Censorship ... continued

OBSCENITY

The Obscene Publications Act (1959) stated that "It is illegal to show a work that is obscene. A work may be found to be obscene if, taken as a whole, it has a tendency to deprave and corrupt (eg make morally bad), a significant proportion of those who are likely to see it".

Since 1959 however, there has been a seismic change in the moral climate and the law has become difficult to interpret. How violent or crude must a film or publication be before it corrupts a person? And what evidence must be forthcoming to prove that a person has been corrupted?

The current guidelines of the British Board of Film Classifications are much more specific, and, taking into account the change of public opinion are also more liberal. Here are some random quotes from the BBFC in reference to what producers should note when making films for the various categories:-

U FILMS - Universal and suitable for 4 year olds and over.

* Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.

* Occasional nudity with no sexual context.

* Mild sexual behaviour, eg kissing and references to making love.

* Horror effects must be mild and brief.

PG FILMS - Parental Guidance needed. Suitable for 8 year olds and over.

* Sexual activity may be implied but must be discreet.

* No glamorisation of realistic contemporary weapons.

* No detail of fighting or other dangerous techniques.

12A (Cinema) or 12 (Video). Suitable for 12 year olds and over.

* Mature subjects acceptable, but treatment suited to age-group.

* Strong language should be rare, eg the f... word,but must be justified by the context.

* Nudity allowed, but in a sexual context will be brief and discreet.

* Horror content. Sustained threat and menace is permitted. Occasional gory moments only.

* Drugs. Reference must be brief and justified by the context, and balanced by an indication of the dangers.

15 FILMS - For 15 year olds and over.

* No theme is prohibited, providing the treatment is appropriate to the age-group.

* Language. Frequent use of strong language is allowed, although the strongest terms are only rarely acceptable.

* Sex. Sexual activity and nudity may be portrayed but without strong detail.

* Casual encounters should be handled responsibly.

18 FILMS - For 18 years and over.

* At 18 a person becomes an adult and therefore has the right to choose their own entertainment within the law. Intervention in reference to content will therefore be rare.

* There are no constraints at this level on theme, language nudity or horror. The Board however may cut or reject parts if so decided.