Learner Response

Learner Response

Target

Grade: B

Level: 36

How to get there:

• Have more academic novels/journals
• Improve the format of footnotes/bibliograghy
• Focus on Q's more
• Include more theories
• Make my intro and conclusion stronger

Critical Investigation Draft #1: Self Assessment

1st Draft Self-Assessment

Level: 3

Mark: 26

Grade: C

WWW: I discussed different aspects of my argument. With research on current events and

EBI: Should include more academic research and also try and focus on arguments for the 12A.

Critical Investigation Draft #1

Have Hollywood attitudes towards content in 12A films become more liberal or have audiences’ film desires changed?

Over the years content in film has changed considerably in order to cater both audiences and changes in technology, as "It will be inevitable that public attitudes and values will change over time."[1] These changes have caused the British Board of Film Certification to introduce the 12A rating in 2001. So as film content has changed to meet the demands of the rating, have Hollywood attitudes towards the film content become more liberal or have audience film desires changed?

The British Board of Film Certification (BBFC) role in film is to regulate and award age certifications to film in the UK. According to their website their main mission is to 'protect the public, and especially children, from content which might raise harm risks'. [2]From this statement, it raises the issue as to why the 12A certificate was introduced. The 12A was announced to allow any audience member under the age of 12 to watch a film as long as they are accompanied by an adult. This has caused controversy as the BBFC reveals that, "films under this certificate are considered to be unsuitable for very young people".[3] They describe the 12A to contain: mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, commonly used milder swear words and moderate violence/sex references.[4] Ultimately, this raises the question, is the 12A right to allow very young children to watch these films? 

By comparing the 12A to a 15 it shows that there is not much of a difference between the two ratings. Both ratings are described as containing 'moderate violence/sex references.' [5]This is a major issue as it wouldn't be morally right to allow a 6 year-old child to watch a film with this kind of content. It is unusual to believe that if the BBFC’s role is to ‘protect’ children from content which may harm them,[6] that they would then allow such material to be visible to them in certain films.  However, their responds to such critiques is that they believe the responsibility lies with the guardian of the child audience members in this age certificate. On their website they were quoted as saying, “An adult may take a young child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.”[7] This responds has caused a spark as the number of complaints has drastically increased since the introduction of the 12A.

From his academic research, Stephen Hill states, “The audience response to a film is perhaps the key issue in the debate for and against censorship.”[8] An issue which has been linked with this certificate is the effects theory which may have been associated with recent violent actions in society. In recent years, incidents such as the Colorado shooting (2012), where police officer said the shooter called himself ‘The Joker’. [9]Also, the very recent Sandy Hook shooting (2012) has been debated that there is a connection between violence in media and violence in real life. It has been argued that viewers who consume media with violence are more likely to be influenced to become more violent. Someone who does agree with this statement is Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx, who is recently helped release the very violent film Django Unchained. He said when asked about the influence, “We cannot turn our back and say that violence in films or anything that we do doesn't have a sort of influence. It does." [10]These claims by people in the media industry should be taken into consideration by the BBFC to reconsider their rating system as it is evident that there is an influence. This also supports the Hypodermic Needle Theory which suggests that mass media has a direct, immediate and powerful effect on its audience.[11]

One of the most controversial incidents in the BBFC’s recent history was the certification of the Batman Dark Knight film. The Batman films are considered one of the most successful franchises in Hollywood, earning $2,669,234,002 since Tim Burton’s first 1989 film.[12] The film was awarded a 12A and immediately generated a huge amount of complaints from parents and various people in society. The Batman sequel is now the most complained about film in Britain, with 364 complaints[13]. Factors which caused these complaints were unexpected violent themes in a film which started off mainly targeting young children. One of the main culprits of these complaints was the performance of the Joker. The whole persona of the Joker is one which is difficult to argue that it is suitable for someone under the age of 12. The Dark Knight film represents the Joker as a psychopathic killer who uses his knife to kill people. The Jokers make-up and costume is very satanic and disturbing to look at. The red line across his mouth connotes blood and gore. Also his scar across his cheek is very unpleasant for viewers to look at especially younger children. Review website, commonsensemedia.org, also similarly described the picture as a film with sections of “ultra-violent scenes of torture and death that are too intense for younger kids used to the nearly comic, stylized action violence of other superhero films. A disturbingly high body count is achieved via massive explosions, kidnappings, neck breakings, shootings, and hand-to-hand combat."[14]

