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| TV, Radio, Music Publishers, Movies, Films, Newspapers, Magazines even the Internet and purveyors of Software are all fighting for your attention. Don't just sit back and..... |
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| The Independent Television Commission who license and regulate commercial television in the UK, and who say, "We look after viewers' interests by setting and maintaining the standards for programmes, advertising and technical quality", in July 2000 ruled that explicit sex scenes could be shown before the 9.00 pm watershed. So, rather than under-girding dropping standards of broadcasting among the independent channels, and reining-in the already pornographic Channel 5 (dubbed Channel Filth), they simply open the sewer gate wider.
"Useless", is a word that springs to mind. All this continues in the face of clear evidence of the link between the portrayal of violence, explicit sex and anti-social behaviour on television, and rising levels of crimes of violence in our real society. Case Study: In May 99, two UK teenage misfits murdered a college friend. The Judge, as he sentenced them, commented that their violent fantasies had been fuelled by watching horror films. The minds of Neil Sayers, 19, and Graham Wallis, 18, had been de-sensitised to killing by gruesome scenes in the videos, the court was told. Even those working in the Industry now acknowledge that UK TV standards have reached an all-time low. According to a poll by the British Film Institute (published 24th May 1999), three-quarters of TV Executives, Producers and Researchers believe the quality of programmes is getting worse. More than 500 executives, researchers, producers and camera crews took part in the 4-year study. Many spoke of, 'dumbing down', and, 'going for the lowest common denominator'. Half those working in documentaries and current affairs said they felt pressurised to distort the truth to create exciting and controversial programmes. Why do those with the power to change the content of films and TV programmes do nothing? A good question! A survey of UK terrestrial TV channels, carried out in May 1999 by the National Viewers and Listeners Association (see below), attacked TV companies for screening a torrent of excessively violent films. John Beyer, NVLA Director, said, "It is difficult to appreciate ... the full impact of the hate-filled fantasy world portrayed by film makers ...who ...concentrate on cruelty, destruction, killing, maiming, brutal behaviour, sexual aggression and criminal activity." Paul Verhoevan (Director) being interviewed on Film 92 made this comment, "I don't believe any evil in the world is caused by art or by anything like art. I think that evil is really something of us, it's building up in our hearts, or in our brain and then executed".
[Interviewer] Then tell me, this can't be correct, this argument you're making, because there are manufacturers who want to pay a lot of money to have [PV]"Well, I, yes, but, I've never thought about that." (sic) Clearly this man, who went on to direct the explicit movie, "Showgirls", still hasn't thought about it, and there are many like him at the top of the Hollywood dung heap. On the subject of films, the UK 'British Board of Film Classification' was further weakened in November 98, by the appointment of Robin Duval, a TV watchdog (sic) who championed the right of broadcasters to screen more violence, sex and bad language. Proving our mis-givings to be correct, Mr. Duval, in October 1999 said, ".. the guidelines on R18 videos and 18 cinema films, would be reviewed if most of the public demanded it". Bet we don't get asked! So this could lead to a flood of videos on the open market which have, to date, been restricted to licensed sex shops. Looking at this from a slightly different view point, when was the last time a TV soap opera gave a sympathetic portrayal of a Christian? TV Vicars are always a target of fun or are protrayed as chinless wonders out of touch and irrelevent. Anyone whose character shows even the smallest amount of decency is mocked (or in childrens' programming, bullied and belittled). There is a constant undermining of the good and decent; Why? Although a large number of real schools and Universities have active Christian Unions in them, has there ever been even a hint of them in programmes built around those institutions? Only one film in the last 20 years really focused on this subject, the excellent, "Chariots of Fire". Again, a letter to a magazine or newspaper, which is clearly written from a Christian, or decent view point, is less likely to get published. There are rare exceptions to this, The UK's Daily Mail newspaper is one. Why this silence? Why this suble censorial attitude? Could it be fear of the truth? Could it be ignorance of the truth? Or could it be that decent programmes get lower viewing figures, and the programme makers know that some violence, explicit sexual content and plain indecency pull in the viewers. Surely not! Mary Whitehouse, that indefatigable champion for decent TV, once asked a TV studio audience, many of whom had expressed their disquiet over bad TV, how many of them had ever written to the programme makers to complain (or praise). A tiny number of hands were raised. Her comment was this, "Well, we get the TV programmes we deserve don't we". How right she is. And what of the much trumpted, Broadcasting Standards Commission A good question. In June 1998, a new code from the BSC established a more liberal (yes, liberal) line across British TV output, in every area accept violence.
Where did this 'research' take place? Were you asked your view? We weren't! So we can now expect scenes on TV containing full frontal male nudity ('Made In Manchester' - BBC2, 3rd June 98) and lesbian, 3-in-a-bed sex ('Close Relations' - BBC1, 7th June 98) to be fairly common-place, coupled, presumably, with plenty of F***, S***,B******* and the rest. But it's all after the 9.00 pm. 'watershed', so that's OK then! Well, not any more! Is this the TV that you want, that you help pay for? The BBC's new Director-General, Greg Dyke, is in the process of being a, 'new broom', among his staff. It will be interesting to see if his avowed pledge to create a BBC able to deliver, "a broad range of outstanding programmes", shall also come to pass. If you want to praise, complain or make a comment, here are some useful phone numbers:
All you need to do if there is a bad programme, or a really GOOD ONE!, is phone and ask for the duty officer who records all comments and passes them on. DON'T forget the praise as well as the complaint! If you live outside the UK the same principles apply. It's up to you! You might like to check out: National Viewers' and Listeners' Association and |
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All original material ©2000 The Curious? Web Site
their products advertised in movies because it has an impact on people; so a movie does have an impact on people!".
The new code says, "Research shows that audiences in Britain have generally become more liberal and relaxed about the portrayal of sex".