50 Shades of Deadpool

Regulation exists for the purpose of controlling and protecting the vulnerable in society from any form of media that is too explicit or vulgar, and therefore seen as inappropriate for viewing. Film and Regulation isn't affected due to postmodern technological devices and software enabling people to bend the rules of regulations upheld by regulators such as the BBFC, and watch the supposedly inappropriate content. Since the 1980s regulation has been much more tamed, and has become very liberal, decreasing its efficiency, and allowing more explicit content to be pumped into the minds of the member of society. As such, these audiences have become desensitised to the violent and sexual content the have been exposed to. Although, some Conservative theorists argue that regulation in the Film and TV Industries are ineffective and need to be reinvigorated. Due to the introduction of new age ratings (such as he 15 certificate) regulators have been over-indulging in the regulation of the Film industry, and have therefore neglected the regulation of the TV industry. This has led to television pumping out more sexual/violent content, and the younger generations that (nowadays) venture into the unfiltered, unadulterated internet to watch these television series have become far more desensitised - especially the ones that use more-modernised software, such as Netflix, which is unregulated and at the mercy of its millions of customers.

Should society or the individual or an educated elite decide what is an appropriate level of sex and violence to expose children to?

Regulation is there to help and protect people from viewing the wrong things and harming themselves viscerally. Active Audience theorists would argue that an individual has the innate ability to decide what levels of sex and violence they wish to receive, and that as a person we know our own limits. as much as this theory is correct it can also be flawed, as not every individual is able to stop themselves from watching the content, and may even become addicted to it, even when they've reached their limits. Anyone standing from a Liberal perspective would say that people can think for themselves, as we know right from wrong, but a Conservative would argue that people must be guided, as we are psychologically imperfect, and must look to regulators for the stability and order we need.A recently regulated movie is 'Deadpool'. This movie, which contains scenes of; graphic violence, sexual references and strong language, was rated a 15 by the BBFC. The MARVEL movie was quick to draw attention, however, when audiences suggested that this movie was not suitable for younger audiences. The BBFC clearly states that no cuts were made to the movie and that everything was in the correct boundaries as gore, violence and sex were kept to a minimum and did not take up the majority of the movie. This shows how audiences can not necessarily make the right decisions, as they decided to take maters into their own hands and argue the certification given to this movie, so the regulators had to step in and explain why they gave the movie the rating they did. Another film regulated for its overly saturated sexual content was '50 Shades of Grey', a film which contained a high concentration of sex and nudity, as well as erotic role play based on domination and sado-masochism. This film was deemed an 18 by regulators BBFC, as the audiences were far more offended by the display of bosoms than violence. 

EXEMPLAR ESSAY

1. General definition, information The BBFC and PEGI are the two organisations who certificate and rate media products. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) was set up in 1912 to protect the public from media material that may present harm risk.  Originally the BBFC only classified cinema films until the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984 when it started regulating videos/DVDs. In 1984 the BBFC began to regulate video games as well. From 2003 the responsibility of regulating video games was passed from the BBFC to PEGI (Pan European Game Information). The BBFC are an non-government regulatory body to which films are submitted for classification based on their content. They aim to protect the public by providing them with information that allows them to make a more educated decision when selecting a media products. The BBFC also provide verification for as to why they have awarded media products the certificate that they have. Like with the BBFC video games are submitted to PEGI to be given appropriate age ratings. These age ratings are in place to give guidance to the video game customers, particularly parents. The age ratings given to video games are awarded based on their content and suitability, not their difficulty. PEGI used descriptors that are placed on the back of the video games packaging. These descriptors explain the main reason behind why games have been given a particular age rating.
2. Specific points/debates  For example, it is not illegal for a person who is of age to buy a particular media product for a person who is under the age certificate of a product and allow them to view it. In this respect organisations such as PEGI and BBFC are carrying out the service that they hope to provide by informing the buyer of the content and the potential harm that such products may cause to a consumer who is not of suitable age to be subjected to the media product.
3. Thesis statement
4. Point Although these regulatory bodies are in place there are problems with the systems that prevent them from being used as a means of protection, for the public, from the media
5. Evidence/Case Study Example   A Serbian film is a prime example of a film where by the BBFC have taken precautionary measures in an attempt to prevent the public from being exposed to potentially harmful media content. The film, directed by Srdan Spasojevic, was eventually passed after four months of negotiation with the BBFC for release on the 10th December 2010. The BBFC required forty-nine individual cuts, across eleven scenes, before classifying it ’18’ for very strong sexual violence, sex and violence. Cuts were required to remove elements of sexual violence that tend to eroticise or endorse sexual violence. However, even after cuts the film was still seen to be disturbing, offensive and shocking to some adult audience members.
   The Woman In Black was passed by the BBFC with a 12A classification following cuts and was later released uncut on DVD with a 15 age certificate. The film was directed by James Watkins and was released on the 10th February 2012. The BBFC received 134 letters of complaint following the cinema viewing.  
   
   
6. Analysis/Argument This was as a result of the film being aged at a young age group to attract audience members who would watch the film as a result of it being Daniel Radcliffe’s first post Harry Potter film. The film was cut by 6 seconds in order to secure a 12A rating on release. This was as a result of the film being said to hare been “too scary” for the 12A certificate in its first-submitted form. In an attempt to satisfy both the audience members and the film producers the BBFC suggested the cuts in an attempt to release the film with a certificate that would be deemed appropriate by both parties and to prevent causing offence and harm to the younger audience members and their parents.However, the letters of complaint that were received suggest that the audience members and their parents did not feel that the BBFC did a sufficient in preventing the film for potentially causing harm.
7. Theory
8. Historical Context
9. Future PredictionIn this respect organisations such as PEGI and BBFC are carrying out the service that they hope to provide by informing the buyer of the content and the potential harm that such products may cause to a consumer who is not of suitable age to be subjected to the media product.