Past Paper example...

G325 past question from Graveney School

The Future of the BBFC

What is the future of the bbfc from Holly Taylor

Past Questions

You will have a choice of two Contemporary Media Regulation questions in the exam.
You should spend one hour answering your chosen question.

Here are some examples of past questions:

• How effectively can contemporary media be regulated? (50)

• How far do changes to the regulation of media reflect broader social changes? (50)

• To what extent is contemporary media regulation more or less effective than previous times? (50)

• Discuss the need for media regulation. (50)

Remember you need to refer to examples and case studies from both media forms (film and videogames)

You also need to briefly discuss the past, focus the main of your answer on present contemporary examples and then summarise your answer with a prediction of the future of regulation. 

Useful Links

Two filmmakers discuss there views on classification here: (useful as both offer different interesting opinions)

http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/article/2354/the-film-classification-debate


Information here from the BBC on the 12A classification when it was brought in:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2223145.stm


This article discusses controversial 12A films

http://www.moviereviews.co.uk/features/movies-push-12a-rating-its-limit


This forum discusses the issues of TV channels broadcasting 12A and how it is difficult to know wether films can be shown before or after the 9pm watershed.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1781023

Some examples of 12A films..

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/the-most-controversial-12a-films.html

http://www.imdb.com/search/title?certificates=gb:12a

Old and New Theory

The old Social Learning Theory is often discussed in the media as evidence that media can influence our behaviour in negative ways.

Bandura's experiment using the Bobo doll is explained in this short video.


The theory can be used as a discussion point, e.g.

• why do the media keep bringing it up as evidence' when it has been proved there are flaws to the theory and the theory is very outdated?
• why is it perceived that we are influenced by negative things we see as an audience but not positive things?
• the children in this experiment do not receive or see any consequences to the actions they carry out.
• Modern children may react differently, no new studies have been effectively carried out.
• The situation in the study is contrived, yet situations we see in films do not typically occur in the life of a small child.

Try and think of your own reasons why the evidence in this experiment could be flawed.

It is important that if you mention the old theory that you contrast it with new theories and arguments in reference to regulation.

This blog will cover newer theorists such as :
Martin Barker
Sherry Turkle
Tanya Byron
Julian Petley
David Morrison

Issues of classifying sex

This podcast from the BBFC outlines issues of classifying sex on screen, there are some really good examples discussed such as Black Swan and Shame.

From 23 minutes onwards you will hear discussions of why some scenes were considered to be an 18 rating whereas others were at a 15.

There is also discussion of innuendo in childrens films and how the context of comedy or fantasy can influence a rating decison.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/podcasts/bbfc-podcast-episode-3-sex





It would be adviseable to read some reviews of these films to help build up your notes:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jan/12/shame-film-review-fassbender

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/20/black-swan-review

Prompt questions for contemporary Media Regulation:

(The exam question will relate to one or more of these prompts)

•      What is the nature of contemporary media regulation compared with previous practices?  (Then vs. Now)

•      What are the arguments for and against specific forms of contemporary media regulation?

•      How effective are regulatory practices?

•      What are the wider social issues relating to media regulation?

You hould use these prompts as a guide to your revision. Build your notes around these four questions as a starting point. The more notes you can make for these four questions, the better prepared you will be for the exam.

MPAA vs BBFC

When discussing regulation in the UK (BBFC) it is a good idea to contrast it with regulation in the USA (MPAA).

The BBFC classifications are U, PG, 12, 12A, 15, 18

The MPAA Classifications are G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17.

This documentary discusses how the MPAA regulation system works:


and you can find the MPAA regulation guidelines here:

http://www.mpaa.org/ratings/what-each-rating-means

Imitable Behaviour

During this podcast members of the BBFC discuss issues of imitable behaviour and how they protect the young.
this is a good area to discuss in your exam answer because it is important to understand the variety of areas the BBFC look into other than violence.
There are lots of exmaples of how they have classified specific films in the U and PG category as well as explanations of why certain areas such as fireworks and criminal benaviour are such a concern.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/case-studies/podcasts/bbfc-podcast-episode-9-imitable-techniques

Among the examples they discuss:

The Next Three Days
Killer Inside me
Toy Story
Indiana Jones
Spy Kids

Theories you can apply to film regulation

Sherry Turkle: Online Age

Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology. Focuses her research on human technology interaction.

