Are The Australian Censorship Board Hypocrites?
July 24, 2008
The answer is a resounding yes. But wait, I am getting ahead of myself here.
What brings this on? A few days ago the video game “Fallout 3″ was refused classification in Australia because it exceeded the maximum rating of MA15+ and Australia has no R18+ rating for games. This is the 4th game this year to have been hit by the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification.
The games, “Grand Theft Auto IV” and “Dark Sector” were originally refused classification; they were edited and then resubmitted for an MA15+ and “Shellshock 2″ was banned outright for excessive, graphic violence. “Fallout 3″ will most likely be edited down and resubmitted for an MA15+ rating - but why should it have to be? Believe it or not, adults play games… Shock horror! (I want to point you to kotaku.com.au because they have a good post about the reasoning behind the ban.)
“So, where is the hypocrisy?” I hear you say.
Okay, this has been a long time brewing for me. Let’s start with movies, a subject close to my heart. Censorship in Australia has gone insane. I feel like I am living in a police state. When did the government start becoming my parental figure?
In Australia, the X18+ rating is only used for adult films (pornography to some, a turn on and sex aid to others) and these have been banned in all the states of Australia (although freely available in The Northern Territory and The Australian Capitol Territory, our home to the Federal Government, what an irony) since 1984. Although it has to be noted that you can buy porn DVDs (unofficially) at any adult bookshop across the nation. Okay, just so we are clear, according to the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification’s own document, “Guidelines for the Classification of Films and Computer Games” (you can click on this to get your very own PDF of this document, it is informative reading) this is the definition of X18+:
CONTAINS CONSENSUAL SEXUALLY EXPLICIT ACTIVITY
(Restricted to adults 18 years and over*)*Available only for sale or hire in the ACT and Northern Territory.
Note: This classification category applies only to films. This classification is a special and legally restricted category which contains only sexually explicit material. That is material which contains real depictions of actual sexual intercourse and other sexual activity between consenting adults.
I think that is fairly clear. So under an R18+ classification what can you show in regards to sexual activity? Well, the Australian Office of Film and Literature Classification’s document, under the guidelines of the R18+ classification, says this:
SEX
Sexual activity may be realistically simulated. The general rule is
“simulation, yes – the real thing, no”.
Nice and clear cut. These are really easy to follow guidelines. And they make sense; whether you agree or not is a another issue. So why then are films such as “Romance” (1999), “9 Songs” (2004) and “Intimacy” (2001) on video shop shelves across the nation? These films all carry the R18+ classification and all contain real, penetrative sex and in the cases of “Romance” and “9 Songs”, they even have the ‘classic cum shot’ scenes. I have no problem with consenting adults seeing these films. I have no problem with the content of these films. I, in fact, love a good bit of porn and have no problem with nudity (in fact, I love the naked human body as my photography reflects) and I have no problem with violence in cinema. I don’t even have a problem with a ratings system that helps people know what the content of a film is so that they can make an informed decision (if you don’t like the content of a film, don’t see it - simple) about whether they want to see, or let their children see, the film or not. I DO have a problem with double standards.
In a democracy, the government is supposed to be representative of its people, we elect them and they work for us. If we don’t like the government we vote them out and the new government should have something new and different to offer. Well, does our government listen to its people? I think not. In September 2006 the film company, AdultShop.Com Limited, asked the Federal Court to overturn the X18+ ban in Australia. It argued that the Office of Film and Literature Classification is required (and it is) to take into account current community standards in relation to explicit erotic films. The company even commissioned a national survey from ACNielsen that found that 70% of Australian adults were not offended by explicit erotic films and 76% thought they should be available on a restricted basis to people over 18 (I assume that means through adult bookshops, etc.). To this day the ban is still in effect. Yeah, our government really listens.
This brings me back to “Fallout 3″. Why is there no R18+ classification for games? Even New Zealand has an R18+ rating for games. Well, it would seem that the government does not trust its population to do the right thing, period.
