The MPAA has some weird rules, but they work.

With all these laws and regulations surrounding what can be seen and what can’t be seen, the major mass media groups developed systems to protect themselves and those who use their service. Movies, TV and Music all have rating systems based on the content of their material in order to protect certain individuals, but also entice certain people. With so much information and details for each I decided just to examine the MPAA film rating system.

                                                           

For some time now the MPAA film rating system has been used in the United States and and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. While the MPAA does not publish an official list of all the exact words, actions, and exposed body parts used to determine a movie's rating, some guidelines can be derived based on the MPAA's actual rating decisions. It is one of various motion picture rating systems used to help patrons decide which movies may be appropriate for children and/or adolescents. In the United States, the MPAA rating system is the most recognized system for classifying potentially offensive content, but it is usually not used outside of the film industry because the MPAA has trademarks on each individual rating. Rated G—General audiences all ages admitted. Rated PG—Parental guidance suggested, some material may not be suitable for young children. Rated PG-13—Parents strongly cautioned, some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Rated R—Restricted, Under 17 requires accompanying parent or legal guardian. Rated NC-17, No one 17 and under admitted. There are many criteria that make up these genres, but I searched for the things that were most obscene and indecent that classified a movie rating. If a film contains male rear nudity, it is more likely to be given a lower rating than if the nudity were female. But wait, what about Titanic? Kate Winslet was naked and that is PG-13. Brokeback Mountain had male nudity and that is rated R. If a film contains strong sexual content, it usually receives an R rating. The film Lost in Translation had a scene in a strip club that had brief topless nudity. The scene was brief and the rest of the film had PG-13 level content, but the film still received an R rating.

Films that have legitimate historical or educational value are often granted leniency. Some have argued that level of violence in Saving Private Ryan deserved an NC-17, but that the film was given leniency because it was a historical war movie. Ratings criteria is intended to reflect changing norms within society. So, an evaluation of ratings criteria must specify what year or approximate period of time is being referred to, when modeling the standards relevant to each film classification.

Finally If a film uses "one of the harsher sexually-derived words" (such as fuck) once, it is routine today for the film to receive a PG-13 rating, provided that the word is used as an exclamation and not with a sexual meaning. Exceptions may be allowed, "by a special vote of the ratings board" where the board feels such an exception would better reflect the sensibilities of American parents. It is a common misconception that if a movie uses "fuck," in a non-sexual context, more than once, it will automatically receive an R rating. In reality, PG-13 movies are routinely allowed two or three uses.

So with such strict guidelines the MPAA has strongly regulated their films in an effort to keep what is Indecent and Obscene to the audience that can handle and is suitable for that material. Also. seeing a certain rating can attract audiences who are interetsed in violence, language or sex.

 

Love Always,

Ron Jeremy

 

Rating criteria taken from MPAA.org.