Regulation through Certification

Sonia Livingstone and Peter Lunt identified two types of regulation.

1.Citizen-oriented approach

2.Consumer-based regulation

Can you match up [1] and [2] with qualities described below them – can you link each quality to each either 1 or 2?

• a. regulation champions consumer-choice?
• b. regulation directs media to respect democracy, education, knowledge and social justice
• c. content needs to be fair, accurate and conform to certain standards.
• d. only those who buy a media product can decide what is appropriate or not
• E. the State does not intervene in any way in the media market and ascribes citizens total freedom to decide what cultural and filmic products to consume.

The BBFC belongs to what model? citizen-led approach or consumer-led approach?

Blinded by the Light was classified as 12a/12 Here comes the details of it:

EXERCISE: MATCH UP THESE SYMBOLS WITH THEIR MEANING (two of them 12a/12) have one meaning

1. Suitable only for adults
2. Parental Guidance:General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.
3. Suitable only for 15 year or older
4. Films classified in these two wasy contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see such a film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help them decide, we recommend that they check the content advice for that film in advance.
5. Suitable for all:
6. should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over, although it is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. These films should be set within a positive framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. If a work is particularly suitable for pre-school children, this will be indicated in the content advice.

On what grounds what is given this classification?

Go on the page of BBFC and see on what grounds classifications are givenhttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/rating/12

Exercise: How do you think this classification would impact the circulation of the film?

Divide into groups and make a timetable and map of all the steps of production (including PR), distribution, marketing activities done for Blinded by the Light. Discuss the timing and thinking behind each step. Then start drawing a similar map for imaginary film that you are going to produce.