This week in class we watch the documentary “This Film Is Not Yet Rated”, I felt that this was extremely interesting and informative.  I really enjoyed how the documentary was put together including clips taken from rated movies and how they went about finding out information from a highly secretive MPAA. I think it is very interesting that in a society that prides itself on being so free and opens the movie industry has so many restrictions. What I find insulting and concerning is when a movie is supporting a positive message that needs to be communicated but it is still muted by the MPAA. For example, in the movies that focussed on portraying women’s pleasure the MPAA was more likely to give the movie an NC-17 rating as well as movies that “exposed” gay sex.  The MPAA reasoning for this was that they didn’t feel it was right to show sex in positions that weren’t “accepted by society”, this was said to be in fear of an increase in sexual activity between teens. In reality, I think that limiting sexual content (to a degree), doesn’t allow teenagers to receive answers they are asking themselves, therefore potentially putting themselves ina more dangerous position.

The movie that we watched was created in 2005, while that was only 10 years ago I feel a lot has changed not only with an increase in technology but within the general opinions of American citizens, parents, and people. It makes me curious as to if the system has changed at all and if those raters have gotten either more or less restrictive. In a time that is so split both in political opinions as well as just general ideas, I wonder who the “average” American parent is and if they are even right to have certain opinions on what kids have the right to see.

I think that with the increase in media and technologies, the movie industry has the opportunity as well as the expectation to help eductae children and teenagers safely and correctly on topics such as sex, violence, war and many more. They can provide a trustworthy resource that can show people a direct message, something that social media is overflowed with, and therefore cannot be trusted. However, at the moment, the industry is unable and doesn’t share such a message but rather displays an entertainment video that is targeted towards the white male perspective.

-Grace Hanlon