BBFC Questions

1. From where does the BBFC get its funding?

A- They are funded out of fees from distributors for the ratings that they provide

2. What types of texts do the BBFC classify?


A- The BBFC classify films but now recently have started to do it with videoes aswell



3. What are the problems / issues that the BBFC must deal with when classifying material? Look at the types of things they classify, ability to account for all types of content, changing context etc?

A- They deal with problems such as voilence, rape, sexual assualt aswell as extremes of human experience that are uncomfotable and serious issues in sosicety right now like medical operations, attacks on animals and real life executions.



4. Note the range of classification categories and what they mean

U-It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
Videos classified 'Uc' are particularly suitable for pre-school children and normally raise none of the issues set out below.

PG- Mild bad language only, natural nudity, with no sexual context and moderate violence justified by its setting (eg historic, comedy or fantasy).

A. 12 A- Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult

12- No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

15- There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck'). But the strongest terms (eg 'cunt') will be acceptable only where justified by the context. Continued aggressive use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable

18- No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. Where material or treatment appears to the Board to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – e.g. any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which is likely to promote the activity.

5. Look at how different themes /content within texts are classified. Make notes. Why might a DVD featuring content of skateboarders and BMX bikers performing dangerous stunts be classified as 18 but a film containing a sex scene and use of the ‘f’ word only get a 15 rating?

The BBFC's current guidelines identify a number of specific areas of concern which are considered when awarding certificates or requiring cuts. These are theme, language i.e. profanity, nudity, sex, violence, sexual violence,harmful actions. The BBFC also continues to demand cuts of any material which it considers may breach the provisions of the obscene publications act or any other legislation. Some of these materials in films that are in 15 rated one like sexual activity might not breach the pulbications act and thats why its rated at 15 compared to possibly lighter ones like bike moves that are rated at 18.

6 . Why might a film be given a rating of 15 upon release at the cinema but 10 years later be classified as a 12?

This may be the case through the change, creation or updatification of a law that perhaps either bands or allows new things that creep into the film instusty. Maybe the film indsutry acts on social and economical links like reacting to what the public views as acceptable or unacceptable and putting that into effect by the classification of films. For instance showing a robbery on screen in front of kids maybe of been viewed as non thinkable nowadays but widely accepted in the past .

7. Who is responsible for classifying films in the USA? How has this changed over time?

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPPA) is the instituion that is resposonsible for classifying films in America. Thier was a period of time during the 1960s that young films makers getting into the industry and producing films of gross nature which was before the creation of the MPPA but after the studio systems of the 1940s so in between both. They included sex, voilence and drug use which made other classfication industires become stricter towards these types of films.

8. Canis Canem Edit (2006, Rockstar)b. Crash (1996, David Cronenberg)c. A Clockwork Orange (1971, Stanley Kubrick)d. Fight Club (1999, David Fincher)e. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001, Simon West)f. Sweet Sixteen (2002, Ken Loach)g. The Last Temptation of Christ (1988, Martin Scorcese)h. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, Tobe Hooper)

Is the role of the BBFC simply to classify material to provide guidance or is its role that of a censor?

I think its a bit of both really considering thier history and the laws that they consider when instating new censorships. They classify material on the basis of views from society and have also been given powers to censor what they like so if they are acting on the widely accpeted wishes of the public then they are acting as a censor in attemtping to cut down on the gross nature exploited to innaporiate aged chirlden.

When they classify the different aged ratings they are based on the nature of the content which sometimes they have a national duty to censor if the material ever over steps the mark for a certain age group. They supposedly have the parents and chrildens bests intrests at heart and so must act on those and censor if neccisary so they arent just thier to provide guidnence but also act as a reliable censor to the public thier are serving.

Magazine cover analysis

When talking about the representation of women I am going to be using the examples of the two respective magazines OK and VOGUE talking about their similarities , differences , values and ideologies.
Contrasting styles

Neither magazine will claim to have a niche market amongst their audiences because of the interests and contexts they are portraying to their target readers through the women they have used for promoting their respective magazines. Both have famous women who have been in the media limelight for more than enough time to class them as famous or celebrities, on the one hand their is Britney spears who had a career as a pop star but fell from grace and ever since then the media has been exploiting every bad aspect of her life, while on the other side their is Kera knightly is a successful movie actress who has maintained her success by revelling in the public eye and media coverage.

OK uses Britney spears in a bikini on a holiday beach to attract an audience who are interested in celebrities and are deemed mostly a social lower class in contrast to magazine vogue who specify in giving their audience a more classier feel about fashion.