These aspects have contributed in a fury of complaints by politicians and journalist highlighting why this film isn’t appropriate for younger viewers. Politician, Iain Duncan Smith was quoted saying he was ‘astonished’ that the film allowed younger viewers to watch the film. He also said, “Unlike past Batman films, where the villains were somewhat surreal and comical figures, Heath Ledger's Joker is a brilliantly acted but very credible psychopathic killer, who extols the use of knives to kill and disfigure his victims during a reign of urban terrorism laced with torture”.  [15]Whilst Labour MP, Keith Vaz said, “The BBFC should realise there are scenes of gratuitous violence in The Dark Knight which I would certainly not take my 11-year-old daughter. It should be a 15 classification”[16]. Whereas, Telegraph writer Jenny McCartney, described the film to have ‘powerful adult themes’[17]. All these complaints reiterate that it isn’t just a small minority who are against the ratings made by the BBFC.  

Looking at films before the times of the 12A era, it is evident that film has changed drastically over the years. Staying with the Batman sequels, Batman Returns (1992) was the huge comic book film at the time. However, this film was only available for 15+ audience members to view. From the Batman Returns film it is obvious that it was given a 15. The film contained scenes which had The Catwoman in a tight leather costume possibly used for the male audiences pleasures. Also, there are scenes of violence (i.e. female shot in the head with wound visible to the viewer) which would certainly be acceptable for a 15 rated film. However, would this film be granted a 12A today? I believe so. Comparing the 21^st century Batman to the 20^th there is not a huge scale of difference between the violence and voyeur aspects of the films. It could even be argued that the latter Batman films are more appropriate for a 12A rather than the pre 2000’s films.  Allyson Pearson from the Telegraph even describes a particular scene from the Dark Knight Film containing a sequence where, “a pencil being driven into someone’s eyeball by a demonic Joker."  [18]Acts like these surely wouldn’t be in a 12 rated film in the 20^th century film.

So why has film content changed so drastically over the years? The big gainers from the changes made to rating system are the film institutions. Observing from the institutions point of view it is quite clear they are benefiting greatly from the introduction of the 12A. This is because considering the highest earning Box Office films since the new certifications have been 12A films. These include, Dark Knight/Dark Knight Rises, Casino Royale and The Hunger Games[19]. These are films which have turned into franchises and breaking all Box Office records. The 12A allows the institutions to include profitable and popular themes like violence and voyeurism which are both very attractive to younger and older audiences. This is why there is now an increase in the film of this particular age rating. Journalist Simon Dillon argues that that the main offender isn’t the BBFC but rather the institutions. In his article Censorship or Greed he says, “in spite of the flaws of the 12A certificate, the main problem isn’t with the BBFC but with the studios, who are allowing this watering down to cash in on the tween market."  [20] He claims that studios are affecting the quality of film in Hollywood as “whilst Hollywood continues to greedily try and maximise profits in this way, stories aimed at grown-ups will continue to suffer."[21] An example of this is the production of the Hunger Games film. The book tells a story consisting of extreme gore and blood throughout which was a huge part of the narrative. Nevertheless, in order for the film to be a 12A to gain the benefits which was mentioned above, the institution decided to make it a very less gory and violent film. This is the major concern Simon Dillon has with this rating as he believes, “to censor it demonstrates a remarkable lack of artistic integrity”. [22]

