Outline I. Introduction - History of the rating system and the MPAA (parag.1-2) II. Thesis paragraph (3) THESIS: By wearing a mask of deceiving helpfulness, the current system hijacks the role of the parent in choosing what is acceptable for our youth III. Current process and definitions of ratings (4) IV. The rating system is harmful to our children A. Ratings do not accurately reflect harmful, frightening images (5) B. The harmful effects of violence are inaccurately reflected in ratings (6) C. The ratings board makes many assumptions regarding what is acceptable in terms of sexual situations (7) V. Many parents realize it is flawed but accept it anyway (8) VI. Money is the cause of the poor application of the rating system A. Filmmakers desire, and receive certain ratings to make more money (9) B.An appeal process is sometimes very lenient (10) C. Large studios are much more likely to receive favorable ratings than smaller, independent filmmakers (11) VII. Need for a good rating system (12) Wes Craven is a Hollywood director who works primarily with the horror genre. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) routinely gives his films R ratings because of their intense violence and gore. While very few people would argue with these ratings, Craven is critical of the MPAA: "We of course do not have government censors-that would be totalitarian. It would also be unnecessary. What we do have is the MPAA. The MPAA purportedly exists to save us from having government censorship. It does that by . . . well, censoring us before the state does" (10). Censorship is an issue... ... middle of paper ... ...hree Decades of Film Censorship. . .Right Before Your Eyes." Humanist 60.1 (2000): 9-13. Academic Search Elite. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 11 Mar. 2001. Schroeder, Ken. "In Brief. . .Rating TV Ratings." Education Digest 62.6 (1997): 73-75. Academic Search Elite. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 11 Mar. 2001. Valenti, Jack. "Hollywood, the Rating System and the Movie-Going Public." USA Today Magazine Sept. 1993: 87. Academic Search Elite. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 11 Mar. 2001. Wilson, Barbara J., Daniel Linz, and Barbara Randall. "Applying Social Science Research to Film Ratings: A Shift From Offensiveness to Harmful Effects." Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media 34 (1990). Academic Search Elite. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 11 Mar. 2001.
The incident exemplifies a pressing issue in the ever-topical discussion of the oft-vilified film rating classification system in our country. Is the movie rating system, originally designed to assist parents in guiding the movie-going habits of their children, actually preempting parental choice?
The MPAA rating system was once a good source for people to find out whether a movie would contain immoral or violent images; currently the system has grown to become ineffective in today’s society. Society changes as well as movies; content and subject matter has changed for movies of this generation. If the system is not changed it will not help parents to know what movies will be appropriate for their children to watch. Because of the influence and prevalence of movies in our society and culture today a rating system is important, if that system fails to do its duty the negative influence that the movies can have on the children and youth of tomorrow will be great.
Going to the movies is a favorite past-time event of American lives. A long time ago, however, there wasn’t any rating system. Making one seemed like a good idea at the time. Today, the system is still the same way and doesn’t fit today’s changed time. Therefore, the movie rating system should be revised because the current rating system is outdated.
Many Americans love films, the meanings behind those films and the impact some films have on people’s lives. Ever since films were created there have been people and organizations that have tried to censor and block what the public can and cannot see. Even to this day there are certain things that if put on film because of censorship, would never make it to the public. This is very sad. Film is one of this country’s great expressive outlets. Many filmmakers and the people who enjoy what these filmmakers put out are effected by the horrible concept of censorship. When a film is put out to the public it is first reviewed by a movie rating board who then assigns the film a rating to tell people what age groups the film is suitable for and what the film contains. Movie selection for minors should solely be the responsibility of that child’s parent, not some critic that watches films and then makes decisions for other people about who can watch it and who can’t. People just need to start to understand the real meaning of free speech and expression in this country. Too many people are taking it for granted. People who are for the censorship of films may argue that it’s for the good of our children, shielding them from violence and sex, and not exposing them to something that they claim may be mentally harm...
... middle of paper ... ... Larry Ceplair and Englund stated in the book The Inquisition in Hollywood, “The destruction of the motion picture Left not only transformed the political atmosphere in Hollywood, but also adversely affected the kind of product which the studios turned out. “ In the early 20th century Hollywood reframed from producing politically controversial films in fear of becoming a target of McCarthy or the HUAC.
Largely influenced by the French New Wave and other international film movements, many American filmmakers in the late 1960s to 1970s sought to revolutionize Hollywood cinema in a similar way. The New Hollywood movement, also referred to as the “American New Wave” and the “Hollywood Renaissance,” defied traditional Hollywood standards and practices in countless ways, creating a more innovative and artistic style of filmmaking. Due to the advent and popularity of television, significant decrease in movie theater attendance, rising production costs, and changing tastes of American audiences, particularly in the younger generation, Hollywood studios were in a state of financial disaster. Many studios thus hired a host of young filmmakers to revitalize the business, and let them experiment and have almost complete creative control over their films. In addition, the abandonment of the restrictive Motion Picture Production Code in 1967 and the subsequent adoption of the MPAA’s rating system in 1968 opened the door to an era of increased artistic freedom and expression.
The emergence of home theatre allowed films to be released in a variety of formats and screened on various types of equipment. Studios began viewing conversion of film into multiple formats as a top priority. Though box-office numbers remained important markers of success it wasn’t the largest source of revenue...
The author of “Hollywood, Stop Exposing Our Kids to Violence” claims that filmmakers need to stop producing violent movies. The article argues that many children pick up bad habits from watching violent
One could easily dismiss movies as superficial, unnecessarily violent spectacles, although such a viewpoint is distressingly pessimistic and myopic. In a given year, several films are released which have long-lasting effects on large numbers of individuals. These pictures speak
Traudt, Paul J. Media, Audiences, Effects: An Introduction to the study of media content and audience analysis. Pearson Education Inc.: 2005.
Tikkaken, Amy, Erik Gregersen, Swati Chopra, Darshana Das, and Grace Young. "Television (TV)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 01 Dec. 2006. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
In Hollywood today, most films can be categorized according to the genre system. There are action films, horror flicks, Westerns, comedies and the likes. On a broader scope, films are often separated into two categories: Hollywood films, and independent or foreign ‘art house’ films. Yet, this outlook, albeit superficial, was how many viewed films. Celebrity-packed blockbusters filled with action and drama, with the use of seamless top-of-the-line digital editing and special effects were considered ‘Hollywood films’. Films where unconventional themes like existentialism or paranoia, often with excessive violence or sex or a combination of both, with obvious attempts to displace its audiences from the film were often attributed with the generic label of ‘foreign’ or ‘art house’ cinema.
Vande Berg, L.R., Wenner, L.A., & Gronbeck, B. E. (1998). Critical Approaches to Television. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Moviemaking is a risky business, for it is not always profitable. Only one in ten films ever recovers its initial investment from theatrical exhibition. In fact, four out of ten movies never recoup the original investment. In 2000, the average studio film cost had a total cost of over $80 million per film. No other industry in the world risks that much capital to make, finance, produce ...
In modern times, censorship refers to the inspection of books, periodicals, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other communication media for the purpose of changing, altering or suppressing parts thought to be objectionable or offensive. The objectionable material may be considered immoral or obscene, heretical or blasphemous, subversive or rebellious, or damaging to the national security. Thus, the rationale for censorship is that it is necessary for the protection of three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the state.