The MPAA Rating System

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the history of the Movie Picture Association of America's (MPAA) rating system, how it originally began, the reasons for its introduction, and how movies are rated. The paper first describes the board that rates the films and the requirements one must meet to be on the board. Among the points mentioned, is the inherent conservatism in the MPAA board. The paper then defines what each of the ratings signify and what determines how a film will be rated. The paper then discusses specific examples of films in history being re-edited to attain a more socially acceptable rating, making the film more marketable.

From the Paper:

"The requirements to be a member of the board are very specific that members be parents. This points to a conservatism inherent in the system. The assumption being that those people who are not parents would have no ability to judge the suitability of viewing material for children. It seems unrealistic to assume that any responsible adult wouldn't be capable of performing this function. Further if board members are to be possessed of an "intelligent maturity", one would think them capable of protecting children from inappropriate material, yet the first requirement is a "shared parenthood experience". It could be argued that while the members of the ratings board are shielded from industry pressure they are no protected from public derision and social pressure. In fact these pressures can be even more forceful."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bernstein, Matthew. Controlling Hollywood: Censorship and Regulation in the Studio Era. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2000
• Kuhn, Annette. Women's Pictures: Feminism and Cinema. London: Routledge, 1982
• MPAA. "Film Ratings. 2006 http://www.mpaa.org
• Nichols, Mike. Closer. Columbia Pictures. 2004
• The Graduate. United Artists. 1967

More papers on The MPAA Rating System:

• Term Paper # 2417 : "How Do You Rate the Rating Enforcers?"
• Film Review # 127968 : "Review of "This Film Is Not Yet Rated"
• Essay # 67514 : "The Juvenile Justice System"

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