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One day Will Hays, the president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (which enforced the so-called Hays Code regulating the content of Hollywood films), called a meeting of the publicity directors of the various studios to discuss the sexy ads which they were using to promote their pictures. As Hays was outlining examples of the sort of promotional material which violated the Production Code, everyone's attention was drawn to the ledge outside a window - upon which a pair of amorous pigeons had lit and begun to copulate. "What's going on out there?" Hays cried. The answer was provided by an MGM manager. "Sir," he replied, "they're violating the Production Code!" - antedote.com
What is censorship in films? What is the 'Production Code'? Why do we have ratings on films? These are all good questions that you will be answering for yourself and processing through as you enter...
The Ratings Webquest
Created by Ruth Veselka
Introduction:
The first amendment of the Constitution states that; "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press…" At what point is censorship appropriate? Is it ever? How does this translate to film?
Task:
In recent news, a company called 'Clean Flix' has developed a service that will edit your purchased DVD's and videos of all "offensive" content. The term "offensive" is a subjective (particular to a person) term, but usually refers to swear words, nudity or sexual references, and violence. Film producers and movie studios are arguing that this compromises the artistic integrity of their films. Imagine that every part of the movie Schindler's List, Good Will Hunting, Top Gun, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Pretty Woman that was violent, sexually orientated, or contained swear words was simply removed from the film. Would this change the overall effect of the movie? Would this change your opinion of the movie? How and why? Do you think the film producers and movie studios have a legitimate argument to not have a movie changed? Why? Do you think parents have a legitimate argument to have films changed? Why? What do you see happening in the future to film making? What would you, your parents, your friends, and other people you know think about the censoring home movies? You will research the history of the censorship codes, look at today's film standards and ratings and take a stand on this issue by answering the following questions and creating a new rating system for the 21st century.
Process:
In groups of 1-4 answer the following questions completely and in complete sentences and complete the presentation for October 27th 2006:
1. Who was William H. Hays, what organization was he the president of, and what was the purpose of the organization? Who runs it now?
2. What was the Hays Code? How did it change to become the rating system we have today?
3. What was HUAC? What was the story of the Hollywood 10? What did it mean to be blacklisted? How was this a form of censorship?
4. Using basic definitions and the history of the rating system, create your own definitions of today's ratings.
5. Individually, in 5-7 paragraphs state your personal opinion concerning censorship in the movies. (See questions in the task for ideas)
Finally...
Create a new Rating System that you think will work for a new millennium of movies and movie making. In a one to two page brief, explain your new rating system, making sure to provide definitions for any acronyms or symbols used. Present your new system of film ratings to the Hollywood Studio big bosses (a panel of teachers) and the new "godfather" of film (Mrs. V) who will decide if they will work for today's films.
Resources:
History of Censorship in Hollywood
http://classicfilm.about.com/a0001/hays-code.html
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Lot/4344/stage1.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/cultureshock/beyond/hollywood.html
http://www.vitaphone.com
Rating Systems
http://www.filmratings.com
http://library.thinkquest.org/10015/data/info/refrence/exhibition/film.ratings.html
http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv006.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPAA_film_rating_system
http://www.cep.org/historyratings.html
William H. Hays and MPAA
http://www.wabash.edu/depart/theatre/THAR4/Hays.htm
http://www.showcase.ca/historyhollywood/overview/default.asp?page=6
http://www.artsreformation.com/a001/hays-code.html
http://www.mpaa.org
Blacklisting, HUAC, and the Hollywood 10
http://classicfilm.about.com/library/weekly/aa032899.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/entertainment/july-dec97/blacklist_10-24.html
http://www.moderntimes.com/palace/blacklist.htm
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/blacklist.html
Parent Rating Sites
http://www.gradingthemovies.com/html/parent_alerts/bp_ratings.shtml
http://www.kids-in-mind.com
http://www.screenit.com
Search Engines
Evaluation:
Questions 1-4 are worth 10 points each, and question 5 is worth 20 points. Added to this is the presentation worth 50 points which leaves us with a grand total of 110 points for the webquest!
...and thank you for playing!
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Presentation
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0-3
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4-5
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5-6
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7-8
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9-10
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Score
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Overall
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Yikes!
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Below Par
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Just enough
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Somewhat beyond
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Wow!
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Creativity
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Nothing
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Nothing Original
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Okay
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Quite Original
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Exceptional
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Spelling
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Is this English?
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Below normal
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Basic
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Good
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Exceptional
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Visual Aides
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None
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Just the facts
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Basic
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Good details
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Super descriptions
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Neatness/ Completion
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Can't Read It Because it's not done
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Hard on the eyes
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Too many errors
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Quite good
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Almost perfect
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Total
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/50
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Conclusion:
"Various countries or regions have film classification boards for reviewing movies and rating their content in terms of its suitability for particular audiences. For many countries, movies are required to be advertised as having a particular "certificate" or "rating", forewarning audiences of possible "objectionable content". The nature of this "objectionable content" is determined mainly by contemporary national, social, religious, and political standards." - Grolier Online
So why does our society need the rating system? Is it because it promotes creativity and ingenuity or is it simply because we don't want the reality of life, in all its graphic detail, to permeate our escape from it? It's a complicated issue that I hope you now have a better understanding of the history behind it and both the good and bad reasons for censorship in films.
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