Video(clip) Nasties
August 22, 2015 9:18 AM Subscribe
UK music videos forced to adopt age ratings. Following frequent controversy surrounding the content of freely available videoclips on the digital era, artists working for the three major labels (a "six month plan" is now on course for indies) are now required to submit videoclips to the BBFC for classification.
The BBFC classification features 6 tiers, although most videoclips will be falling on the 12 and 15 tiers, as the lyrics will be also taken into account. Meanwhile, The NME has speculated the ratings some historically controversial videos (such as Aphex Twin's Come to Daddy or Maddonna's Like a Prayer) could get with the new rulings.
The BBFC classification features 6 tiers, although most videoclips will be falling on the 12 and 15 tiers, as the lyrics will be also taken into account. Meanwhile, The NME has speculated the ratings some historically controversial videos (such as Aphex Twin's Come to Daddy or Maddonna's Like a Prayer) could get with the new rulings.
I think the difference is that in the olden days, they'd write a strong letter to BBC condemning the filth, the BBC would stop broadcasting the video, and that would be the end of it. Now a kid can see one on his computer or smartphone anytime and by god, you can't allow 10 year olds to catch a glimpse of Emily Ratajkowsky's full boob, Miley sideboob or Rihanna's buttcheeks, since the BBFC has managed to make porn so hard to get for Britain's youth.
If that makes them upload videos without words censored for no fucking reason, at least something good will come of it.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:27 AM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
If that makes them upload videos without words censored for no fucking reason, at least something good will come of it.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:27 AM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sucks to be U(K).
The overlap of "Young enough to be seriously harmed by unsupervised internet" and "Too young to get around nanny-theatre filters" is slim.
posted by klangklangston at 12:00 PM on August 22, 2015
The overlap of "Young enough to be seriously harmed by unsupervised internet" and "Too young to get around nanny-theatre filters" is slim.
posted by klangklangston at 12:00 PM on August 22, 2015
"Videos made in the UK by artists signed to major labels will be classified before release" So just as with many goods presently "made in the UK", or USA or whatever these videos will made in the UK, downloaded elsewhere to have end credits placed on them and then classified as made in France, US or whatever. A clueless, idiotic, futile and pointless gesture. How typical of Cameron's Britain.
posted by epo at 12:09 PM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by epo at 12:09 PM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is very silly. Really, haven't the Government got anything better to do than this posturing?
I have small children: I'm all for curated kid-friendly entertainment. This is called "paying for the Disney channel" not "trying to censor YouTube".
posted by alasdair at 12:11 PM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
I have small children: I'm all for curated kid-friendly entertainment. This is called "paying for the Disney channel" not "trying to censor YouTube".
posted by alasdair at 12:11 PM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
This is very silly. Really, haven't the Government got anything better to do than this posturing?
Well, there's disassembling the NHS, cuts to jobseekers' allowance, expanding employers' abilities to use zero-hours contracts and unpaid "volunteer" labor from jobcentres, tax breaks for landlords and the wealthy...
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:47 PM on August 22, 2015
Well, there's disassembling the NHS, cuts to jobseekers' allowance, expanding employers' abilities to use zero-hours contracts and unpaid "volunteer" labor from jobcentres, tax breaks for landlords and the wealthy...
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:47 PM on August 22, 2015
Thank you, censors! You're helping us kill the three major labels!
posted by markkraft at 1:07 PM on August 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by markkraft at 1:07 PM on August 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thank you, censors! You're helping us kill the three major labels!
Actually, it might be worse for indies. Classification isn't free - judging by other services, it probably costs a bit north of £100. Hardly exploratory, but let's imagine if lyric videos (which range from the incredibly low tech to the well produced) must also be submitted. Or even just "official audio" videos with a still photo of the band/album. Do those also require classification? For a label that puts a couple of albums every month, it can become an annoying waste of money.
And if a band pulls a NIN - create a dropbox folder with a bunch of clips of the band, and challenge people to make fan videos for a new single. What happens then?
posted by lmfsilva at 1:43 PM on August 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
Actually, it might be worse for indies. Classification isn't free - judging by other services, it probably costs a bit north of £100. Hardly exploratory, but let's imagine if lyric videos (which range from the incredibly low tech to the well produced) must also be submitted. Or even just "official audio" videos with a still photo of the band/album. Do those also require classification? For a label that puts a couple of albums every month, it can become an annoying waste of money.
And if a band pulls a NIN - create a dropbox folder with a bunch of clips of the band, and challenge people to make fan videos for a new single. What happens then?
posted by lmfsilva at 1:43 PM on August 22, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Disney Channel is kid-friendly if you hate children
posted by ormon nekas at 4:46 PM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ormon nekas at 4:46 PM on August 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
"Well, there's disassembling the NHS, cuts to jobseekers' allowance, expanding employers' abilities to use zero-hours contracts and unpaid "volunteer" labor from jobcentres, tax breaks for landlords and the wealthy..."
From that perspective, people should be happy Cameron's wasting resources on this bullshit instead of being effective in dismantling postwar England.
posted by klangklangston at 5:11 PM on August 22, 2015
From that perspective, people should be happy Cameron's wasting resources on this bullshit instead of being effective in dismantling postwar England.
posted by klangklangston at 5:11 PM on August 22, 2015
Clear age ratings will be displayed on UK-produced music videos on YouTube and Vevo, as the government seeks to protect children from inappropriate content online.
One of my favourite CDs is Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention which he recorded in the 1980s after testifying in front of Al and Tipper Gore's PMRC hearings.
Zappa missed the point that parental (as opposed to government) censorship is an absolute necessity. Raw violence and sex and racism are just not for most kids. I know YOUR kid is different, but I don't care about how you raise your kids. Do what you like.
I don't want to stand in the way of your irresponsible parenting - the world needs ditch diggers too - but I am not opposed to the idea of having tools which help me raise my kids so they don't turn out like your kids will.
posted by three blind mice at 3:16 AM on August 23, 2015
One of my favourite CDs is Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention which he recorded in the 1980s after testifying in front of Al and Tipper Gore's PMRC hearings.
Zappa missed the point that parental (as opposed to government) censorship is an absolute necessity. Raw violence and sex and racism are just not for most kids. I know YOUR kid is different, but I don't care about how you raise your kids. Do what you like.
I don't want to stand in the way of your irresponsible parenting - the world needs ditch diggers too - but I am not opposed to the idea of having tools which help me raise my kids so they don't turn out like your kids will.
posted by three blind mice at 3:16 AM on August 23, 2015
If kids are allowed to watch music videos with too many naked ladies in them, they'll end up employable only for manual labor? That's an... interesting platform to stake yourself out on.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 8:54 AM on August 23, 2015
posted by vibratory manner of working at 8:54 AM on August 23, 2015
Which is to say that your general thrust is reasonable (kids are different, parents should use their own judgement, labeling rules can help parents use their judgement), but your comment is awfully combative about it and I'm not sure why.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 8:56 AM on August 23, 2015
posted by vibratory manner of working at 8:56 AM on August 23, 2015
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Since it only effects UK-produced music videos, won't the only actual effect be less UK talent reaching UK (world?) audiences?
The scheme was launched amid growing concern about the sexual content of videos, including those by Miley Cyrus and Rihanna. Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines, released in 2013, drew fierce criticism for its apparently lewd lyrics and video featuring naked models dancing.
None of which would be affected by this scheme.
Also, lol, "growing concern." Has the concern really grown appreciably since the MTV age? People were pretty up in arms about stuff like this thirty-odd years ago.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:50 AM on August 22, 2015 [5 favorites]