Comments on: Shouting Match: Should We Overhaul the MPAA? http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php A Website About Movies Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:57:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Robert Fure http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111643 Robert Fure Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:49:49 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111643 Yeah, pornography is loosely defined. The only two statements I've heard that come close to trying to define are what we've already mentioned - "You know it when you see it" and "No artistic value." Yeah, pornography is loosely defined. The only two statements I’ve heard that come close to trying to define are what we’ve already mentioned – “You know it when you see it” and “No artistic value.”

]]> By: Robert Fure http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204490 Robert Fure Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:49:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204490 Yeah, pornography is loosely defined. The only two statements I've heard that come close to trying to define are what we've already mentioned - "You know it when you see it" and "No artistic value." Yeah, pornography is loosely defined. The only two statements I’ve heard that come close to trying to define are what we’ve already mentioned – “You know it when you see it” and “No artistic value.”

]]> By: ddog http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111638 ddog Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:28:29 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111638 9 songs ! oh yeah ! thanks robert. that was buggin me there for a lil bit. 9 songs ! oh yeah ! thanks robert. that was buggin me there for a lil bit.

]]> By: ddog http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204489 ddog Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:28:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204489 9 songs ! oh yeah ! thanks robert. that was buggin me there for a lil bit. 9 songs ! oh yeah ! thanks robert. that was buggin me there for a lil bit.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111613 Ryan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:41:17 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111613 I have no problem with the MPAA giving guidelines to parents. The only problem is whatever they decree the movie is rated becomes law. It is ridiculous that 16 year olds cannot get into R rated movies. It is ridiculous that 16 year and 364 day olds cannot get into R rated movies without their parents. Most of those movies I wouldn't watch with my parents anyway. The MPAA should make guidelines, not law I have no problem with the MPAA giving guidelines to parents. The only problem is whatever they decree the movie is rated becomes law. It is ridiculous that 16 year olds cannot get into R rated movies. It is ridiculous that 16 year and 364 day olds cannot get into R rated movies without their parents. Most of those movies I wouldn’t watch with my parents anyway.

The MPAA should make guidelines, not law

]]> By: Ryan http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204488 Ryan Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:41:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204488 I have no problem with the MPAA giving guidelines to parents. The only problem is whatever they decree the movie is rated becomes law. It is ridiculous that 16 year olds cannot get into R rated movies. It is ridiculous that 16 year and 364 day olds cannot get into R rated movies without their parents. Most of those movies I wouldn't watch with my parents anyway. The MPAA should make guidelines, not law I have no problem with the MPAA giving guidelines to parents. The only problem is whatever they decree the movie is rated becomes law. It is ridiculous that 16 year olds cannot get into R rated movies. It is ridiculous that 16 year and 364 day olds cannot get into R rated movies without their parents. Most of those movies I wouldn’t watch with my parents anyway.

The MPAA should make guidelines, not law

]]> By: Cole Abaius http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111531 Cole Abaius Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:02:06 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111531 To my knowledge, pornography isn't defined. Or at least, it isn't defined well. Mostly, we're still hampered by the "I know it when I see it" version of defining smut. Thanks, Supreme Court. And how dare you, Fure, insinuate that Back Door Nurses 3 didn't have at least some artistic value. Clearly, it went over your head. I still have trouble seeing exactly how horrifically bad the MPAA is - I understand its frustrating, but is that really it? It definitely doesn't stifle freedom. For one, it's not the government or an outside force. For two, since it's self-regulation, it's a system that's agreed upon that filmmakers work within. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if some boundaries actually give artists more freedom. It's an interesting point that the government might not swoop in to regulate if the MPAA was disbanded, but is it really likely? I'm not sure. The government does love regulating things. Loves it. To my knowledge, pornography isn’t defined. Or at least, it isn’t defined well. Mostly, we’re still hampered by the “I know it when I see it” version of defining smut. Thanks, Supreme Court.

And how dare you, Fure, insinuate that Back Door Nurses 3 didn’t have at least some artistic value. Clearly, it went over your head.

I still have trouble seeing exactly how horrifically bad the MPAA is – I understand its frustrating, but is that really it? It definitely doesn’t stifle freedom. For one, it’s not the government or an outside force. For two, since it’s self-regulation, it’s a system that’s agreed upon that filmmakers work within. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if some boundaries actually give artists more freedom.

It’s an interesting point that the government might not swoop in to regulate if the MPAA was disbanded, but is it really likely? I’m not sure. The government does love regulating things. Loves it.