Film critic, Pauline Kael states, “The history of American cinema could be summed up in two words: ‘kiss’ and ‘kill’.”[23] Those two words are the two pleasures of audiences which have evolved considerably over the years. As technology has improved, so has the action and overall quality of film thus increasing the expectations of film audiences. Audience members now expect more realistic violence and gruesome scenes in what they view as they know technology makes this possible. This expectation has possibly had an impact on film institutions and organisations such as the BBFC because they know if they don’t supply the demands of the audience results in lower rating and ultimately fewer finances.  Consequently, the BBFC may feel forced to become more lenient with certificating films because of the pressure being mounted on the by film studios.

Another feature of the film audience pleasure which has altered is the sexual content included in films. It is now acceptable in society to view more explicit content as supposed to 30 years ago. This has resulted in the certificates to allow more of this content. For instance, a 12A accepts moderate sex references. This is a complete transformation when comparing it to the 20^th century. Author, Aubrey Malone claims 20th century was time, “when sex and violence were taboo on screen, and those who engaged in anything to do with either suffered dearly". [24]This completely contrast the way those aspect are portrayed today, subsequently, demonstrating how audience pleasure have transformed over time.

So have Hollywood attitudes towards content in 12A films become more liberal or have audiences’ film desires changed? In my opinion, I believe there is a mixture of both. This is because Hollywood producers are always open to new policies and willing to discard traditional one as long as they profit. Their main goal is always to attract greater audiences, so their attitude towards the content in 12A films is indifferent to moral factors such as content to children, as their sole focus is to benefit financially. On the other hand, from the perspective of society there would be concern to the content 12A films. This is due it is quite evident that content in 12A films are certainly not appropriate for young viewers. Especially the very young ones at the ages of 5-6 who are accompanied by irresponsible adults.  A blog which discusses the validation of the 12A argues that, “the 12A rating has become a contradiction of requirements and increasingly insensitive to the material it inflicts on such a broad audience[25]” this is the view I have on the rating as I believe that to go back to the original 12 would make it both more understanding for guardians taken children the cinema and also fulfils the BBFC’s goal of protecting viewers from perceived harmful effects from what we see.  Even though I do accept that audience desires  has changed considerably to meet their desires to meet their gratifications, I believe the most appropriate thing is to take younger peoples experience of content into consideration to prevent any detrimental implications in the future by reassessing the criteria of the 12A rating.

Word Count: 2,236

  

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[1] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[2] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[3] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[4] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[5] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[6] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[7] BBFC (British Board of Certification)

[8] Stephen Hill, (http://www.englishandmedia.co.uk/mm/subscribers/downloads/archive_mm/mmagpast/MM24_shock_cinema.html)

[9] Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/20/nyc-police-commissioner-said-alleged-shooter-called-himself-joker-could-have/)

[10] CBS News (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57559564/jamie-foxx-quentin-tarantino-speak-about-movie-violence-in-wake-of-newtown-conn-shootings/)

[11] University of Twente (http://www.utwente.nl/cw/theorieenoverzicht/Levels%20of%20theories/macro/Hypodermic%20Needle%20Theory.doc/)

[12] Investopedia (http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0710/top-10-successful-movie-franchises.aspx#axzz2JSQvLRDi)

[13] Yahoo Movies (http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/the-most-controversial-12a-films.html)

[14] Review Website (http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-dark-knight-rises)

[15] Den of the Geek (http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/batman/13531/the-dark-knight-is-a-12a-bbfc-stands-by-its-decision)

[16] Den of the Geek (http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/batman/13531/the-dark-knight-is-a-12a-bbfc-stands-by-its-decision)

[17]  Jenny McCartney, Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2461820/Our-attitude-to-violence-is-beyond-a-joke-as-new-Batman-film-The-Dark-Knight-shows.html)

[18] Allyson Pearson, Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9426408/Why-was-a-child-watching-such-a-violent-movie.html)

