BBFC History
the company was founded in 1912 and used the certificates of U and A (public) this gave films the impression of its intended audience. U would be for children and A would be for adults but at this time no film contained any content unsuitable for young audiences so the ratings depended on the overall theme of the film instead.
in 1920 the Middlesex County Council made cinemas only show BBFC-rated films. then the london council did the same but only allowed children into A rated films if they were with an adult. soon all counties did the same. when the horror genre came about people got concerned of the content of the films so the H rating was introduced in 1932 and only people aged 16+ could see the films. only a few films had this rating. the rating was changed to X in the 1950's as not all films were horror but included violence and sexual referance.
the 1970's had a more broaded variety of certificates as there were a large range of films being made.
U - universal
A - children age 5+ but parents are advised that content unsuitable for children under 14 may be shown.
AA - people 14+
X - 18+
the ratings were revised in 1982 with
U
PG
15
18
r18 (only special licensed cinemas could show these films)
the development of technology has made an impact on the BBFC as they have to be aware of these changes to how people get hold of content. in 1984 they decided to bring in the video recordings act. The VHS had been out for a while and more and more people were able to have one so the BBFC needed to give ratings to these videos because children can get these videos easier than they can get into a cinema so it is a bigger problem for the BBFC who aim to keep harmful content away from children. also this separate form of calcification would need to be stricter because of its ease of access so films are censored more and maybe given a higher rating than it had in the cinema.
the ratings were the same as the cinema ratings but with the aditional Uc for children and R18 could only be sold in sex shops
in 1989 12A was added to the cinema ratings and 12 was given to video ratings.
Legal and ethical constraints:
violence - most films will have violence in them but the films rating will depend on how the film adresses the violence. a cartoon like the looney toons will have comic violence that does not harm children so it would be given a U or PG rating but it would not be suitable for very young children so it would not get a Uc rating. a horror film will have lots of gore but the way the film treats this violence will depend on its rating. if it has lots of close ups and prolonged cuts then it would be given an 18 or would be required to be censored as it could harm audiences. slow motion techniques used to show the graphic detail will also have the same effect.
the context of the violence is also an issue. the character who is being violent can effect the rating, the hero usually defeats or kills the villain and that is exceptable as he saves the world but on some occations a film like seven is made where the villain wins and this can effect the audiences attitude towards the film and many would be emotional harmed and upset by the outcome.
the form of violence is an obvious issue as well because fist fighting can get a low rating and gun violence can as well but more brutal forms of violence will get high ratings such as decapetation, stabbing and other forms of graphic violence.
language - modern films can have frequent use of language and this must be taken into concideration by the BBFC. a U rating can have infrequent mild language, a PG can have more frequent mild language, 12 can have frequent mild language and infrequent use of strong language, a 15 will be able to use most language but if it is too frequent and agressive it will be given an 18 which has no constictions at all.
sex - a U/PG rating can have romantic references such as kissing. a 12 can have sexual references as long as they are not graphic for example a Bond film usually has a sex scene but it is censored with the use of darkness and silhouettes (die another day) or the use of camera angles which pan away from the subjects and fades out to the next scene. the use of 'real sex' can only be used in films sold in sex shops with the rating of R18 but one film was an exception, '9 songs' is a British film which is classed as the most sexual explicit film released in cinemas and has scenes of 'real sex' which did not get cut or censored in any way.
drugs - pg films can have drug references as long as they carry out an anti drug message. a 12 rating cannot inform the audience about how to use drugs but it does not have to have an anti drug message but must not encourage it. 15's also cannot encourage drug taking. 18's can have any content but if it can harm the audience then it must be cut.