]]> By: Cole Abaius http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204487 Cole Abaius Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:02:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204487 To my knowledge, pornography isn't defined. Or at least, it isn't defined well. Mostly, we're still hampered by the "I know it when I see it" version of defining smut. Thanks, Supreme Court. And how dare you, Fure, insinuate that Back Door Nurses 3 didn't have at least some artistic value. Clearly, it went over your head. I still have trouble seeing exactly how horrifically bad the MPAA is - I understand its frustrating, but is that really it? It definitely doesn't stifle freedom. For one, it's not the government or an outside force. For two, since it's self-regulation, it's a system that's agreed upon that filmmakers work within. Plus, I wouldn't be surprised if some boundaries actually give artists more freedom. It's an interesting point that the government might not swoop in to regulate if the MPAA was disbanded, but is it really likely? I'm not sure. The government does love regulating things. Loves it. To my knowledge, pornography isn’t defined. Or at least, it isn’t defined well. Mostly, we’re still hampered by the “I know it when I see it” version of defining smut. Thanks, Supreme Court.

And how dare you, Fure, insinuate that Back Door Nurses 3 didn’t have at least some artistic value. Clearly, it went over your head.

I still have trouble seeing exactly how horrifically bad the MPAA is – I understand its frustrating, but is that really it? It definitely doesn’t stifle freedom. For one, it’s not the government or an outside force. For two, since it’s self-regulation, it’s a system that’s agreed upon that filmmakers work within. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if some boundaries actually give artists more freedom.

It’s an interesting point that the government might not swoop in to regulate if the MPAA was disbanded, but is it really likely? I’m not sure. The government does love regulating things. Loves it.

]]> By: David http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111520 David Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:47:35 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111520 I tend to think that what the MPAA needs to do is get pro-active and help those whose films there rating by telling them how they can change the rating. And the reason they need to be 'unveiled' as it were is because they need to be held accountable otherwise it will always appear arbitrary. Watching 'This Film is not yet Rated' would make me think there more than a bit...ummm...well up there own arses would fit the bill. In saying that I think that its odd that an NC17 is seen as ooooo sooooo terrible. Maybe its an institutional thing but theres a hell of a lot of people over 17 that can decide what they want to watch but cinemas and blockbuster and such make the choice for them by refusing them. Now thats odd. I tend to think that what the MPAA needs to do is get pro-active and help those whose films there rating by telling them how they can change the rating. And the reason they need to be ‘unveiled’ as it were is because they need to be held accountable otherwise it will always appear arbitrary. Watching ‘This Film is not yet Rated’ would make me think there more than a bit…ummm…well up there own arses would fit the bill.

In saying that I think that its odd that an NC17 is seen as ooooo sooooo terrible. Maybe its an institutional thing but theres a hell of a lot of people over 17 that can decide what they want to watch but cinemas and blockbuster and such make the choice for them by refusing them. Now thats odd.

]]> By: Davebaxter1989 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204486 Davebaxter1989 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:47:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204486 I tend to think that what the MPAA needs to do is get pro-active and help those whose films there rating by telling them how they can change the rating. And the reason they need to be 'unveiled' as it were is because they need to be held accountable otherwise it will always appear arbitrary. Watching 'This Film is not yet Rated' would make me think there more than a bit...ummm...well up there own arses would fit the bill. In saying that I think that its odd that an NC17 is seen as ooooo sooooo terrible. Maybe its an institutional thing but theres a hell of a lot of people over 17 that can decide what they want to watch but cinemas and blockbuster and such make the choice for them by refusing them. Now thats odd. I tend to think that what the MPAA needs to do is get pro-active and help those whose films there rating by telling them how they can change the rating. And the reason they need to be ‘unveiled’ as it were is because they need to be held accountable otherwise it will always appear arbitrary. Watching ‘This Film is not yet Rated’ would make me think there more than a bit…ummm…well up there own arses would fit the bill.

In saying that I think that its odd that an NC17 is seen as ooooo sooooo terrible. Maybe its an institutional thing but theres a hell of a lot of people over 17 that can decide what they want to watch but cinemas and blockbuster and such make the choice for them by refusing them. Now thats odd.

]]> By: Robert Fure http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111508 Robert Fure Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:52:51 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111508 @Rob Just because "9 Songs" sucked doesn't mean it didn't have artistic value. It tried to be something other than pretentious and failed. Maybe they should define porn as something that gives you a boner, because despite all the sex in "9 Songs" I wouldn't pop that in on a lonely night. @ddog I'm talking about "9 Songs" a film directed by Michael Winterbottom. It was supposedly about love and relationships, but really some characters you didn't care about had boring sex and went to lots of concerts. @Jonathon Come to America and taste some of our freedom and then you'll understand why we hate regulation! ;) Kidding. But America was basically founded because we didn't want a government all up in our business and we stick to that proud tradition. @Rob
Just because “9 Songs” sucked doesn’t mean it didn’t have artistic value. It tried to be something other than pretentious and failed. Maybe they should define porn as something that gives you a boner, because despite all the sex in “9 Songs” I wouldn’t pop that in on a lonely night.

