dvds/tv etc (30 people)