She talks about how the use of technology not only changes what we do but how we think.

“It's one of the things that I argue gives it a kind of excitement as a place to live out your fantasies and experiment with aspects of yourself”

Martin Barker: Effects theory

"Censorship...is the product of fear and the prelude to control in a society"

He argues that watching films, even those with violence, in provide practices of pleasure which include:

• Physical satisfaction
• Being part of a crowd
• Creating imaginative worlds
• Game-playing and role-playing
• Taking risks
• Rule-breaking and defying convention
• Confirming membership of communities of response
• Critical appreciation.

A key point about these practices of pleasure is that they all involve some kind of preparation.

David Morrison: 3 types of Violence

What his research showed was that it is not particular acts which make a programme seem violent, but the context in which they occur.

• Playful violence is clearly acted violence, and is seen as unreal. The violence looks staged, and has little significance beyond its entertainment value. It is invariably seen as violence that cannot assault the senses.
• Depicted violence is violence that is characterised by 'realism'. It attempts to depict violence as it would appear in real life. It often includes close-up shots of injury, and is very graphic. This can indeed assault the sensibilities.
• Authentic violence is violence set in a world that the viewer can recognise. A classic case would be domestic violence. Violence in a pub or shopping precinct might be other examples. It is closer to the life of the viewer than other forms of violence. It has the possibility of assaulting the senses very strongly indeed.

Contemporary case study of violence and emotion: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games was released as a 12A at the cinemas. this was after classification processes suggested that scenes of blood should be removed from the film to bring it down from a 15 rating.




There has been much debate around the film and wether it is in fact suitable for younger audiences. some argue that without the visual effect of vioelnce the scenes have more impact becuase the audience connects more emotionally with the victims, thus making it more shocking.

for instance in this scene below, blood and sound have been removed.



This article discusses parents views on the film:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/mar/28/hunger-games-12a-classification-concerned-parents

It is also interesting that the trailers, which are rated as PG, do not cover the actual games but instead focus on character and family and even the potential love story.


Things you could consider:

• The books are not regulated yet the film is.
• The trailers are rated PG but the film is not, why would producers choose to dumb down the trailers?
• Why would they choose to cut the film rather than leave it at a 15 rating?
• is this film going to disturb or upset those under 12?

The Video Recordings Act and Videonasties

This information is for historical and comparative reference, it should not take over your essay answer in the exam.

The Video Recordings Act of 1984 is something that you should be aware of as an imortant change in the role of the BBFC and the processes of censorship.

Previous to this act films that could be rented or purchased for home viewing were not classified at all. This raised many issues and concerns around what young or vulnerable people had access to.
Reasons for this were:

• Some of the content of films was considered to be offensive or obscene.
• At home there can be repeated viewings which is beleived by some to have a larger affect on the audince.
• Scenes can be taken out of context by rewinding and watching again.

The act put the BBFC in charge of regulation and classification of films for home viewing.

Videonasties
some of the most offensive films were labelled Videonasites, theres were films that were considred to have the possibility to 'deprave and corrupt a significant proportion of its audience'
Campaigners such as Mary Whitehouse called for these films to be banned. Due to the Obscene Publications Act members of the police force had the authority to seize these films from shops.

You can learn more about these acts and Mary Whitehouse by watching this documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6190QIUGQw

An example of a Videonasty is The Evil Dead. you can learn more about this here:

http://www.bookofthedead.ws/website/the_evil_dead_censorship.html

The History of the BBFC

You need to have an understanding of how regulation has developed and changed over time. You also need to be aware of the organisations that are in charge of regulation.
The BBFC are resposible for UK regulation of films in the cinema and for home viewing releases on DVD.

Look here to find a history of how the BBFC has devloped and how the classification system has changed as society has also changed. Yuo can click through the decades for information on specific films that caused controversy or altered the BBFC system.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/bbfc-history

Regulation and Censorship

Regulation - Control, direct or manage viewing processes. I.e. Classifying the product for particular age groups, so there is control over who sees the product. It also includes extreme forms such as censorship.

Censorship (an extreme form of regulation) - Preventing something from being seen because it is morally, politically or otherwise objectional i.e. it is removed from the film.

Here is an introductory powerpoint to this unit put together By Emma, it outlines the way the question should be approached and the main issues surrounding Film, your first media form.

Contemporary Media Regulation intro from Holly Taylor