Prompt Cast
The Controversial Practices of the MPAA Rating System
TLDR The MPAA rating system, created in the 1960s, has faced criticism for its lack of transparency, potential exploitation of children, and inconsistent standards for violence, profanity, and sexuality. Filmmakers are calling for more transparency in the rating process and the MPAA is struggling to combat piracy.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This podcast episode discusses how the MPAA works and its practices in rating films.
04:58
The MPAA was created in the early 1920s by Will Hays to prevent local municipalities from passing their own obscenity laws and to ensure that movies adhered to a strict moral code.
10:02
In the 1950s, people became more accepting of certain elements in entertainment, leading to the loosening of the strict moral code enforced by the Hays Code, and eventually the creation of the MPAA rating system in 1968.
14:46
The MPAA rating system, which includes G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17 ratings, is a voluntary system that provides recommendations for movie content based on factors like profanity, nudity, and drug use, and while not legally binding, most theaters require movies to have a rating in order to be shown.
19:20
The MPAA rating system is conducted by a group of anonymous raiders who watch and rate movies based on their own subjective standards, and filmmakers have the choice to accept the rating, edit their film, or release it unrated, although releasing it unrated may limit its distribution.
24:17
The MPAA appeals process used to be secret and filmmakers couldn't reference any other film in their appeal, but now there is more transparency and filmmakers are calling for even more transparency in the rating system.
29:13
The MPAA is facing a losing battle in the fight against piracy, as it becomes more widespread and difficult to control.
34:02
The MPAA's rating system has been criticized for its lack of transparency and potential exploitation of children through marketing and tie-ins with movies that are not age-appropriate.
38:54
The MPAA's rating system has been criticized for its lack of transparency and potential exploitation of children through marketing and tie-ins with movies that are not age-appropriate, as well as its inconsistent standards for violence, profanity, and sexuality.
43:58
The MPAA's rating system is inconsistent and biased, as evidenced by the fact that a movie about a gay couple received an NC-17 rating while a movie about a woman hiring a gigolo received an R rating despite having explicit sexual content, and the MPAA's lack of concern for violence in films.
Categories:
Society & Culture