[19] Boxoffice.com

[20] Simon Dillon, Censorship or Greed (http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/censorship-or-greed-the-12apg-13-debate/)

[21] Simon Dillon, Censorship or Greed (http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/censorship-or-greed-the-12apg-13-debate/)

[22] Simon Dillon, Censorship or Greed (http://thegreatesttrick.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/censorship-or-greed-the-12apg-13-debate/)

[23] Censoring Hollywood: Sex and Violence in Film and on the Cutting Room Floor- Malone, A (2011).p.3

[24] Censoring Hollywood: Sex and Violence in Film and on the Cutting Room Floor

Malone, A, (2011).p.3

[25] Is the 12A Valid? (http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/is-the-12a-certificate-still-valid/)

Essay Plan 2

Title:  Have Hollywood attitudes towards content in 12A films become more liberal or have audiences’ film desires changed?

Intro: Set out question

Point 1: Certifications i.e. 12A and 15 

Point 2: 

• Violence in movies/effects theory (Michigan University Study, Colorado Shooting & Sandy Hook) 
• Current situations: Jamie Foxx quote on violence, "We cannot turn our back and say that violence in films or anything that we do doesn't have a sort of influence," Foxx said in an interview on Saturday. "It does."

Point 3: Batman: Dark Knight case study- 12A Controversy (Textual Analysis) 

• BBFC complaints
• complaints from people in media

Point 4: Historical comparisons- 12A vs 12/15 (15 years ago) Textual Analysis

Point 5: Why has it changed? Institution benefits

Point 6: Why has it changed? Audience expectations, pleasures?

Conclusion: 

Essay Plan

Title:  Have Hollywood attitudes towards content in 12A films become more liberal or have audiences’ film desires changed?

Introduction: 

This essay will be discussing whether Hollywood has become more liberal towards the content shown in  12A films or if its the audiences which has changed. 

• When the 12A was introduced: 2002
• The first film to get the 12A certificate was Bourne Identity 

P1: 12A in more detail and other certificates

The institution which manages the certificates and censorship of films is the British Board of film Certification

• According to the BBFC, "films under this certificate are considered to be unsuitable for very young people". 
• The 12A contains: mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, commonly used milder swear words and moderate violence/sex references. 
• The 12A certificate allows any person to watch a film as long as they are accompanied by someone 18 or older, thus allowing a child who could be 5/6 years old to watch a film in this category. 
• The BBFC says, "An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult."- BBFC

The 12 rating is only for VHS, DVD or Blu-ray  

The difference between the 12A and 15:

• The 15 contains adult themes whereas the 12A has mature themes
• Hard drugs rather than soft drugs
• However, both the 12A and 15 has moderate violence/sex references.

P2: Films from 12A (content which wouldn't be suitable for audiences under 12)

Batman Trilogy 

• Both the Batman Dark Knight and Dark Knight Rises were both given a 12A
• Jenny McCartney from the Telegraph described the Dark Knight as containing 'powerful adult themes'

The Dark Knight film represents the Joker as a psychopathic killer who uses his knife to kill people. The Jokers make-up and costume is very satanic and disturbing to look at. The red line across his mouth is connoting blood and horror. Also his scar across his cheek is very unpleasant for viewers to look at. 

The whole persona of the Joker is one which is difficult to argue that it is suitable for someone under the age of 12. 

DESCRIPTION OF SOME SCENES

P3: Complaints Made Against The Dark Knight Films 

Ian Duncan Smith (British Conservative politician) was against the rating given to the Batman film saying,

“I was astonished that the board could have seen fit to allow anyone under the age of 15 to watch the film."

While Keith Vaz (Labour MP) said, "The BBFC should realise there are scenes of gratuitous violence in The Dark Knight which I would certainly not take my 11-year-old daughter. It should be a 15 classification."