The classification system can be modified if there is an agreement from the Commonwealth and all state and territory Attorneys-General. The problem here is the South Australian Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, refuses to allow an R18+ rating for games. This is his explanation:
“I am aware that statistics show many game players are adults. Indeed, a whole generation has now grown up with computer games. It is not surprising that those who enjoyed gaming as children… play electronic games with their own children… 62% of Australians in these gaming households say the classification of a game has no influence on their buying decision…
Given this data, I cannot fathom what State-enforced safeguards could exist to prevent R18+ games being bought by households with children and how children can be stopped from using these games, once the games are in the home. If adult gamers are so keen to have R18+ games, I expect children would be just as keen. I have publically argued that because electronic games are interactive, the violence and other adult content in games have a strong impact. I am particularly concerned about the impact these games have on children, who can spend a lot of their unsupervised leisure time gaming.”
Wait a minute, you moron (A bit harsh? Nahhh …), what is the difference between having an R18+ game in the house and an R18+ movie? Also, it is my understanding that the classification is for the sale or hire of the film, not in the house. Isn’t it the parent’s ultimate decision about the welfare of their children? My nine year old son (The Little Geek) wanted to go see the new Batman movie “The Dark Knight” (rated M15+). As a responsible parent, I went to see the film first and deemed it too dark and intense for him. He is disappointed, but I explained that when it comes out on DVD, we can watch it together, with the lights on, and I can explain the concepts to him as it goes, and I can fast forward through the nastier bits. Wow, a parent does his job. The rating is not the be all and end all of this discussion, parents must take on the responsibility of educating and guiding their children to a healthy and happy life. Just placing restrictions on stuff does not work, we live in a digital age and if people want prohibited material, they will just go online and buy or download it from another country. As a 41 year old geek, I have to tell you, when I see something banned, I just want to see it more and I almost always do! “Baise Moi”, seen it. “Ken Park”, seen it. “Salo”, seen it. etc. etc.
The bottom line is: I chose to live in a free thinking, liberal minded, democratic country that values freedom and personal rights. If that is not the case, I just want to know, so I can plan to move. As a democracy, we elected the ultra conservative John Howard as Prime Minister and we got what we deserved (well I didn’t, but in a democracy, majority rules). He wanted us to all live like we were back in the 50s, I didn’t agree but hell, who am I? As a democracy the people voted last year and totally wiped out his government, basically saying that they want change. Did anything change? Well, no.
You see, John Howard and his government were allowing their very strong, fundamentalist Christian beliefs to guide their decision making. The concept of a separation of church and state was a farce. The tightening of the censorship laws in Australia was pushed through a few years ago by the Lyons Forum - a lobby group that consisted of many federal MPs and many government senators (during the Howard years) with links to Christian fundamentalist formations. Now that the Liberal (what an oxymoron) Party has lost so many seats in Parliament, how strong is the Lyons Forum today? I don’t know, but I do know that Labour Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, the man elected to make the changes everyone hopes for, is a very devout Christian so I can only believe that nothing will change.
If we are not going to separate church and state, what makes us any different to a theocracy? Let’s stop pretending we value the above ideals (free thinking, liberal minded, democratic country that values freedom and personal rights etc.) and start playing Big Brother - it may be time for the federal government to bring in the thought police! OR, we can stand up and demand our voices to be heard! The only way to make things change is to stand up and say what you believe in. The religious moral majority conservatives ARE actually the minority, they are just more vocal.
“There was a time when religion ruled the world: we know it as the dark ages.”
- Ruth Hurmence Green (US Author and Atheist)
Great links that really are informative and helped get this post off the ground:
Comments are most welcome and I would love a debate about this going over in the forum.
The Podcast Promo is back online!
July 23, 2008
Just a quick note to say you can listen to the new promo online. My iTunes store teething problems are still haunting me but you can subscribe to the podcast by going here.
UPDATE: You must have the latest Adobe Flash Player installed for the streams to playback correctly. Go to www.adobe.com to get the latest Flash Player.
Podcast Promo Offline - Maybe.
July 22, 2008
I am pissed today, I signed up with Podcast Spot to host my podcast but they are down half the time and they are slow as batshit! I have signed up with Podbean.com and all looks good, the site is fast and reliable.
The problem is I have listed on iTunes as Podcast Spot and now I need to delete the account and start again … aarrrgghhh!
I have notified iTunes and I am waiting to hear from them. The podcast is still on track and it will be here but it may not be on iTunes straight away.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
BTW - The promo on the last post is probably dead. I’ll link it to the new host soon.
