- the dawning of the home video age, format wars (VHS and Betamax), the moral panic about uncensored and unregulated content* and the ensuing move to statutory regulation of film in the home.
Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape 2010 Jake West
WHEN WATCHING THE DOCUMENTARY, USE THIS SHARED DOCUMENT TO MAKE NOTES. I WILL PRINT IT AT THE END SO EVERYONE GETS A COPY OF EACH OTHERS NOTES.
Historically, what does the documentary tell you about Film Regulation in the past?
What factors led to the changes? How did these changes affect cinema? When making notes, identify if these developments can be considered sociological, technological or economical (or more than one)
Challenge
Additional reading on 'Video Nasties'
Click here for "The Guardian: The Evil Dead, The Living Dead and the dead wrong"
Section B Exam Question
What factors led to the creation of The Video Recordings Act in the UK in 1984 and what benefits and disadvantages did it offer audiences / institutions?
(30 marks)
Write at least 2 PEEL paragraphs to answer the above question, using the cumulative notes we have just created.
Audiences are passive and have are powerless to prevent the media’s usually negative effect on them. Generally makes no attempt to consider individual context or prior environmental factors, simply blaming the media first.
Magic Bullet or Hypodermic Syringe
The "Magic Bullet" theory graphically assumes that the media's message is a bullet fired from the "media gun" into the viewer's "head" (Berger 1995). Similarly, the "Hypodermic Needle Model" uses the same idea of the "shooting" paradigm.
It suggests that the media injects its messages straight into the passive audience (Croteau, Hoynes 1997). Links to ‘copycat theory’ where crimes are attributed to individuals acting as a result of what they say in the media.
Two Step Flow
Came from research movement, led by Paul Lazarsfeld to disprove the magic bullet or hypodermic needle theory. Showed that reactions to media messages were, in fact, diverse, and were largely determined by situational and attitudinal attributes. These new findings also suggested that the public can select which messages affect and don't affect them.
The impact of new technologies on Film Regulation. The invention of the home video. The VHS/Beetamax Format Wars…
The main determining factor between Betamax and VHS was the cost of the recorders and recording time. Betamax is, in theory, a superior recording format over VHS due to resolution, slightly superior sound, and a more stable image; Betamax recorders were also of higher quality construction. But these differences were negligible to consumers, and thus did not justify either the extra cost of a Betamax VCR (which was often significantly more expensive than a VHS equivalent) or Betamax's shorter recording time.
= VHSs were CHEAPER (economical) and ultimately won...
Two Step Flow
Came from research movement, led by Paul Lazarsfeld to disprove the magic bullet or hypodermic needle theory. Showed that reactions to media messages were, in fact, diverse, and were largely determined by situational and attitudinal attributes. These new findings also suggested that the public can select which messages affect and don't affect them.
The two step flow model assumes that ideas flow from the mass media to opinion leaders and then transferred to the greater public. Opinion leaders are categorized as individuals with the best understanding of media content and the most accessibility to the media. These leaders essentially take in the media's information, and explain and spread the media's messages to others.
Cultivation Theory or desensitization
(George Gerbner) Cultivation theory is a theory which examines the theoretical long-term effects of media on audiences. Through repetition attitudes, ideas and values may become normalised or naturalised; they are accepted rather than considered. As a result the audience may become desensitised towards negative and/or violent representations.
Cultivation Theory or desensitization
(George Gerbner) Cultivation theory is a theory which examines the theoretical long-term effects of media on audiences. Through repetition attitudes, ideas and values may become normalised or naturalised; they are accepted rather than considered. As a result the audience may become desensitised towards negative and/or violent representations.
Cultivation leaves people with a misperception of what is true in our world. This theory identifies the media as being a negative influence but does not consider forms of ‘high art’ in the same way. Some of Shakespeare’s plays are extremely violent but are not seen to be a problem whereas games and television programmes are open to criticism
Changes in Technology
The impact of new technologies on Film Regulation. The invention of the home video. The VHS/Beetamax Format Wars…
The main determining factor between Betamax and VHS was the cost of the recorders and recording time. Betamax is, in theory, a superior recording format over VHS due to resolution, slightly superior sound, and a more stable image; Betamax recorders were also of higher quality construction. But these differences were negligible to consumers, and thus did not justify either the extra cost of a Betamax VCR (which was often significantly more expensive than a VHS equivalent) or Betamax's shorter recording time.
= VHSs were CHEAPER (economical) and ultimately won...
What was the impact on society, due to the (new) availability of films in the home (not just in the cinema)...?
- Reaction in the media
- Complaints
- Concerns
- Controversies
- "Pressure groups"
“campaigns against the publication and broadcast of media content that it views as harmful and offensive, such as…
- Sex
- Violence
- Swearing
- Blasphemy
- Homosexuality
Founded in 1965 by Mary Whitehouse to succeed the earlier 'Clean-UP TV' campaign.
English social activist known for her strong opposition to social liberalism and the mainstream British media, both of which she accused of encouraging a more permissive society.
She was the founder and first president of the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, through which she led a longstanding campaign against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
A staunch social conservative, she was disparagingly termed a reactionary by her socially liberal opponents. Her motivation derived from her traditional Christian beliefs
A staunch social conservative, she was disparagingly termed a reactionary by her socially liberal opponents. Her motivation derived from her traditional Christian beliefs
Video Cassettes before the Video Recordings Act 1984
If the Director of Public Prosecutions felt a video was inappropriate then a prosecution could be brought against the film's producers, distributors and retailers on a case-by-case basis and a backlog of prosecutions built up.
The police were empowered to seize videos from retailers if they were of the opinion that the material was in breach of the Act. In the early 1980s, in certain police constabularies (notably Greater Manchester Police which was run by devout Christian) raids on hire shops increased. However the choice of titles seized appeared to be ambiguous
The DPP recognized that the current system, where interpretation was down to individual Chief Constables, was inconsistent and decided to publish a list. This list became known as the DPP list of "video nasties".
Why might a list of unacceptable videos not be effective way of regulating?
Soon the Daily Mail began their own campaign against the distribution of these films. The exposure of 'nasties' to children began to be blamed for the increase in violent crime amongst youths.
What kind of media climate does this situation potentially lead to?
- What are the consequences of there being a complete lack of regulation?
- How might a feminist reading argue regulation is important?
ARGUE AGAINST THE NEED FOR FILM REGULATION
- How might a Marxist reading potentially criticise this approach?
- What would be the view of an auteur director?
- How effective is the age rating system?
- What are the alternatives, or how could it be improved?
The impact of new technologies on Film Regulation. Led to...
The Video Recordings Act…
http://www.bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-guide/legislation/video-recordings-act
Find out 5 (or more) significant facts about the Video Recording Act.
What was it?
Why was it significant?
Be ready with 5 reasons why you think it was impactful and worthy of discussion in our exploration of change and evolution, in term of film regulation.
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