@ddog
I’m talking about “9 Songs” a film directed by Michael Winterbottom. It was supposedly about love and relationships, but really some characters you didn’t care about had boring sex and went to lots of concerts.

@Jonathon
Come to America and taste some of our freedom and then you’ll understand why we hate regulation! ;)
Kidding. But America was basically founded because we didn’t want a government all up in our business and we stick to that proud tradition.

]]> By: Robert Fure http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204485 Robert Fure Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:52:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204485 @Rob Just because "9 Songs" sucked doesn't mean it didn't have artistic value. It tried to be something other than pretentious and failed. Maybe they should define porn as something that gives you a boner, because despite all the sex in "9 Songs" I wouldn't pop that in on a lonely night. @ddog I'm talking about "9 Songs" a film directed by Michael Winterbottom. It was supposedly about love and relationships, but really some characters you didn't care about had boring sex and went to lots of concerts. @Jonathon Come to America and taste some of our freedom and then you'll understand why we hate regulation! ;) Kidding. But America was basically founded because we didn't want a government all up in our business and we stick to that proud tradition. @Rob
Just because “9 Songs” sucked doesn’t mean it didn’t have artistic value. It tried to be something other than pretentious and failed. Maybe they should define porn as something that gives you a boner, because despite all the sex in “9 Songs” I wouldn’t pop that in on a lonely night.

@ddog
I’m talking about “9 Songs” a film directed by Michael Winterbottom. It was supposedly about love and relationships, but really some characters you didn’t care about had boring sex and went to lots of concerts.

@Jonathon
Come to America and taste some of our freedom and then you’ll understand why we hate regulation! ;)
Kidding. But America was basically founded because we didn’t want a government all up in our business and we stick to that proud tradition.

]]> By: Rob Hunter http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111489 Rob Hunter Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:57:36 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111489 @ Jonathon, As fucked up as the MPAA is, I still prefer it over the Australian alternative where a film could actually be flat out banned and made illegal to own. @ Jonathon, As fucked up as the MPAA is, I still prefer it over the Australian alternative where a film could actually be flat out banned and made illegal to own.

]]> By: Rob Hunter http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204484 Rob Hunter Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204484 @ Jonathon, As fucked up as the MPAA is, I still prefer it over the Australian alternative where a film could actually be flat out banned and made illegal to own. @ Jonathon, As fucked up as the MPAA is, I still prefer it over the Australian alternative where a film could actually be flat out banned and made illegal to own.

]]> By: Jonathon http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111488 Jonathon Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:47:17 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111488 The American fear of regulation never ceases to amaze. What is so wrong with laying out the rules? In Australia (and many other commonwealth countries) the laws governing the classification of films are clearly set out. They're even available online. The people charged with adjudicating weather a film does or does not fit classification criteria are professionals. They are paid by the government to decide what rating a film gets. And they have to show reasons why came to their decision. That way everyone - punters, parents, political parties, everyone - knows what is in a film and why a classification decision has been made. It's true, occasionally films are banned - ("Refused Classification") as was the case With Ken Park and 9 Songs a few years back. But as a rule of thumb, a film's classification generally matches well established public values and tastes. In fact these tastes have been, in part, shaped by the regulatory system itself. Of course, the way any other country classifies a film really doesn't mean shit given American studios only care American audiences. Everyone else in the world has to put up with this insane system. We are all slave to the MPAA. The American fear of regulation never ceases to amaze. What is so wrong with laying out the rules? In Australia (and many other commonwealth countries) the laws governing the classification of films are clearly set out. They’re even available online. The people charged with adjudicating weather a film does or does not fit classification criteria are professionals. They are paid by the government to decide what rating a film gets. And they have to show reasons why came to their decision. That way everyone – punters, parents, political parties, everyone – knows what is in a film and why a classification decision has been made. It’s true, occasionally films are banned – (“Refused Classification”) as was the case With Ken Park and 9 Songs a few years back. But as a rule of thumb, a film’s classification generally matches well established public values and tastes. In fact these tastes have been, in part, shaped by the regulatory system itself.

Of course, the way any other country classifies a film really doesn’t mean shit given American studios only care American audiences. Everyone else in the world has to put up with this insane system. We are all slave to the MPAA.

