The document discusses film classification and censorship in the UK. It explains that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) regulates films and assigns them ratings based on various factors like violence, sex, language, and controversial themes. The BBFC is particularly concerned about on-screen violence and whether it could influence real-world violence. While some research has found links, the relationships are complex with many other societal factors involved. The BBFC aims to draw lines on what kinds of fictional violence may be harmful for certain age groups, but interpreting these impacts can be challenging given varied audience thresholds.

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2. Film classifications
• How many are there?
• EXT: What is the difference between a 12
and a 12A?

4. Key Themes: Controversial issues, causes for concern
and motives for Censorship
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Violence
Controversy and the Press
Sex and Nudity
Sexual violence
Religion
Class
Language
Shock

5. Violence
What concerns might the BBFC have
about on-screen violence?

6. Violence – major concern for the BBFC
• Some believe there is a possible
relationship between violence on
screen and violence in the real world.
• The BBFC’s concern is:
• Portrayal of violence as a normal
situation to problems

7. Violence – major concern for the BBFC
• Heroes who inflict pain and injury
• Callousness towards victims
• Encouraging aggressive attitudes
• Taking pleasure in pain humiliation

8. Jamie Bulger
Although no evidence was presented that
either boy had watched ‘Child’s Play 3’, the
judge at the killers’ trial made the connection
and this was picked up by the tabloid press. It
led to a change in the law so the BBFC now
has to take into account ‘the influence’ of films
as well as their content.

9. Daily Mail – Article.

10. Torture
• If a film contained scenes of torture what
rating do you think it would be given?
• What about someone being shot in the
head?

11. ‘Casino Royale’
• This film was cut in order to achieve a
12A rating.

12. There are some assumptions here, underpinning a
decision to cut a film for a 12A rating.
• There is a line that can be drawn in a
representation of fictional violence beyond which
it is possible to describe it as ‘excessive’
• This portrayal of violence may in some way be
harmful or damaging to some viewers.
• Both of these assumptions are problematic.
• Why?

13. • Interpretation – some audiences will
have different thresholds.

14. ‘Moral Panics’
• A large scale response amongst the general
public (often generated or intensified within
the mass media’ that sees a particular group
or behaviour pattern as threatening to
traditional values).
• Example – Hoodies
• Actual crime rates!

15. Conclusion
• The BBFC are concerned about on-screen violence
influencing real life violence.
• We have argued possible reasons for and against.
• The BBFC set a guideline for certain ages which can
be argued is generalising audiences rather then
treating them as individuals.
• Understanding how BBFC guidelines work in
relation to ‘Casino Royale’