2. Who classifies music videos?
O At this present moment, there is no
restrictions or classifications for music
videos. However, governing bodies did
plan to introduce BBFC (the organisation
that regulates films) age ratings to music
videos in April, 2014. However, during my
research I have not encountered any new
age ratings on recent videos.
3. How does regulation work?
O Films and videos are examined and given
an age rating before they are published.
This is to stop young audiences from
viewing unsuitable and sometimes
harmful material.
O The examiners look at issues such as
discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous
and easily imitable behaviour, language,
nudity, sex, and violence before giving
their verdict.
4. Online Content
O However, online content is more difficult to
regulate since anyone can produce
explicit content and share it on the
internet. There are no general restrictions
in place on the internet.
O The only way to combat this is the ability
to report unlawful content to website
owners so that they can take it down.
5. Case Study – Blurred Lines
O The Blurred Lines music video was released
in two versions, clean and unrated. It features
the three artists casually standing in front of a
plain wall, flirting with three models who are
walking around in nothing but a skin coloured
g-string.
O The unrated version was removed after one
week due to it violating the terms of service
restricting nudity, especially when used in a
sexual context.
O Since it’s removal, it has been restored and is
still available on Vevo and Youtube.
6. Conclusion
O It is important to regulate music videos
due to the applicability to the Hypodermic
Needle Theory. Passive audiences will
watch explicit videos and accept the
meanings, resulting in poor morals as a
norm in society. This is dangerous for
young audiences watching videos such as
the Blurred Lines video and seeing
women treated disrespectfully and
thinking it is normal.
