Friday, December 03, 2021
UK film classification board tightens up on N-word and racism
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is adopting a stricter position on the use of racist language in programmes, saying “attitudes had shifted” towards the use of outdated and offensive behaviour or language.
The UK regulator said programmes featuring the N-word should not be classified lower than 12A/12 unless in exceptional circumstances, such as a documentary or biopic with a clear educational value and appeal to younger audiences.
The move follows new research commissioned by the BBFC into racism and discrimination in films and TV shows, which asked people – including those who have been directly affected – their views on the classification of such scenes.
Seventy participants were asked to answer questions about clips from different films and series including Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, Race, Young Sheldon, Call the Midwife, Crocodile Dundee and Looney Tunes. They were then required to watch a feature film from a selection that included Hidden Figures (2016), Selma (2014), Blinded By the Light (2019) and I Am Not Your Negro (2016).
“Of all the language considered, the N-word was the most contentious, evoking the strongest response from the community,” the BBFC said in its report, adding that it was one of the few instances where “zero tolerance” attitudes emerged.
The BBFC said the Jesse Owens’ biopic Race, which was classified PG in 2016, would likely be classified as 12A/12 if it were to be resubmitted today. In the film, a white man uses the N-word in a derogatory manner in relation to Owens and other Black athletes.
Despite the film’s positive messages about overcoming adversity, respondents said because the use of racist language wasn’t explicitly and clearly condemned, they didn’t think it was acceptable at PG.
The BBFC said that while people understood “some older films and TV shows are a ‘product of their time’, it’s clear attitudes have shifted over the years.”
In particular, parents wanted content warnings so they could make informed decisions about whether to allow their children to watch a particular programme.
******************************************
USC fans’ ‘distasteful’ chant blows up in their face as university says sorry
Last Sunday (AEDT), USC took on Brigham Young University (BYU) at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles as the Trojans looked to keep their season alive.
However, it was BYU who emerged victorious once the clock ran out, with the Cougars taking the spoils 35-31 and putting USC out of any post-season bowl action.
But it was not the result that was the big talking point, rather it was what USC students yelled out from the stands at their opponents.
It was reported that the Trojan faithful chanted “f*** the Mormons” during the game.
The chant caused quite a stir because BYU is one of several American universities owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), and BYU’s student population is 98 per cent Mormon according to university records from 2019.
USC immediately apologised a day after the incident, tweeting: “The offensive chant from our student section directed towards BYU during the football game last night does not align with our Trojan values. It was distasteful and we apologise to the BYU program.”
But in a cruel twist of fate, and what almost every USC fan who chanted “f*** the Mormons” didn’t realise, is that the Trojans’ very own quarterback Jaxson Dart is a Mormon himself.
***********************************
My other blogs. Main ones below:
http://edwatch.blogspot.com (EDUCATION WATCH)
http://dissectleft.blogspot.com (DISSECTING LEFTISM)
http://antigreen.blogspot.com (GREENIE WATCH)
http://pcwatch.blogspot.com (POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH)
http://australian-politics.blogspot.com/ (AUSTRALIAN POLITICS)
http://awesternheart.blogspot.com.au/ (THE PSYCHOLOGIST)
https://heofen.blogspot.com/ (MY OTHER BLOGS)
*******************************
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment