Ratings Bias

Here is a nice little article about an informal study done to show the biases of the MPAA against independent studios.  I may be able to use this as some sort of non-academic source for my paper.  This is my favorite part of the article:

"David Waguespack, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, and Olav Sorenson, a professor at Yale's School of Management, find that the MPAA goes easier in its ratings on the major studios. This is less surprising when you take into account that the MPAA's only members are, in fact, the six major studios (Disney, Paramount, Sony, Fox, Universal, and Warner Bros.)"

Again, this is the type of thing that needs to be stopped with the MPAA, in my humble opinion.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_customer/2011/02/the_7_percent_solution.single.html

NOTE: The website takes some time to load.

Brief history of the Hays Code and the MPAA

Today, I present you with a small tidbit of history.  This information is important as it shaped the current system we have in place with the MPAA.

http://www.artsreformation.com/a001/hays-code.html

Check out the section on how crime is handled.  We are definitely more lienent these days, but we still have problems.  Either way, I hope you enjoy it!

Once again, Matt and Trey

I know I keep coming back to these guys, but they're the only ones willing to speak out against this type of BS. I had posted a video a while back where they basically stated the same thing; however, I can't ignore this clip, and I enjoy South Park too much not to post this.  I honestly think if more content creators would speak out, then perhaps change could be enacted! In this clip, Matt and Trey basically discuss how the MPAA kept asking for changes to the South Park Movie.  Naturally, Trey and Matt ended up submitting far worse stuff that was accepted. I love the way these dudes do business.

I hope the ONE of you that hits up this blog enjoys it.

Simple yet effective.picture

I found this picture while digging through some forums on the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). I'm really sick of typing that...but what do you think? Any thoughts?

I think it's clever yet effective at the same time!
 

Mortal Kombat and the ESRB

If you play video games, then you've more than likely heard of "Mortal Kombat."  For those of you, who lead normal lives not consumed with hours of video game playing, "Mortal Kombat" was an infamous fighting game where you were allowed to dismember and commit hilariously gruesome acts of violence to your opponent after you won a match.  These finishers were called "Fatalities" and lead to a huge uproar with parents and as a result, congressional hearings.  Eventually, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) was created and "Mortal Kombat" was censored for the home console release (this was when arcades were still around and home consoles weren't nearly as powerful as before). 

When I went back to play "Mortal Kombat," and yes I still have my copy, I was laughing at how absurd the graphics looked and how something so cartoonish with its violence caused so much panic.  I seriously doubt that children were going to be ripping each others arms off or uppercutting peoples heads off. 

Anyways, I figured that I would highlight some of the biggest controversies in the gaming community.  Keep in mind when you're reading this if you've even heard of any of these games.

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-06-29/tech/violent.video.games_1_sale-of-violent-video-mortal-kombat-entertainment-software-rating-board?_s=PM:TECH

Thankfully, games were never censored very heavily.  So, why can't films be the same way?

MPAA and Censorship!

Today boys and ghouls I bring you a short clip from the documentary "This Film Is Not Yet Rated."  In this clip co-creator of South Park Matt Stone talks about how the MPAA, a group designed to inform the public, is more or less in the hands of big named studios. Now, Matt Stone does NOT come directly out and say it, but he makes a good point in that if you have sufficient money, or you have a big enough name, the MPAA will basically tell you what needs to be cut. What exactly does that mean? Well, Stone points out that when their (Matt Stone & Trey Parker) made their first independent film "Orgazmo" the MPAA strictly told them they couldn't tell them what needed to changed in order to get an R rating. If the MPAA had done so, then they would have become a censorship organization. So, why did they tell them what to cut during the South Park movie?

I've gone ahead and embedded the video below for people too lazy to click a link ;)
Also, warning, there is puppet sex!

Dee Snyder and Music Censorship

During the mid 1980s Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), which she co-founded, brought Dee Snyder of "Twisted Sister" fame in front of the United States Senate.  The goal of the PMRC was to establish a set of rules, much like the MPAA and films, for music that was deemed inappropriate for people, especially children.

Many famous musicians at the time including Frank Zappa, Dee Snyder and John Denver all testified and were not in support of the actions made by the PMRC.  Eventually, the PMRC managed  to convince a variety of stores, including Wal-Mart and J.C. Penny, to remove rock music and magazines about rock music from the stores shelves.  Additionally, a list creatively called the "Filthy Fifteen" was released which, basically, contained the songs the PMRC found the most offensive.

Personal Note: What I really hate about hearings like this, is that these people, Tipper Gore, feel that they know what is best for everyone.  Music is meant to be interpreted and Mrs. Gore sure does seem to find a lot of stuff about bondage in this music! ;)

I believe that Dee Snyder said it best at the end of his testimony, "The full responsibility for defending my children falls on the shoulders of my wife and I, because there is no one else capable of making these judgments for us."

I've gone ahead and posted a few videos from that hearing that I think are very interesting and funny below.  If you don't want to or don't have time to watch them, watch the first video, please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veoYcsH7Wrs   - Dee Snyder vs Tipper Gore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgSjjD6rRu4  - John Denver Senate Hearing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxB-ZePpS7E - Frank Zappa Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNZdMxkKcBw - Frank Zappa Part 2