“Geek Actually” Promo Podcast Now Online
July 20, 2008
Okay, here is the promo. The podcast is hosted over at Podcast Spot, but you can hear it here or go to tunes and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Just a reminder, the first full episode will go out on the 28th of July, 2008. Hopefully I will have my iPhone by then so I can tell you all about it.
Update: Podcast is moving to a new server.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
July 20, 2008
A few weeks a go me and my dad, the big geek, and my nana, Mirren, went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It was cool and really good. My dad liked it, but not us much as me. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull isn’t as good as the first ones, but it is still a good film, and you will like it. If you haven’t seen it, wait for the dvd and watch it.
The Dark Knight seems to be a smash!
July 20, 2008
Box Office Mojo is reporting that Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”, the second film in the newly rebooted Batman franchise, may have broken the opening day box office record. At this time I am only working from estimates and the true figures won’t be available until Monday (US time).
“The Dark Knight” has taken an astounding US$66.4 Million in its first day (estimated) on 4,366 screens. That is just the US take, remember that the “The Dark Knight” opened worldwide so we also have to take into account the international box office. Those figures are not available yet. When I saw the film on Wednesday night here in Australia, the theatre was full and all of the day’s sessions had booked out.
I don’t think Warner Bros. has to worry to much about recouping its US$180 million budget. I don’t think an early congratulations is out of line here. It is a fitting farewell to Heath Ledger who was absolutely awesome as the Joker, he will be missed. I will be seeing the film a second (and possibly third) time and of course I will be buying it when it is released on DVD (it might even be the film to make me move to Blu-Ray).
Get Smart
July 18, 2008
On Tuesday me and the big geek went to see Get Smart at the movies and it was really good and it was funny. It’s a really good film and my dad liked it too. Go see Get Smart you will like it.
Steve Carell makes a good Max and Anne Hathaway was good as 99.
I have started watching the TV show on Foxtel and even though it is better, the movie is really fun.
Hi, Big Geek here,
I’m just adding my two bits worth to Little Geeks post. I did enjoy Get Smart, it is not as fresh or original as the series (as expected), but we had a great time watching it and that is what this site is all about. Bringing back the fun to the movies.
Watch for the peeing scene, it is a killer!!!!
“Heroes” Season Three Trailer - I can’t wait.
July 18, 2008
Just came across this while visiting comingsoon.net.
Heroes season three is returning to NBC on September 22nd. I am a huge Heroes fan and was very rewarded by finding NBC’s new trailer for the new season. Enjoy.
Welcome to Level 5.
Podcast Promo online Monday 21st July
July 18, 2008
Hi, slight technical difficulties at this end last night made the launching of the podcast promo today impossible, I have to do father duties for the next two days as it is the end of the school holidays, so the promo will have to wait until Monday.
Don’t hold your breath though as it is nothing special, more an ad to get iTunes users aware of the site and the podcast. You are reading this, so you already know it is coming.
The recording date is set and the first full episode of “Geek Actually” will be available on iTunes and this site on Monday the 28th July. I hope you download and enjoy it then.
Who Watches the “Watchmen”? Teaser Now Online!!!
July 18, 2008
Oh my god, the new Watchmen teaser has just hit the web and it is good!
For those few who don’t know what this is, Watchmen (by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons) is one (if not THE best) of the best and most influential graphic novels printed and it was named among Time Magazine’s “100 Best English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present”. Not bad for a comic book.
To help with the synopsis, I have lifted this from IMDB:
“Watchmen” is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” - which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity… but who is watching the Watchmen?” Written by T-Hen
So many names have been attached, or rumoured to be attached, to this production over the years including Terry Gilliam, Darren Aronofsky, Paul Greengrass, Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Jude Law etc. For one reason or another this film has just sat there, some saying that it was just unfilmable.
When Zack Snyder (300) announced that he was going to make Watchmen, I jumped for joy. It is not that he is a god of filmmaking, it is just that after 300, I realized that this man understands the graphic novel. His adaptation of 300 was perfect and incredibly faithful to the original graphic novel.
Well, it would seem that Zack Snyder has done what so many could not do, he has brought Watchmen to the big screen and if the first teaser is anything to go by, he has succeeded in a faithful adaptation of a wonderful book. Here at Geek Actually, I will be following this very closely.
Watch the teaser now and if you have not read Watchmen, go out and buy it today and read it! You will not be disappointed.