]]> By: Jonathon http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204483 Jonathon Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:47:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204483 The American fear of regulation never ceases to amaze. What is so wrong with laying out the rules? In Australia (and many other commonwealth countries) the laws governing the classification of films are clearly set out. They're even available online. The people charged with adjudicating weather a film does or does not fit classification criteria are professionals. They are paid by the government to decide what rating a film gets. And they have to show reasons why came to their decision. That way everyone - punters, parents, political parties, everyone - knows what is in a film and why a classification decision has been made. It's true, occasionally films are banned - ("Refused Classification") as was the case With Ken Park and 9 Songs a few years back. But as a rule of thumb, a film's classification generally matches well established public values and tastes. In fact these tastes have been, in part, shaped by the regulatory system itself. Of course, the way any other country classifies a film really doesn't mean shit given American studios only care American audiences. Everyone else in the world has to put up with this insane system. We are all slave to the MPAA. The American fear of regulation never ceases to amaze. What is so wrong with laying out the rules? In Australia (and many other commonwealth countries) the laws governing the classification of films are clearly set out. They’re even available online. The people charged with adjudicating weather a film does or does not fit classification criteria are professionals. They are paid by the government to decide what rating a film gets. And they have to show reasons why came to their decision. That way everyone – punters, parents, political parties, everyone – knows what is in a film and why a classification decision has been made. It’s true, occasionally films are banned – (“Refused Classification”) as was the case With Ken Park and 9 Songs a few years back. But as a rule of thumb, a film’s classification generally matches well established public values and tastes. In fact these tastes have been, in part, shaped by the regulatory system itself.

Of course, the way any other country classifies a film really doesn’t mean shit given American studios only care American audiences. Everyone else in the world has to put up with this insane system. We are all slave to the MPAA.

]]> By: ddog http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111458 ddog Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:00:14 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111458 @FURE And porn is “defined” as having no artistic value, so a movie with penetrative sex (like 9 songs or something) should just be rated R. I don't get it. it's probably obivous and all, but im a lil fried here at work and i just dont get it. just a lil slow here . do you mean 9 songs of jungle music? btw: love this topic @FURE
And porn is “defined” as having no artistic value, so a movie with penetrative sex (like 9 songs or something) should just be rated R.

I don’t get it. it’s probably obivous and all, but im a lil fried here at work and i just dont get it. just a lil slow here .
do you mean 9 songs of jungle music?

btw: love this topic

]]> By: ddog http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204482 ddog Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204482 @FURE And porn is “defined” as having no artistic value, so a movie with penetrative sex (like 9 songs or something) should just be rated R. I don't get it. it's probably obivous and all, but im a lil fried here at work and i just dont get it. just a lil slow here . do you mean 9 songs of jungle music? btw: love this topic @FURE
And porn is “defined” as having no artistic value, so a movie with penetrative sex (like 9 songs or something) should just be rated R.

I don’t get it. it’s probably obivous and all, but im a lil fried here at work and i just dont get it. just a lil slow here .
do you mean 9 songs of jungle music?

btw: love this topic

]]> By: Rob Hunter http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-111457 Rob Hunter Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:53:39 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-111457 @ Fure, "9 Songs" had no artistic value. But that does point to an interesting distinction between sex and violence in films. Unlike say, the rest of the civilized world, the USA (via the MPAA) views sex as much more dangerous to the children than violence. And that's fucked up. If I had custody of any of my kids I'd pay a lot more attention to the violence they were inundated with than the sex. An enraged child is more of a threat than a horny one. @ Fure, “9 Songs” had no artistic value. But that does point to an interesting distinction between sex and violence in films. Unlike say, the rest of the civilized world, the USA (via the MPAA) views sex as much more dangerous to the children than violence. And that’s fucked up. If I had custody of any of my kids I’d pay a lot more attention to the violence they were inundated with than the sex. An enraged child is more of a threat than a horny one.

]]> By: Rob Hunter http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/features/shouting-match-should-we-overhaul-the-mpaa.php/comment-page-1#comment-204481 Rob Hunter Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:53:00 +0000 http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/?p=16234#comment-204481 @ Fure, "9 Songs" had no artistic value. But that does point to an interesting distinction between sex and violence in films. Unlike say, the rest of the civilized world, the USA (via the MPAA) views sex as much more dangerous to the children than violence. And that's fucked up. If I had custody of any of my kids I'd pay a lot more attention to the violence they were inundated with than the sex. An enraged child is more of a threat than a horny one. @ Fure, “9 Songs” had no artistic value. But that does point to an interesting distinction between sex and violence in films. Unlike say, the rest of the civilized world, the USA (via the MPAA) views sex as much more dangerous to the children than violence. And that’s fucked up. If I had custody of any of my kids I’d pay a lot more attention to the violence they were inundated with than the sex. An enraged child is more of a threat than a horny one.

]]>