1. Maryam Latifi
It is important to make it clear that my documentary will mainly be about
investigating the extend to how far censorships or the classification of music
video can go to control what is being published on TV? In addition, I will also
look at the severe negative or perhaps positive impacts on the objectification
of women. This will enable me to obtain polarized opinions.
The objectification of women are more likely to occur particularly in R&B, Rap
or Hip Hop music videos.
The gab in the market for my documentary is big as it has become less of an
issue in reality where men loves to see it more and more and a majority of
women aren’t really bother about the fact that their bodies are seen as sex
objects. For example, a man can used a woman’s body and when he is done
with her he throws her body away in the recycle bin for other men to use her,
metaphorically speaking. In reality, prostitutes loses their person and is made
‘into a thing’ for other men to easily use it. In a way objectification of women
in music videos is like a prostitution business.

2. When did it become an issue in the eyes of the public?
 It all became an issue days back in the history of censorship of music videos, where a vast
majority of music videos were inappropriately and unacceptably used by artists or
musician to express their feelings, messages, thoughts, ideas and what they belief or
think about certain things through the use of music videos
 Since then, that has lead to many controversy and the viewers started to complain more
to the British Board of Film Classification.
 Therefore, the government stepped in officially announced on news programs that there
is going to be censorships on sexually explicit music videos.
 This has started another generation where music videos must be censored to protect
younger listeners particularly sexualised music videos. This is how the issue discussed in
my documentary was introduced to the wider public by the highly qualified
professionals who know and are aware of the serious consequences of sexualised music
videos.
 At last, this is also how I got introduced to the proposed treatment of my documentary.

3. British Board of Film Classification
This means that any music videos or film is suitable for
12 years and over.
To be shown only in specially
Parental Guidance –
licensed cinemas, or
General viewing but some
supplied only in licensed sex
scenes may be unsuitable
shops, and to adults of not
for younger children.
less than 18 years
This means Universal as in This means that any media
it is suitable for all. texts are suitable for 15 years
or over.
Suitable only for adults
aged 18 and over.

4. Music videos being classified by the British Board of
Film Classification.
 http://www.bbfc.co.uk/search/?searchwhere=db&q=m
usic+videos
 http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AVV173232/
 This shows the amount of music videos being
censored and the specific details of the music videos
being censored (e.g. Mariah Carey/Lover boy).

5.  I have decided for my documentary to take place in
multiple locations. That is:
- on the street for my Vox Pops asking questions to
teenagers, parents and the members of the wider public.
- In an office for my interviews with teachers
- In a studio or music company where I can interview artists
particularly women who are paid to reveal their clothing in
music videos mainly for men. Yet also, I will also interview
producers or directors who are in charge of producing such
music videos where women are objectified and men are
used to feed their appetite through the objectification of
women’s bodies.
- At last, I will also go to an institute that deals with the
classification or censorship of music videos.
- I will be using a range of locations to produce a good
documentary and meet my purposes effectively by being
able to visit the locations that I have chosen for my
documentary. For example, I have to visit one of the major
recording companies such as EMI to interview an expert in
producing music videos including R&B, Hip Hop or Rap
videos.

6. My characters
For my characters bit I will have to first make sure who is available and who isn’t. For
example, if I want to choose a teenager as my character but I have to make sure that
I record the scenes whenever or wherever the character can talk to me for Vox Pops.
In total I might use approx. 7 characters.
1- director
2- female artist
3- parents
4- teenagers
5- teacher
6- psychologist interviewing him/her on the effects of Mass Media on teenagers
physically, intellectually, emotionally and socially.
7- doctor
- The presenters is going to be myself as I want to do a participatory and investigative
documentary.
- Some of the characters are teenagers, parents, teachers, artists in a record
label, British Board of Film Classification staff in charge, where they also censor
music videos.
- The experts are artists from a record company, teachers in how it impact the
educational attainment of boys and girls, academically, a member of the industries
that censor or classify music videos.

7. Why do people care about this subject matter?
 The reason why people should care or do care about what music videos actually
publish, how it has got a negative influence in young girls and boys and how censorships
or classifications can go to extreme messages to ban videos that objectifies women is
because sexualization has negative consequences for girls and for the rest of society where
women will start to see themselves as sex objects , spend lots of time and emphasis on
their appearance and men can see themselves as sex machines who will believe that they
are allowed to be violent, aggressive, disrespectful and promiscuous towards women.
Violence in Mass Media will mean the use of common props such as guns, machine
guns, knives or other sharp objects, gang culture and symbols and illegal drugs will be
shown in music videos that lead to serious causes of offense, violence, threats, murders
and many other obstacles in real life as many people can feel offended or discriminated
against by certain things or certain individuals in the music videos. Therefore, it is very
crucial to be aware what is acceptable or unacceptable to be aired on TV.
Most importantly, what children or young people see on TV can have a negative or positive
impact on them in reality. They are more likely to believe in what they see on TV and start
to imitate the actions or activities that they see or hear on TV. For example, teenagers are
more likely to start wear what they see as appropriate or stylish on TV from music videos
that is worn by singers or celebrities such as mini skirts, shorts or more revealing clothing.