Looking at the two magazine covers you can tell by the two women’s characteristics why the magazine have chosen them to headline them, by reducing Britney spears to half nakedness demeans her as it suggests it is her body and looks that sell and not her brains that attract readers, however with vogue they get a stylish smart and independent actress to cover the front of their magazine with only a slight hint of nudity but this is to make the dress sexy yet smart. She is being treated as a role model to professional women who don’t want to have to do anything degrading to get into top industries.

In addition the layout of the magazines are very different as vogue adopts a more stylish and formal approach to go along with the matching characteristics of kera knightly and OK go for a more celeb styled, colourful and entertaining look. Vogue saw net profit by revenue rise 6.8 per approximately $1.4 billion and OK magazine sells a million copies a week, making profit on certain issues.

They both do so on portraying celebrities like these and so their choices of them seem justified because they attract their audiences successfully , one does it through exposure of women’s bodies while the other does it on their personality features.

plan for essay

COSMO MAGAZINE





M

Light on toned body almost exposing parts of her breasts, is glamorous and sexy dress to go along with Strong happy pose giving off vibe that she is both independent and in control of what she is doing yet still sexy while being this. Positioning on the front cover gives her centre stage and all attention lavished on her as the magazine attempts to grab its audience and mantain that interest, also the way she is looking down on the reader suggest the intention of power the creators are trying to give off . She is centre of the male gaze by the clothes and expressions that connotes loves, happiness and above all glamorous and stylish

I

Cosmopolitan have wides ranges of similar style magazines which would include the same codes, conventions and features including colour, glamour and gossip. They want to embrace this sense of cultural identify amongst their brands by hiring someone like beyonce who gives them an image of what their Target audience aspire to be, these features of what they aspire to be match the institutions characteristics for being stylish sophistaced and sexy.

G

Female gossip, advice, and fashion magazine that helps its target audience personally rather than professionally in some areas like questionnaires and question and answer sessions, the magazines layout suggests these by their laid back informal narrative

R

Representing young, nice looking and above all successful females that have already established themselves in their particular industry.

A

Primary audience would be young girls aspiring to be like beyonce and go into the music or fashion industry and eventually become successful, their is also a possibly a secondary audience of middle aged woman wanting to remain youthful or need help finding ways to please their men as the cover displays different individual helping articles for women. The class ranges from A to C2 with the only difference between the classes being the confidence each women has about buying and taking notes from the magazine.

I

Two ideologies can be give off when viewing the Cosmo magazine , one is the constant reminder of the male gaze and the barrage of in your face sex sells that is one way of looking at it to active readers, passive however could see it as a mag that helps you better yourself and become more sexually confident

N

Lots of informal writing and headlines that are mind grabbers but don't talk about important things.





HEAT MAGAZINE

M

Like Cosmo this magazine is informal and only after celebrities stories to attract their audience, on their front cover they display 3 big Hollywood females that are positioned in the centre a with smiles on their faces suggesting the aura of power and success that they have gained. They use these 3 to pull in target audiences who are interested in hairstyle and make up and use them as role models for what the target audience should aspire to be due to thier fame and popularity By using 3 big female stars it sends out a message of "I've made it and if you be like me you can make it too" . In addition they show 3 exclusives within the media industry to draw attention n to perhaps a secondary source who aren't into their main subject of hairstyling , by giving them sneak previews of whats inside it draws the readers into it making them want to purchase it and read on.

I

This in similarity to Cosmo is a very strongly based feminine magazine as it has aspects that females like and can relate to such as body parts something which women tend to dwell and make a bigger deal of and gossip. This relates to Shep and the historical and social concept that women care much more about their appearance then males do.

G

This genre is celeb culture dominated and female biased as well with the lack of males on the cover. Hugh grant gets a section in the corner while the man behind little Moe from Easterners is only in the background of the centre staged actress.

R

Represents celebrities as glossy friendly and role models this is why they have been all put on the magazine with smiling poses giving off happy and cheerful impressions

A

The audience for this magazine will probably be teenagers of 14 to young women aged 26/27 who want to know about fashion and the latest happenings in the celeb world as they might want to be in that industry one day. Their class will be from B, C1, C2 to D, some Bs will still be interested in what is happening despite them being see as generally smarter than the classes below.

I

The values and ideologies posed by the magazine our that celeb culture is important to young girls in trying to shape them up into being young women, with the female celebs being the role models to lead the way for them

N

Even more informal then Cosmo as they attempt to dumb down their narrative to try and reach out to lower class audiences

Plans key points

Laura Mulvey- male gaze

Historical/ soocial from shep- woman not always represented like they are in todays industry

Both- sending out less important messages to society and have captalist ideoliges