"the obscene publications act 1959" says that no film can be obscene meaning no explicit sex scenes can be shown. (films that do will be given an R18 rating and can only be sold in a sex shop as it would be classed as porn unless the scene is cut)
"the licensing act 2003" requires all cinemas to have a license to show films and they must obey the laws put in place to prevent underage people from seeing a film with a high rating. plus preventing crime, harm to children and public safety.
public order act 1986 - "hatred against a group of persons in Great Britain defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic origins" cannot be shown in film or TV unless it includes anti racial messages.
in 1920 the Middlesex County Council made cinemas only show BBFC-rated films. then the london council did the same but only allowed children into A rated films if they were with an adult. soon all counties did the same. when the horror genre came about people got concerned of the content of the films so the H rating was introduced in 1932 and only people aged 16+ could see the films. only a few films had this rating. the rating was changed to X in the 1950's as not all films were horror but included violence and sexual referance.
the 1970's had a more broaded variety of certificates as there were a large range of films being made.
U - universal
A - children age 5+ but parents are advised that content unsuitable for children under 14 may be shown.
AA - people 14+
X - 18+
the ratings were revised in 1982 with
U
PG
15
18
r18 (only special licensed cinemas could show these films)
the development of technology has made an impact on the BBFC as they have to be aware of these changes to how people get hold of content. in 1984 they decided to bring in the video recordings act. The VHS had been out for a while and more and more people were able to have one so the BBFC needed to give ratings to these videos because children can get these videos easier than they can get into a cinema so it is a bigger problem for the BBFC who aim to keep harmful content away from children. also this separate form of calcification would need to be stricter because of its ease of access so films are censored more and maybe given a higher rating than it had in the cinema.
the ratings were the same as the cinema ratings but with the aditional Uc for children and R18 could only be sold in sex shops
in 1989 12A was added to the cinema ratings and 12 was given to video ratings.
Legal and ethical constraints:
violence - most films will have violence in them but the films rating will depend on how the film adresses the violence. a cartoon like the looney toons will have comic violence that does not harm children so it would be given a U or PG rating but it would not be suitable for very young children so it would not get a Uc rating. a horror film will have lots of gore but the way the film treats this violence will depend on its rating. if it has lots of close ups and prolonged cuts then it would be given an 18 or would be required to be censored as it could harm audiences. slow motion techniques used to show the graphic detail will also have the same effect.
the context of the violence is also an issue. the character who is being violent can effect the rating, the hero usually defeats or kills the villain and that is exceptable as he saves the world but on some occations a film like seven is made where the villain wins and this can effect the audiences attitude towards the film and many would be emotional harmed and upset by the outcome.
the form of violence is an obvious issue as well because fist fighting can get a low rating and gun violence can as well but more brutal forms of violence will get high ratings such as decapetation, stabbing and other forms of graphic violence.
language - modern films can have frequent use of language and this must be taken into concideration by the BBFC. a U rating can have infrequent mild language, a PG can have more frequent mild language, 12 can have frequent mild language and infrequent use of strong language, a 15 will be able to use most language but if it is too frequent and agressive it will be given an 18 which has no constictions at all.
sex - a U/PG rating can have romantic references such as kissing. a 12 can have sexual references as long as they are not graphic for example a Bond film usually has a sex scene but it is censored with the use of darkness and silhouettes (die another day) or the use of camera angles which pan away from the subjects and fades out to the next scene. the use of 'real sex' can only be used in films sold in sex shops with the rating of R18 but one film was an exception, '9 songs' is a British film which is classed as the most sexual explicit film released in cinemas and has scenes of 'real sex' which did not get cut or censored in any way.
drugs - pg films can have drug references as long as they carry out an anti drug message. a 12 rating cannot inform the audience about how to use drugs but it does not have to have an anti drug message but must not encourage it. 15's also cannot encourage drug taking. 18's can have any content but if it can harm the audience then it must be cut.
"The Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937" states that no films can have any scenes that show animal cruelty
"the protection of children act 1978" states that it is illegal to show indecent images of children under the age of 18"the obscene publications act 1959" says that no film can be obscene meaning no explicit sex scenes can be shown. (films that do will be given an R18 rating and can only be sold in a sex shop as it would be classed as porn unless the scene is cut)
"the licensing act 2003" requires all cinemas to have a license to show films and they must obey the laws put in place to prevent underage people from seeing a film with a high rating. plus preventing crime, harm to children and public safety.
public order act 1986 - "hatred against a group of persons in Great Britain defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic origins" cannot be shown in film or TV unless it includes anti racial messages.
No comments:
Post a Comment