8. Why are you doing it?
The reason why I have decided to make a documentary about the government censoring
music videos that particularly objectifies women is because I believe that a vast majority
of music videos are going beyond the limit with what they think it is appropriate to
publish on TV in their music videos. Their music videos are almost becoming so
pornographic, inappropriate and unacceptable to watch for most of the viewers who are
sensitive with certain inappropriate props or scenes in the music videos.
But the government has got the authorization to do something about the dehumanization
of women and exceeds the aggressiveness of men as it brings negative influence on our
younger generation of teenagers who , instead, should be more
positive, optimistic, respectful, mannered and know what is morally good or wrong
rather than seeing women as sex objects and engaging in illegal or inappropriate
activities through what they believe from the music videos is right and doable.
Secondly, I want to also find out and know more about why music videos produce such
videos where they intentionally convey the wrong message and confirm to their
stereotypes. For example, a lot of Black singers recite in their music videos their own
people ‘Niger’ such as Chris Brown. This is basically connoting to the viewers that it is
acceptable to call people from Black backgrounds ‘Niger’.
At last, I want to find out what possible impact it can have on our future generation if we
continue to allow such music videos to be produced and published. How will the futures
of these young people look like if we don’t stop this now. For example, will there be a
higher rates of prostitutes as women may start to believe it is actually a good that and
that they see nothing wrong with it. Yet also, we might have higher rates of gang voilence
and gang culture within our societies.

9. Is it an issue that links to the target audience?
 My documentary definitely links to my target audience because censorship
companies are mainly protecting young people particularly teenagers who could be
at risk of being persuaded or encouraged to do immoral, illegal or unacceptable
activities that is often shown on music videos by their idols, favourite
singers, celebrities, artists or role models. For example, a majority of R&B music
videos encourage violence, inappropriate language or objectifies women more or
less in a pornographic way. For example, the song of Neyo ft. Trey Songz and T-
pain/ The way you move. Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b2NqV5v87U
 My documentary will mainly look at the impacts of the objectification of women, it
has on teenagers and how censorships will not mean that it will stop teenagers from
not hearing or seeing inappropriate scenes in music videos as they can always see it
on Internet where a majority of music videos that has particularly women revealing
their clothing on Youtube or other websites.
 I will be also looking at how such music video has an impact on
teenagers, physically, emotionally, intellectually and socially.

10. Target Audience
My target audience are going
to be teenagers (boys and
girls) who likes listening
music and be free.
My primary target audience
are girls from any ethnic
background and class
aged 16- 19.
Whereas, my secondary
target audience are boys
aged 16-19 from any ethnic
background or class. This
is mainly because any
genre of music can
objectify women so the
target audience range is
broad.

11. Questions for the experts
 What are the impacts on record labels or artists when
their music videos are censored or classified?
 Why are directors producing music videos
that, intentionally, objectifies women and satisfy men
what they want to see?
 Isn’t there any other way to reach a wider target audience
than to use women’s body to appeal to men or women?
Why?
 What is the directors view about music videos being
banned, censored or classified by regulatory institutes?
 What do female artists think about portraying a highly
negative role model for the younger females and greatens
male sex drives by using their bodies?
 Do you think that in a way you are disrespecting females
as a whole within our society? Why?
 How do you feel about being objectified or rather
disrespected by men in music videos?
 Do you think you are being used? Why?
 To what extend are institutes like the British Board of
Film Classification going to censor music videos?

12. Questions for the Vox Pops
The following questions are open qualitative questions
only:
 What are your views about the objectification of
women in music videos?
 Do you think it is right for women do use their bodies
as sex objects in music videos and entertain
particularly men?
 Do you belief women are dehumanizing themselves
allowing objectification in the music videos to take
place?
 Do you think it is right or wrong for a young female to
be obsessed about her body and appearance so that she
get enough attention from men based upon her
appearance and body shape? Why?
 What do you think should happen or could be done for
music videos to stop objectifying women and start
respecting their dignity and status within the society?
 What do you think we as viewers could do to protect
our younger generation in many ways from Internet or
TV?

13. Censorship in music videos are the acts of adjusting, editing, banning, or
altering products, expressions, or items considered to be
elicit, unlawful, lewd, or objectionable in nature with regard to the setting in
which they exist. I believe that censorships are mainly done to protect
people against any inappropriate elements that could be offensive in the
media texts.

14. Examples of music videos being censored.
 Rihanna's 'S&M' video banned in 11
countries.
 Robbie Williams/ Rock DJ - The video’s
ending (beginning with Williams taking off his
skin) was cut by most music channels around
Europe, including VIVA, MCM, MTV, The
Box and VH1 Europe.
 Ciara- Ride - The accompanying music video
features sexually-charged, provocative
choreography, and therefore was not aired on
BET, and banned from UK music channels.

16. Two more new idea that goes with
your main idea.
1) I could make another relevant documentary
about the impact it can have on the viewers about
the censorship of the objectification of women in
music videos to girls and boys in reality.
2) My other idea is more about the reasons, purpose
or aims that the music videos want to achieve by
having lots of naked women in their music
videos. What are they trying to express or convey
to us , as viewers.

17. Conclusion to my documentary
The conclusion to my documentary will be mainly focused on
summarizing my overall findings and meeting my objectives to
what I wanted to find out by producing this documentary.
I will include what have I investigated about the censorships of
music videos where it objectifies women.
Have I found out to what extend the government or the censorship
organizations have to go to control what is being published on
television?
In my conclusion I will also include what I have found out from
experts or personal opinions of the negative or positive impacts
the objectification of women in music videos has on teenagers in
many forms such as physically, intellectually, emotionally and
socially. I will be emphasising on polarised opinions.
Basically, in the conclusion bit I will just end the documentary by
gathering all the information that I have obtained through
researching and investigating.

18. Relevant websites
 URL: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-
objectification/
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6336509.stm
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-
13550879
 http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/rep
ort.aspx

19. Inspirational videos or
documentaries/ URL
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xEjWSmPLUo&fe
ature=related
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvdSBXgB9B0&fe
ature=related
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_on_MTV
 http://www.fourvolts.com/The-Effect-of-Censorship-
on-Music-Videos.html