The Batman sequel is the most complained about movie of the last decade in Britain, with 364 complaints made to BBFC

• The changes made by the BBFC is creating a moral panic by audiences as they believe these changes have been made to make films more profitable for film institutions as it gives them a wider target audience for their films.

P4: Benefit for institutions with the introduction of the 12A

• Wider audience for institutions= PROFIT
• Less stricter rules against violence has allowed institutions to add more violence into films aimed at younger audiences. 
• Telegraph reviewer claimed that, "That a degree of violence is an unavoidable force in cinema, as it is in life"

P5: So How Has Audience Culture Towards Film Censorship Changed?

Author Aubrey Malone discusses how censorship in Hollywood has changed over the years. She says in her book Censoring Hollywood: Sex and Violence in Film and on the Cutting Room Floor,

"20th century, at a time when sex and violence were taboo on screen, and those who engaged in anything to do with either suffered dearly"

This is a huge difference to how film is today in the 21st century. 

P6: Comparison between a 12A film and a 12 rated pre 2000's

Batman Dark Knight/Dark Knight Rises vs Batman Returns (1992) vs Jaws: The Revenge (1987) 

Textual Analysis

Batman Textual Analysis

Costume- The Jokers make-up and costume is very satanic and disturbing to look at. The red line across his mouth is connoting blood and horror.
Also his scar across his cheek is very unpleasant for viewers to look at.
His pale white make up is also nightmarish.

Sound- This scene emphasizes on the torture The Joker is going through. It has the sound of The Joker's neck cracking which is a very unpleasant sound for viewers.

The other image is from one of the many times where the Joker's infamous hysterical laugh which he does constantly throughout the film

The laugh makes the joker seem very crazy as he laughs while getting kicked in the head.

Quote- This is from a scene where the Joker shares a story from his past which involves unsettling imagery from his way of telling the story. He says, " Wanna know how I got these scars? My father, was a drinker...and a fiend. And one night, he goes off crazier than usual. Mommy gets the kitchen knife to defend herself. He doesn't like that. Not...one...bit. So, me watching, he takes the knife to her, laughing while he does it. He turns to me, and he says, "Why so serious?". Comes at me with the knife, "Why so serious?!". Sticks the blade in my mouth, "Let's put a smile on that face." And, why so serious?::Cuts guys mouth::.

Camera- This is a close up of of the Joker getting beaten up by the Batman and gets slammed on the hand.

Scenes which contains sexual content unacceptable for very young viewers

The following stills are from a scene which two characters share an intimate scene lasting 2.30 minutes.

 Mise-en-scene- 

This scene is of Bruce Wayne and Miranda having a very passionate kiss.

Dark lighting is used to make the scene more romantic.
The scene then cuts to another which connotes that they just had sex as both of them are undressed on a bed.



This is a close up of Bruce Wayne rubbing on Miranda's back

The next scene is of Miranda then rubbing on on Bruce's stomach

The Final scene suggests that they then carry on having sex.






These scenes is evidence that someone under the age of 10 shouldn't be eligible to watch the film, However the film was still given a 12A thus allowing youngsters to watch this.

Critical Investigation: History

• The BBFC carried out a national survey in May 2002 and got almost identical results, with over 70% of people supporting the introduction of 12A, as it is now known, provided children under 12 were accompanied by an adult and Consumer Advice was available to help them make informed decisions about what their children could watch.
• The very first official 12A rated film was The Bourne Identity.

(http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/bbfc-history/2000-2009)

Benefit of Bourne Identity being given the 12A are

• It took £2.15m at the box office
• This is due to the wider audience being available to institutions

Pre 2000's films which are equivalent to 12A

• Jaws: The Revenge (1987)- 12
• Batman Returns (1992)- 12 

These are film pre 2000's which would possibly have a chance to become a 12A today. The film Jaws especially was seen as a very scary film at the time.

The Film Batman Returns contains some scene which are a bit similar to the modern Batman.

 These three scenes may be ones which may be put forward as controversial scenes for a 12A.