Hello Readers!
I'm not exactly sure how the posting about junior theme thing is supposed to work, but all I know is the function of this blog is shifting gears for a bit, and i'm just going to roll with it.
For those who don't know, Junior Theme is the big paper of junior year- the uber paper, the head honcho, or whatever you want to call it. For the next month, i'm focusing on one topic and writing a paper on it.
Thankfully, I have an approved topic- film ratings. I knew I wanted to write about film, but I didn't know what I wanted to focus on and how I would keep the focus on American films. Doc OC asked me if I knew what the Hayes code was, and I didn't. A google search later, I realized I knew little about and would be interested in writing about film ratings. My current why question is;
Why are films rated by the Motion Picture Association of America's (MPAA) standards?
As I learn more about my topic, I can refine the question, but that's what I have. And here's what i've learned so far:
The Hays code was enforced starting in 1934, and was a strict set of rules prohibiting subjects in films such as nudity, the ridicule of laws or religious officials, drug use, and interracial marriages. After that was abolished in the late sixties, the letter rating system was created, starting with G,M,R and X. M then switched to GP and again to PG, PG-13 was added in 1984, and soon after that, X was changed to NC-17.Then they added explanations for why a film got a rating, which takes us to our current rating system.
So, that's about where I am now, and I'll post more at another point. If there's anything you'd like to hear more about, comment and let me know.
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This seems like an interesting topic. I have always been interested in the rating system and pay close attention to it before seeing a movie. I'm wondering what book you're going to read for this topic... However, finding a person to interview shouldn't be difficult.
ReplyDeleteSee CQ Researcher as a starting point:
ReplyDeleteMovie Ratings - March 28, 2003
see the "chronology" section to trace back to the 19th Century --1896 film --first movie is shown to a paying audience in New York City. “The Kiss” scandalizes moviegoers and prompts editorials about the deterioration of moral values.
see related article in CQ researcher
Censorship
Apr. 16, 2004 Broadcast Indecency